Bolton 66 on hire to American enthusiast group

Bolton 66 passing Flexity 006 near Central Pier

Bolton 66 operated a private hire on 8th May for the Electric Railroaders Association from the USA, who are on a two week tour of the UK. The tram ran from Starr Gate to Little Bispham turning circle and return with stops along the way.

Bolton 66 heading north near Manchester Square

Bolton 66 approaching Central Pier

Bolton 66 and Flexity 013 passing each other near the Gynn

Bolton 66 making its way north along the Promenade

Balloon 717 visits North Station twice during FTS tour

Balloon 717 at North Station after its first trip along the Talbot Road line

The Fylde Tramway Society hired Balloon 717 for a tour of the Blackpool tramway on 3rd May as part of their annual convention weekend. The tour of the system departed from the North Pier loop at 1300, before heading up Talbot Road to North Station, then to Thornton Gate, returning to North Station again, south to the Pleasure Beach, then to the Cabin where the tram reversed and headed south to Starr Gate, then back north to Little Bispham, with the tour concluding at the southbound North Pier heritage stop at 1630. The photos shown here were taken during the most interesting parts of the tour, these being 717's first trips along the Talbot Road line to North Station.

Balloon 717 heading up Talbot Road for the first time on the tour, with BTS bus 453 behind

Balloon 717 at North Station alongside Flexity 013 which was about to leave for Fleetwood Ferry

Balloon 717 leaving North Station on its way to Thornton Gate

Balloon 717 crossing over the junction with Dickson Road

Balloon 717 passing Flexity 006 on its way south to Starr Gate

Balloon 717 entering Talbot Square after its second visit to North Station

Balloon 717 turning left out of Talbot Square onto the Promenade

Voodoo Blue Transporabus E400 on Service 21

Transporabus ADL E400 LJ09 OLG near the Cabin on service 21 to St Annes on 30th April

The first Transporabus double decker to receive their striking new Voodoo Blue livery was noted in service on the Fylde Coast this week. ADL Enviro400 LJ09 OLG was spotted in use on route 21 to St Annes on Thursday 30th April wearing the stunning new colour scheme.

LJ09 OLG approaching the bus station on Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys

A rear view of LJ09 OLG at the South Pier in Blackpool

ADL Enviro200 MMC X21 RVK at Cleveleys in September 2025

Volvo MCV Evora BD74 FKE crossing the tram tracks at Cleveleys in September 2025

Bolton 66 goes for a test run along the Prom

Bolton 66 passing South Pier while out on a test run on 30th April

Bolton 66 went for a test run along the Promenade on the morning of Thursday 30th April, the tram was spotted heading north at South Pier late in the morning. 66 ventured as far north as the Little Bispham loop before turning around and heading back south, where it was spotted passing the Tower an hour after the first encounter at South Pier.

Bolton 66 passing Flexity 013 at the South Pier tram stop

Bolting 66 heading back south past the Tower around an hour later

Beach Bus 26 at Coral Island

Transporabus Enviro400 LJ09 CAE passing Coral Island while on the Beach Bus 26 service on 27th April

Transporabus ADL Enviro400 2603 (LJ09 CAE) on the Beach Bus 26 service, passing the iconic skull of the Coral Island amusement arcade while turning from New Bonny Street onto the Promenade on 27th April.

Stena Line Rotor Sail Truck Ferry at Heysham

Stena Connecta departing from Heysham harbour on 24th April heading for Belfast

Stena Line introduced their second ‘New Max’ RoRo truck ferry on the Belfast to Heysham service in January. Stena Connecta is similar to her sister ship Stena Futura, but with the addition of two rather prominent 28 metre high Norsepower Rotor Sails. These innovative rotor sails work by compressing and thinning the air to create thrust which assists in powering the vessel, in a similar process to that which makes a football spin. Stena Connecta entered service on the Heysham to Belfast route on 23rd January, and together the new larger ferries offer an additional 40% increase in freight capacity over the previous ships. Stena Connecta has a multi-hybrid propulsion system, enabling the use of battery power, biofuel, and methanol.

 Stena Connecta passing the remains of the old wooden South Jetty at Heysham

Stena Connecta drawing away slowly from her berth in Heysham harbour

Stena Connecta passing between the entrance piers at Heysham harbour

The old order - Stena Hibernia arriving at Heysham from Belfast in May 2021

Monkey See, Monkey Do

An Audi having driven across the hatched no-go tram only area on the Esplanade and following Flexity 007

During a visit to Fleetwood photographing trams on Sunday 19th April, I witnessed something that I hadn't encountered before in the town. While Flexity 007 was turning right from the Esplanade into Pharos Street, I was panning round with my camera following the tram, when a white car appeared in my viewfinder behind the tram. To my amazement a silver MG also then proceeded to cross the hatched no-go area around the tram tracks on the Esplanade, and followed a white Audi behind Flexity 007 for the full length of the tram reservation along Pharos Street. To see one car making this stupid mistake was unusual, but when the second car blindly followed the first one like a sheep it was unbelievable! Observing vehicles ignoring the tram only signs and driving through the tram reservation in Talbot Square in Blackpool is a fairly routine sight. but it's not something that I've personally witnessed before in Pharos Street.

