Brush Car 627 loses it Graffiti Paintwork

Brush Car 627 partly repainted into a green and cream colour scheme, seen on Saturday 9th August

Brush Car 627 opposite Blackpool Pleasure Beach is having the gold based graffiti artwork painted over by its owners the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust. The tram first arrived for display on 22nd August 2012, painted in a white and gold Queen's Diamond Jubilee livery. The following year saw 627 being controversially painted by urban street artist "Inkie" in a graffiti style paint scheme of a blue haired lady in June. 627 is currently being repainted into a green and cream livery, unfortunately the painted over windows will retain their graffiti scheme, and will be covered over with adverts instead of being stripped of paint.

A broadside view of Brush 627, with its fresh green paintwork standing out against the heavy grey clouds over the sea

Flexity 014 passing partly repainted Brush Car 627 at the Pleasure Beach loop on 9th August

Members of the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust applying undercoat over the gold graffiti paint scheme on 4th August

Inkie working on his blue haired lady urban artwork on Brush Car 627 on 15th June 2013

Brush Car 627 on 26th August 2012, four days after being located onto its display track at the Pleasure Beach

Red Rocket on the Seafront 12

Mercedes-Benz Citaro MAL53 heading south on the Seafront 12 promenade service in Cleveleys on 7th August

One of Oakwood Travel's Mercedes-Benz Citaro bendy buses was noted in use on the Seafront 12 promenade service on the morning of 7th August. MAL53 (BL52ODK) was spotted heading south in Cleveleys near Anchorsholme Lane, with a temporary destination display on the inside of the left hand side of the windscreen above the dash panel. New electric roller blinds are currently on order, from the same German firm that supplied the ones used on London Citaros. Driver training is due to commence next week for a pool of drivers who will be able to operate the Mercedes Citaros.

Dennis Trident 311 in overall Sainsbury's advert

Trident 311 carrying an overall advert for the new Talbot Road Sainsbury's store, passing Wilton Parade on 4th August

Blackpool Transport Dennis Trident 311 has received an overall advert on both sides and the rear of the bus for the new Sainsbury's supermarket which opened recently on Talbot Road. 311 entered service wearing the new advert a couple of weeks ago.

A rear three-quarter view of the new Sainsbury's advert on Trident 311, seen at Starr Gate on 4th August

Dart 163 enters service in the Catch 22 livery

Ex Stagecoach London Dennis Dart V163 MVX turning right from Warren Drive into Ashfield Road on 24th July

Oakwood Travel's former Stagecoach London Dennis Dart V163 MVX has lost its yellow and blue Bispham High School advert livery, and entered service wearing the new turquoise and orange Catch 22 colour scheme. 163 had been out of service since September 2013, but after receiving attention the bus re-entered service this week wearing the new Catch 22 colours on 22nd July.

Box 40 leaves for Crich

Box Car 40 being shunted from Hopton Road into Blundell Street by Unimog 938 on the morning of 21st July

Blackpool & Fleetwood Box Car 40 departed for a short period of loan to the National Tramway Museum at Crich on the morning of 21st July. After 40's brief return to service during Tram Sunday on 20th July, the tram has been transported to Crich where it is scheduled to take part in the Electric 50 event on the 13th and 14th of September. Scotts Heavy Haulage were tasked with moving Box 40, and after an uneventful loading on Monday morning, the low loader set off from Blundell Street with its precious load at 1135.

Unimog 938 pushing Box Car 40 up the rail ramp onto the back of Scotts low loader in Blundell Street

Box Car 40 being loaded onto Scotts trailer with the assistance of members of the National Tramway Museum

Scotts low loader manoeuvring from Blundell Street into Hopton Road via Home Bargains loading bay

Scotts low loader heading off down Lytham Road for Crich with Box Car 40 at 1135 on Monday 21st July

Tram Sunday

The highlight of the day was surely the newly refurbished Blackpool & Fleetwood Box Car 40, seen here at Ash Street

The annual Fleetwood Festival of Transport, commonly known as Tram Sunday, was held on 20th July. Blackpool Transport ran a half hourly Heritage Tour service from North Pier to Fisherman's Walk in Fleetwood for the duration of the Festival. The trams in use on the heritage service during the day were Pantograph Car 167, open top Balloon 706 Princess Alice, newly refurbished Box Car 40 and open Boat 230. Standard 147 and Balloon 717 were on static display next to the lighthouse in Pharos Street all day.

Pantograph Car 167 on the first heritage run, with the civic party onboard, pausing to load passengers at Cleveleys

Pantograph Car 167 unloading its passengers at the temporary heritage car stop at Fisherman's Walk

Flexity 012 has just reversed over the crossover at Ash Street while Pantograph Car 167 waits its turn to do the same

After unloading its passengers, Box Car 40 heads past the clock tower at Ash St ready to reverse over the crossover

Box Car 40 arriving at Fisherman's Walk, with Flexity 013 ready to depart for Starr Gate on the southbound platform

Balloon 706 Princess Alice departing Fisherman's Walk, with service Flexity 013 waiting at the northbound platform

Balloon 706 is seen heading south at Rossall School, with a load of passengers bound for North Pier

Boat 230 came out in place of Pantograph Car 167 during the afternoon, seen here loaded up at Fisherman's Walk

 Standard 147 and Balloon 717 seen on display in Pharos Street early on the Sunday morning

 Balloon 717 and Standard 147 seen on display in Pharos Street early on the Sunday morning

Dart 512 in the new Catch 22 livery

Former Transdev London Dennis Dart X512 UAT in the new Catch 22 livery on Talbot Road on 11th July

Oakwood Travel's ex Transdev London Dennis Dart X512 UAT has lost its former red and grey colour scheme, and has now entered service wearing the new turquoise and orange Catch 22 livery. The vehicle made its debut into passenger service carrying the new colours on Thursday 10th July.

Former Transdev London Dennis Dart X512 UAT rounding the mini roundabout on Talbot Road on 11th July