September Heritage Trams

Bolton 66 was the last heritage tram of the day to Fleetwood, seen here passing the Pharos Lighthouse

The September heritage tram weekend took place on the 23rd and 24th of the month. The scheduled output for Saturday was Railcoach 680, Balloon 718, Boat 600, Bolton 66 and Boat 227. The day started out dull with occasional spells of sunshine in the afternoon. The weather on Sunday was lousy for photography, being mostly miserable and wet, so all the photos shown here were taken on the Saturday.

Railcoach 680 at Bispham, with a BTS ADL Enviro400 City passing by

Boat 277 at Bispham, heading north to turn around at Little Bispham

Boat 600 approaching Bispham tram station

Balloon 718 pausing at Bispham on its way north to Fleetwood

Railcoach 680, Balloon 718 & Boat 600 meet at Bispham tram station

2023 Bus Driver of the Year Final

First Eastern Counties Scania N250UD ADL Enviro400 City 36918 at Gynn Square

The National Final of the 55th Bus Driver of the Year competition took place in Blackpool on Sunday 3rd September. Bus drivers from all around the country compete to be the top driver, and this year saw 12 buses being used, with 10 of them travelling from various parts of the UK to take part in the event. The competition commences from the seaward side of the Metropole Hotel, before proceeding along Middle Walk where a series of tests are set out for the drivers. The buses then navigate the roundabout at Gynn Square before returning south down the Promenade, where drivers are allowed to pick up and set down passengers at temporary bus stops positioned along the route. The winner of the 2023 Bus Driver of the Year competition was Lee Grantham from National Express, based at Acocks Green depot in Birmingham.

First Potteries low height Wright Streetdeck 35944, leaving the Metropole Hotel heading for Middle Walk

Stagecoach Manchester ADL Enviro400 MMC 11719 passing the Spitfires at Gynn Square roundabout

Lothian Buses Volvo B5TL Wright Gemini 3 445 leaving Middle Walk at Gynn Square

National Express West Midlands ADL Enviro400 MMC 7541

Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire open top Volvo B5TL Wright Gemini 3 13804

Go North West Volvo B5LH MCV EvoSeti 3061

McGill's Mercedes-Benz Citaro 0295 G3340 leaving Middle Walk at Gynn Square

Blackpool Transport ADL Enviro400 City 411 taking part in the event at Gynn Square roundabout

Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire ADL Enviro400 MMC 11637, based at Preston

McGill's 3359, a Mercedes-Benz Citaro 0295 heading south on the Promenade

Blackpool Transport ADL Enviro400 City 450 at Gynn Square, one of the early runners in the event

This tiny Subaru Sambar (with a VW body kit) could be a contender for the smallest bus at the event