The bus that has never been a bus visits Blackpool

Scania Omnidekka PE55 WMC at Bickerstaffe Square on 23rd August

A Scania double-deck bus branded 'Your Heart Matters' visited Blackpool on Wednesday 23rd August. The bus was parked on Bickerstaffe Square, opposite Blackpool North railway station between 10am and 3pm, enabling people to be checked to see if they had heart valve problems. Scania Omnidekka PE55 WMC was delivered new in 2006 to Newcastle Council, and has never seen use as a public service vehicle. The bus was built from new for use as a mobile showroom to promote council housing in Newcastle.

An offside view of Scania Omnidekka PE55 WMC in Blackpool

A rear view of Scania Omnidekka PE55 WMC in Blackpool

First Day in Service for Isle of Man Ferry Manxman

Manxman approaching Heysham on its inaugural passenger sailing from Douglas on 17th August

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's new ro-ro ferry Manxman made its first passenger sailing on Thursday 17th August. The Manxman was timetabled to leave Douglas at 08:45, but the departure was delayed for half an hour due to loading problems, the delay meant that the ferry arrived at Heysham somewhat later than advertised. The ship was scheduled to sail from Heysham on the return journey to Douglas at 14:15, but its departure was delayed until 15:00. The Manxman was constructed at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea, having been ordered in July 2020. The ship was launched in June 2022 and commenced sea trials in December of that year. The delivery voyage to the UK of approximately 12,000 miles started on 13th May, 2023.

Manxman passing the remains of the wooden South Jetty at Heysham Harbour

Manxman approaching the harbour entrance at Heysham

Manxman passing the South Pier Lighthouse at the entrance to Heysham Harbour

A rear view of Manxman entering Heysham Harbour with a truck on the upper car deck

Manxman turning around in Heysham Harbour

Manxman about to reverse into its berth

Manxman berthed at the loading ramp in Heysham Harbour

Manxman setting sail for the return voyage to Douglas in the Isle of Man

Manxman passing though the harbour entrance at Heysham on its way to Douglas

Pleasure Beach all-over advert for Flexity 012

Flexity 012 on North Albert Street in Fleetwood

Flexity 012 entered service on Sunday 6th August with a new vinyl wrap advert for the Pleasure Beach. Contravision has been restricted to the end and centre sections, leaving the windows on the two twin-door sections clear of advertising. The tram is a welcome addition to the fleet, with its bright and cheerful advert, especially in light of other overall wrap adverts having been lost over the last few years. Note all the photos in this report were taken on Monday 7th August.

Flexity 012 at Fleetwood Ferry on the afternoon of Monday 7th August

Flexity 012 at Fleetwood Ferry on the morning of Monday 7th August

Flexity 012 at the northern terminus in Bold Street, Fleetwood

Flexity 012 turning right into Pharos Street in Fleetwood

Centenary 645 leaves Rigby Road

Centenary 645 chained down on Allelys low loader in Blundell Street

Centenary 645 was the latest tram to leave Blackpool this morning. An early start was made in moving 645 on Tuesday 18th July, with the tram being towed out of the depot by Unimog 939, before being winched onto the low loader of Allelys Heavy Haulage in Blundell Street. The low loader needed to reverse out of Blundell Street into Hopton Road and then Lytham Road before heading out of town. Unfortunately the loading bay of Home Bargains was blocked by parked cars, necessitating a tricky manoeuvre using the road instead. The low loader first attempted to reverse around the south side of the large kerbed island and traction pole in the middle of Hopton Road, unfortunately this route failed due to a parked car on the road near the depot entrance. The transporter moved back into Blundell Street before eventually squeezing through the tight gap (for a large low loader) on the north side of the large island in Hopton Road. After safely reversing all the way down to Lytham Road, the low loader with 645 onboard headed off just before 10:30 am. The destination of the journey was Crich tramway museum, for some secret project that has yet to be revealed. It's exactly six years this month since 645 returned to Rigby Road tram depot from its previous home of Windy Harbour Caravan Park on the Fylde.

