Balloon 715 was spotted in Fleetwood on the Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours 10:45 Coastal Tour from North Pier on Tuesday 22nd June.
Balloon 715 in Bold Street, Fleetwood, on the 10:45 Coastal Tour from North Pier
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| Balloon 715 returning to Blackpool along The Esplanade in Fleetwood |
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| Balloon 715 passing the Corner Cafe as it turns into Pharos Street |
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| Balloon 715 and the Pharos Lighthouse in Fleetwood |
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| Balloon 715 southbound on North Albert Street in Fleetwood |
Since the beginning of June an unusual tracked vehicle has been spotted on the beach between Cleveleys and Fleetwood during periods of low tide. The vehicle in question has been conducting soil testing in association with future planned coastal defence upgrade work. The tracked vehicle is operated by Lankelma, and is a core penetration testing vehicle, designated the UK8 Tracked Crawler. The bodywork containing the test equipment is mounted inside the dumping body of a Japanese Yanmar C80R tracked dumper, fitted with rubber tracks to enable it to operate over soft ground or delicate infrastructure, such as sea walls. The machine works by pushing an instrumented cone into the ground at a fixed rate, using a series of metal rods, to determine the properties of the soil. The crawler is often accompanied by a mechanical excavator, in case further ground investigation is needed.
The Lankelma UK8 with the Manx ferry Ben-my-Chree passing by on the way to Heysham
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| A rear view showing the rubber tracks and cutout in the dumper body for access steps |
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| The UK8 crawler on Cleveleys beach, with an excavator which has trundled all the way from Fleetwood |
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| The metal rod of the cone penetrator device visible in the sand between the tracks |
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| The crawler and excavator relocated along the beach to the next test site |
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| A front view showing the test probe in the sand between the crawler's tracks |
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| X marks the spot, "CPT39" or Cone Penetration Test 39, spray painted on the sand |
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| A Yanmar C80R tracked dumper moving firewood at Poulton-le-Fylde in November 2018 |
Coastguard liveried Balloon 726 and the Ro-Ro ferry Stena Pioneer arriving at Fleetwood together on 9th September 2009. This was the only occasion that I was lucky enough to catch a tram and ferry together in the same shot during my many visits to Fleetwood.
Balloon 726 at Fleetwood Ferry with the Stena Pioneer in the River Wyre channel
A heritage bus running day was operated in Blackpool on Sunday 13th June by the Fylde Transport Trust. Services 5/5A to Halfway House and 11 to Squires Gate Airport both ran from North Pier, using Blackpool PD3s 516 and 529, London Routemaster RM1583, Lytham Atlantean 77, Fylde single-deck Atlantean 7 and recently acquired Blackpool Optare Excel 225.
Blackpool PD3 516 at Tyldesley Road on route 5A to Halfway House
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| Blackpool PD3 529 on Lytham Road on route 5A to Halfway House |
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| Fylde 7, a Paladin bodied Leyland Atlantean, northbound on route 11 |
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| Lytham Atlantean 77 southbound at Manchester Square on route 11 |
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| Former Blackpool Optare Excel 225 at the Royal Oak |
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| London Routemaster RM1583 on the Promenade on route 5A |
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| Balloon 715 and Fylde Atlantean 7 meet on Lytham Road |
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| Routemaster RM1583, Blackpool 459 and Stagecoach 15565 line abreast on Lytham Road |
Saturday 12th June saw Balloons in use on specials in Blackpool, supplementing the normal Flexity LRT service. Three Balloons were in use throughout the day, displaying various destinations such as Starr Gate, Pleasure Beach, Bispham and Little Bispham. Flat fronted green and cream Balloons 707 and 718 were in use, as well as purple Balloon 711, with the top decks closed off as only one guard was rostered.
Balloon 707 northbound on the Promenade heading for Bispham
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| Balloon 718 and Flexity 005 at Starr Gate |
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| Balloon 711 at St Chad's Road heading for the Pleasure Beach |
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| Balloon 707 loading at the Tower with Flexity 006 heading south |
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| Balloon 718 at North Pier waiting for its departure time |
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| Flexity 014 at Gynn Square with Balloon 718 at the Cliffs Hotel tram stop |
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| Balloon 707 approaching St Chad's Road on its way to the Pleasure Beach |
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| Balloon 718 on a crew break at Starr Gate |
A few shots of Flexity trams in Blackpool from unusual perspectives, all taken on 8th June.
Two trams near the Gynn with the Ben-my-Chree ferry on the 14:15 sailing from Heysham to Douglas
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| Flexity 006 heading north at Norbreck |
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| Northbound Flexity 006 arriving at Little Bispham |
