Farewell to Ribble Running Day

One of the heritage buses planned to be used on 3rd April is ex Ribble Bristol VRT No 1997 (OCK 997K)

On Sunday 3rd April 2016 the Lancastrian Transport Trust have organised a free heritage bus service which will be operated by Catch22Bus Ltd to introduce passengers to their new service 24 and extended service 22 between Cleveleys and Fleetwood. The heritage service has been planned to mark the passing of Ribble (Stagecoach) operations within the Wyre Borough area.

Ribble Running Day Timetable on Sunday 3rd April

Service 24 Cleveleys to Poulton
Cleveleys Bus station 11:50 12:50 13:50 14:50 15:50
Thornton Health Centre 11:58 12:58 13:58 14:58 15:58
Thornton Centre 12:05 13:05 14:05 15:05 16:05
Poulton Church 12:17 13:17 14:17 15:17 16:17

Poulton Church 12:20 13:20 14:20 15:20
Thornton Centre 12:32 13:32 14:32 15:32
Thornton Health Centre 12:38 13:38 14:38 15:38
Cleveleys Bus station 12:48 13:48 14:48 15:48

Service 22 Cleveleys to Fleetwood
Cleveleys Bus Station 11:50 12:50 13:50 14:50
Fleetwood (Queens Terrace) 12:17 13:17 14:17 15:17

Fleetwood (Queens Terrace) 12:20 13:20 14:20 15:20
Cleveleys Bus Station 12:48 13:48 14:48 15:48

(The heritage journeys will be free of charge, with normal fares applying on all other Catch22Bus routes, including the service 22 between Mereside and Cleveleys).

Former Ribble Bristol RESL OCK 366K is planned to be used on the heritage service on 3rd April 2016

Centro 527 goes Grey

Palladium branded Centro bodied Volvo 527 seen leaving Market St in Blackpool for Lytham on service 11

Since Blackpool Transport took delivery of their ten Palladium branded grey and yellow Mercedes Citaros last year, they have decided to extend the grey and pale yellow look to other vehicles in the fleet. 527 (BF60 UVL), a Plaxton Centro bodied Volvo B7RLE new to Blackpool in 2010, is the first of the existing bus fleet to be upgraded to Palladium standard, and has been outshopped in the same colour scheme as the Citaros, along with an upgraded interior and free onboard Wi-Fi. Volvo 527 has been noted in use on services 7 and 11 since it returned to service in its new guise.

Palladium branded Volvo 527 turning into Market Street in Blackpool on the service 11 to Lytham

Balloons on Blue

Balloon 715 heading north at Warley Road, with the snow covered Lakeland Fells visible over 30 miles away

Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th March saw the Heritage Tram Tours operating on a blue timetable. The output over the weekend consisted of Balloons 715 and 717 operating the service on both days. The two trams shuttled backwards and forwards between North Pier and the Pleasure Beach for most of the day, with four trips timetabled to run north to the Cabin.

Balloons 715 and 717 passing each other near the St Chads tram stop

Balloon 715 southbound at Wilton Parade, returning from a timetabled run to the Cabin

Balloon 717 near St Chads, heading south towards the Pleasure Beach

Marton 31 arrives in Blackpool

Marton Box Car 31 turning off Lytham Road after its mid-afternoon arrival in Blackpool

The second half of the tram swap between Beamish and Blackpool was completed when Marton Box 31 was delivered to Blundell Street by Calkeld Heavy Haulage on the afternoon of 2nd March. After Standard 147's complicated and lengthy journey north to Beamish over the previous two days, via 'A' roads and 'B' roads, the delivery of Marton 31 was a relatively straightforward affair, with much of the journey being completed via motorway due to the reduced height of the tram, which had also had its trolley mast removed in order to facilitate the journey. 31 arrived in Blundell Street at 1510, and after a swift unloading the tram was soon shunted into the depot by Unimog 939.

The low loader with 31 onboard making the turn from Rigby Road into Blundell Street

The transporter of Calkeld Heavy Haulage passing the transport offices as it arrives in Blundell Street

The low loader parked up in the unloading position in Blundell Street

Marton 31 on the low loader trailer after the tractor unit had been disconnected

Marton Box 31 being pulled off the low loader trailer by Unimog 939

Marton Box Car 31 touching down on Blackpool rails courtesy of Unimog 939

Unimog 939 towing Marton Box 31 from Blundell Street into Hopton Road

Marton 31 being shunted into Rigby Road tram depot by Unimog 939

147 departs for Beamish

Engineering Car 754 propelling Standard 147 into Blundell Street at 0755 in the morning

Standard 147 was scheduled to leave for the Living Museum of the North at Beamish on 29th February, in an exchange loan for Marton Box Car 31 which would be coming south to Blackpool for the season. 147 was shunted out of the depot onto Blundell Street by Engineering Car 754 before 0800 in readiness for loading. An early start to the day had been planned, but although the low loader left Leeds at 0630, it was a full seven hours later that it eventually turned up in Blundell Street at 1330, apparently due to a problem with the vehicle. The loading process took most of the afternoon, with Calkeld Heavy Haulage departing from Blundell Street at 1635, with 147 safely chained down on the trailer in preparation for the long journey north to Beamish in County Durham.

The transporter of Calkeld Heavy Haulage arriving in Blundell Street at 1330

Extending the low loader trailer to match the length of Standard 147

The depot fork lift truck pushing 147 up the rail ramp and onto the back of the low loader

717 returning from driver training, the last time that 147 and 717 will be seen together for several months

147 loaded on the trailer and being secured in position in readiness for transport

147 chained down on the low loader and ready to depart

Checking the overall height of the loaded tram and trailer before departure

The low loader of Calkeld Heavy Haulage threading its way between the overhead poles on Hopton Rd

Calkeld Heavy Haulage with 147 onboard, negotiating the turn from Hopton Road into Lytham Road

Standard 147 heading off down Lytham Road at the start of its long journey to Beamish Museum

Sun, Boat and Twins

Boat 230 approaching Bispham under clear but chilly blue skies

The second day of the February Heritage Tram Tour weekend continued on Sunday 28th February, with a mixture of sunshine and cloud. The gold timetabled service was in force again, with trams 40, 230, 648, 723, 272/T2 and 675/685 in use throughout the day. Boat 230 was used once again on the heritage service, despite it only being 2 deg C at 0900!

Twin Set 272/T2 at Bispham heading towards Fleetwood under glorious blue skies

Twin Set 675/685 at Bispham heading south, bound for the Pleasure Beach

Southbound Balloon 723 now looking decidedly scruffy, especially on the roof

Northbound Box Car 40 waiting at Foxhall, while Twin Set 675/685 reverses over the crossover

Centenary 648 passing Twin Set 675/685 at North Pier

Boating in Winter

Standard 147 southbound on a Heritage Tour service at Manchester Square

The second Heritage Tour weekend of the year started on Saturday 27th February. A gold timetabled service was in operation, with heritage trams 40, 147, 230, 715, 717 and 272/T2 opening the days proceedings. This was to be Standard 147's last outing in Heritage Tour service before the tram goes on loan to the Living Museum of the North at Beamish. Boat 230 made a rare winter timetabled journey to Fleetwood, despite the rather cool weather.

Twin Set 272/T2 heading north past the emergency track repair work at Manchester Square

Balloon 715 at Foxhall heading north to Little Bispham

Balloon 717 entering service, passing emergency track repairs at Manchester Square

A rare sight in Fleetwood in winter, Boat 230 heading south along Lord Street on a Heritage Tour