Cars following Flexity 007 along the tram reservation in Pharos St, the actual roadway is to the left of the lighthouse

Flexity 007 turning into North Albert Street with the two cars blithely following along behind

The Last Day of the Knott End Ferry Service - Only it Wasn't

The Knott End Ferry 'Wyre Rose' passing Fleetwood trawler 'Julia Anne' on 16th April

Wyre Council posted an Important Information bulletin on their Facebook page on 10th April which read "Wyre Council has today confirmed that the Fleetwood-Knott End ferry service is due to end on 15 April 2026." Note that the loss of this historic 185 year old transport link for local residents and visitors was only announced five days before the ferry was due to stop running! The news was quickly picked up by local media, and on the 15th April items about the Knott End Ferry were broadcast on TV and Radio news programmes, also a presenter from Radio Lancashire was in attendance at Fleetwood to record the passing of the ferry service. By the time that the last ferry was due to sail from the Fleetwood landing stage at 1245, a crowd of people had gathered to witness the end of an era.

Later in the day at 1740 Wyre Marine Services Ltd (who operate the ferry) posted the following statement on Facebook. "Following constructive discussions with Wyre Borough Council and Lancashire County Council, it was jointly agreed that the ferry service would continue operating on an interim basis for the benefit of the public while longer term arrangements are progressed. Talks have been positive, and discussions are now underway towards agreeing a new three year contract."

So the last day of the ferry service turned out not to be the case in the end. A series of photos are posted here of the resurrected ferry service taken on Thursday 16th April, as the weather on Wednesday which was the supposed 'Last Day' was rather dismal. One shot is included from Wednesday showing the assembled crowd which had gathered to watch the final sailing of the ferry from Fleetwood to Knott End and back.

Wednesday 15th at 1245 and the assembled crowd are gathered to watch the 'Final' sailing of the Knott End Ferry

The next day and it's business as usual as the ferry leaves for Knott End on Thursday 16th April

The Wyre Rose arrives back at Fleetwood passing the RNLI lifeboat crew on training manoeuvres

The Wyre Rose approaching the slipway at Knott End on 16th April

The ferry berthed at the end of the landing stage at Fleetwood due to the lowering tide

The Wyre Rose approaching Knott End, showing the very long slipway on that side of the river

An interior view of the ferry berthing at Knott End, showing the raised bridge area for the skipper

Passengers disembarking onto the Knott End slipway on Tuesday 14th April

The Wyre Rose sailing back towards Fleetwood on 14th April

The ferry service cessation notice posted by Wyre Council on Friday 10th April

Bolton 66 out on the Promenade

Bolton 66 being towed by Unimog 939 at South Pier on 7th April

Bolton 66 went for trip down the Promenade today from Rigby Road depot to Starr Gate. At around 1140 Unimog 939 was spotted towing Bolton 66 along the Promenade at South Pier, the tram was being moved from Rigby Road depot to Starr Gate depot. Presumably this move must be a prelude to Bolton 66 being reactivated to operational status. Later on, just after midday, Bolton 66 was noted being driven into the engineering side of Starr Gate depot under its own power.

Bolton 66 behind Unimog 939 at South Pier

Bolton 66 on its way to Starr Gate depot

Unimog 939 on its way to Rigby Road depot to collect Bolton 66

Double Deckers on Cleveleys Promenade

Blackpool ADL Enviro 400 City 437 on Cleveleys Promenade on 2nd April

The end of Transporabus's Cleveleys to Fleetwood leg of their service 24 on Saturday 28th March would see the ushering in of a new era. From Sunday 29th March this route was to be covered by an extension of Blackpool Transport's existing service 5, by extending the journeys of BTS route 5 buses from Cleveleys all the way to Fleetwood via Larkholme. The extension of Blackpool Transport's service 5 through to Fleetwood saw the introduction of a regular half-hourly mainly double-deck bus service along Cleveleys Promenade. The photos shown here were all taken during the first week of the extension of Blackpool Transport's service 5 to Fleetwood.

Enviro 400 City 437 passing the skate park at Jubilee Gardens on 30th March

Enviro 400 City 421 passing the FBKafe that was used as a set during filming for Star Wars in 2021

Enviro 400 City 417 passing the Vue cinema on Cleveleys Promenade on 2nd April

Blackpool ADL Enviro 400 City 417 on Cleveleys North Promenade on 2nd April

Enviro 400 City 457 passing one of the distinctive 'flying saucer' shaped shelters on 30th March

Enviro 400 City 430 on Victoria Road West, about to enter Cleveleys Promenade on 30th March

Enviro 400 City 456 turning from the Promenade into Thornton Gate on 2nd April

The FBKafe on the prom in May 2021 as altered for filming of the 'Rogue One' Star Wars prequel

A scene during filming of the 'Rogue One' Star Wars prequel at Cleveleys in May 2021, next to the current FBKafe