Another Dart joins the fleet

145 - the latest Dennis Dart to join the CBNW operating fleet following arrival in Blackpool on 20 November.

Today, another Dennis Dart joined the CBNW fleet to be prepared for service on "Catch 22" and strengthen our low floor output. Former Metroline DA145 (reg T145AUA) was new to Armchair in May 1999 and operated in Brentford, initially in their orange & white livery until the company was acquired by Metroline in 2004. These Alexander bodied Darts had a relatively short operating life, being withdrawn for refurbishment for the 209 service but then placed in store and later returned off-lease in December 2010. Never operated in its refurbished guise, the batch of Darts passed to dealers but DA145 was one of the few to escape the scrapyard and, still in good condition, but with faded paintwork after years of outside storage, this bus has now been acquired by CBNW to join other ex-London Darts already in the fleet. It is proposed to repaint "145" in standard red livery and apply route & fares graphics for service 22 ready for a return to passenger service from January 2013.

CBNW throwback - Dublin Olympians

RA 272, (96-D-272) in navy/yellow fleet livery was photographed in November 2006 towards the City Centre terminus of Route 130 in Dublin. It is now 325 (N325NHG) in the CBNW fleet.

Now 325 in the CBNW operating fleet, former Dublin Volvo Olympian RA 272 was one of a batch of fourteen bus delivered new to Clontarf Garage between March and May 1996, RA 264, (96-D-264) to RA 277, (96-D-277), all in Cityswift livery. RA264 was also destined to join CBNW, becoming 324 (N324NHG) and currently advertising Blackpool & Fylde College. Both have proved to be very reliable buses, despite now being over 16 years old. They are generally confined to the B&F College contracts although 324 was operated on "Sea Front 12" during the summer months and both see occasional service on "Catch 22".

Lights out for Service 12

Volvo 899 makes a rare appearance on SF12 and shows its dot-matrix display, now loaded for all CBNW operated services. 899 is captured at North Pier as dusk falls on the final operating day.

Today was the end of the operating season for "Sea Front 12" with RM1568, RML2391, Olympian 269 and Volvo 899 operating workings on the final day of the illuminations. It has been a great year and the Routemasters have certainly established themselves as another tourist attraction in the resort and an alternative form of transport along the sea front.

Olympian 269, straight from duty on SF12 has its blinds changed ready for the following morning's College run on service 73.