Paisley 16

The lower saloon of former open-top tram 16 of Paisley District Tramways outside the fitting shop

During early December 2016 an old tram body appeared outside the fitting shop at Rigby Road depot. The new arrival is the lower saloon of open-top car 16, which was part of a batch of 40 trams built by the British Electric Car Company in 1904 for the newly electrified routes of Paisley District Tramways. 16 later became 1016 in the fleet of Glasgow Corporation Tramways, after the Paisley system was absorbed by the larger operator in 1923. The lower saloon, truck and various other equipment belonging to the tram have been acquired by the Blackpool Heritage Trust from the Scottish International Tramway Association, being transported from Glasgow to Blackpool on 3rd December last year. This tram is obviously going to be a very long term restoration project, given the number of other trams that are currently awaiting restoration at Rigby Road and the limited manpower available.

Winter Heritage Gold

Balloon 713 at Norbreck on the first Heritage Tram Tour of the day to Fleetwood

The first winter Heritage Tram Tour event of 2017 took place over the weekend of 28th & 29th January, with six trams running a gold timetable service. The six car output on Sunday 29th consisted of duty A: Balloon 713, duty B: Balloon 700, duty C: Balloon 717, duty D: Frigate 736, duty E: Balloon 723 and duty F: Railcoach 680.

Frigate 736 at Gynn Square heading towards the Pleasure Beach

Railcoach 680 heading south at Norbreck

Balloon 717 and Frigate 736 passing at Cavendish Road

Balloon 717 approaching the Cavendish Road stop on its way to Little Bispham

Balloon 723 heading south near the former Miner's Home

Balloon 700 stopping at Bispham on its way to Fleetwood

Second Versa enters service with Catch22Bus

Optare Versa YJ10MGU on Alexandra Road in Thornton on the service 24 to Poulton

The second of three 11.1m Optare Versas has entered service with Catch22Bus. Unlike YJ61JHH, the first Versa to see use, YJ10MGU is in the standard all-over turquoise livery with orange lining. Both new Optare Versas are currently being used on the service 24 between Cleveleys and Poulton.

Optare Versa YJ10MGU on Fleetwood Road North in Thornton on service 24 to Cleveleys

Farewell to the Routemaster

Routemasters and other vehicles preparing to enter service at the Catch22Bus depot on 31st December

Saturday 31st December was the final day that non DDA compliant buses were allowed to be used on stage carriage services. To commemorate this historic and sad occasion, Catch22Bus operated a fully step entrance heritage bus service on their Coastliner 21 route, that runs between between Cleveleys and St Annes. The vehicles rostered for use on the day were former London Routemasters RML887 and RM1583 (recently repainted out of its Blackpool livery into London red), ex Blackpool PD3 516 and ex Ribble Bristol VR 1997. During the morning the Lancastrian Transport Trust ran their former Ribble Atlantean 1805 as an extra on the route, providing free trips for passengers. After a crew break PD3 516 was swapped for former Blackpool PD3 529, to add even more variety to the service. As all these buses will now no longer be permitted to run in passenger service, in future they will be limited to private hires and other occasional outings.

RM1583 parked in St Annes waiting to commence service on the Coastliner 21 to Cleveleys

RM1583 in St Annes, with former Ribble Atlantean 1805 running as an extra on service 21X

Former Blackpool Leyland PD3 516 near the Pleasure Beach on its way to St Annes

Ex Blackpool PD3 516 picking up passengers in Blackpool on its run south to St Annes

RML887 passing South Pier on its way north towards Cleveleys

Leyland PD3 529 and Bristol VR 1997 pausing at a stop in Blackpool with BTS Trident 368 heading north

RM1583 near North Pier in Blackpool heading towards Cleveleys

Former Blackpool PD3 529 heading south through Talbot Square in Blackpool

Former Ribble Bristol VR 1997 turning round in Cleveleys to head back south again to St Annes

RM1583 arriving at Cleveleys after its run from St Annes

Ex Blackpool PD3 529 laying over at the southern terminus of service 21 in St Annes

RML887 in Cleveleys at the start of its run south along the Fylde Coast to St Annes

New Optare Versa for Catch22Bus

Optare Versa YJ61JHH turning out of Alexandra Road in Thornton on the way to Poulton

The first Optare Versa, of a recently acquired batch of three, entered passenger service with Catch22Bus Ltd this morning. YJ61JHH is one of three Versas that had previously been on a five year lease to APH (Airport Parking & Hotels), the vehicle made its debut on service 24 between Cleveleys and Poulton.

Poulton bound Optare Versa YJ61JHH on Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys

RM special to Manchester Markets

RML887 on Rough Lea Road in Cleveleys, on its way to pick up passengers in Blackpool

With the days of step entrance buses in passenger service drawing to a close, Catch22Bus Ltd used one of their Routemasters on a special excursion to Manchester on 17th December. RML887 operated a shoppers special to the Manchester Christmas Markets, departing from Cleveleys Bus Station at 10:15 before picking up in Blackpool at 10:30. The service gave passengers the opportunity to spend a day Christmas shopping in Manchester, before returning to the Fylde Coast early on Saturday evening.

More Single Line Working in Blackpool

Southbound Flexity 016 wrong line running past the track welding work alongside the Metropole Hotel

Further to the line closure that took place ten days previously, the southbound tram track between the Cabin and North Pier was closed again on December 15th from 10:00 until 15:00. Single line working was again in operation for the duration of the closure, using the northbound track only. Passengers wishing to travel south from the Cliffs, Gynn Square, Wilton Parade or Pleasant Street had to board the Flexity trams using the northbound platforms. The cause of the service disruption was further rail welding adjacent to the Metropole Hotel, at the same location as the work that had been undertaken on 5th December.

The first wrong line working of the day, Flexity 015 regaining the southbound track at North Pier

Flexity 006 crossing back onto the southbound line at North Pier, passing northbound 015

Southbound Flexity 006 at North Pier, with 015 waiting to travel north over the single line section