645 in Blundell Street ready to depart

The low loader attempting to manoeuvre around the south side of the large raised island

This route was blocked by an awkwardly parked Ford Ka outside the depot

The low loader then attempted to squeeze around the north side of the large kerb in Hopton Road

This time the low loader successfully gained access to Hopton Road

The low loader reversing from Hopton Road into Lytham Road

The low loader with 645 onboard about to head off down Lytham Road

The low loader with 645 and escort vehicle heading south down Lytham Road

Centenary 645 passing the Imperial Hotel in September 2011

645 on Windy Harbour Caravan Park in 2017 with a few boarded up broken windows

Fleetwood Tram Replacement Service

Enviro 418 in Bold Street on the tram replacement bus service on Sunday 16th July

As a consequence of the Fleetwood Festival of Transport being cancelled due to wind, there was no Flexity tram service between Fisherman's Walk and Fleetwood Ferry from the start of service until 17:30 on Sunday 16th July. The reason given for the truncated tram service was that the drivers shifts had already been arranged in advance for Tram Sunday (which subsequently didn't take place), and couldn't be altered at such short notice. A free tram replacement shuttle bus service operated between Fisherman's Walk and Bold Street during the period of short running.

Flexity 012 turning back short at Fisherman's Walk on Sunday 16th July

Flexity 012 terminating at Fisherman's Walk on Sunday 16th July

Flexity 011 crew changing the points on the crossover at Ash Street on Sunday 16th July

Heritage Trams on No Tram Sunday

Balloon 723 at Pharos Street on 16th July, which should have been thronging with Tram Sunday visitors

The Fleetwood Festival of Transport, commonly know as Tram Sunday, should have been held this weekend. Unfortunately in light of forecast 25 mph winds (occasionally gusting up to 35 mph) the event was cancelled for insurance reasons. The cancellation was all the more frustrating for the organisers, local businesses and visitors because Sunday afternoon turned out to be lovely and sunny, although admittedly there was a fairly stiff breeze blowing in the morning. The one bonus to the event being scrapped was that heritage trams were able to run all the way to Fleetwood Ferry on the Sunday of the enhanced heritage weekend, instead of turning back at Ash Street.

Brush 631 passing Enviro 437 in North Albert Street on Sunday 16th July

Balloon 700 at Little Bispham on Saturday 15th July

Brush 631 in a Fleetwood devoid of the expected Tram Sunday crowds on Sunday 16th July

Balloon 723 entering the centre track while on a Thornton Gate working on 15th July

Balloon 700 entering the loop at Little Bispham while Flexity 006 approaches the tram stop

Balloon 723 passing over the road crossing at Thornton Gate on 15th July

Arnside Garden Tramway

1:16 scale Liverpool Baby Grand 245 and Barrow 45 on the garden tramway

On Saturday 24th June, the North Lancashire group of the Tramway & Light Railway Society held their annual monthly meeting in the picturesque seaside village of Arnside in Cumbria, the venue of the meeting being the 3.5 inch gauge (1:16 scale) garden tramway of Jon Allen. In addition to Jon's own garden layout there were two visiting G scale tracks, one running trams and the other narrow gauge steam locomotives.

1:16 scale Cardiff water car 131 towing a linecar trailer

A 1:16 scale Blackpool Boat having just passed through the modelling shed

A 1:16 scale model of Barrow 45 at the terminus

Belgian Vicinal car 9433 on the visiting G scale track in the front garden

A G scale Kitson steam tram locomotive and trailer

A 1:16 scale model of Darwen Corporation Milnes Voss Demi-car 15 built by Richard Hargreaves

A partly completed 1:16 scale model of Southport Tramways Company Demi-car 21

A live steam G scale model of 0-4-0 tank engine Wilhelm

Beware of giant female blackbirds feeding along the tram track