O Caerdydd i Blackpool II

Three further Cardiff Dennis Dart SPDs are joining the fleet and the first of these, 362 (W362VHB) made the journey north to Blackpool on 23 Sept and has already been prepared for service with Catch22Bus. The SPDs will replace the last of the ex-London dual-doored Darts 143 (T143AUA) and 512 (X512UAT) and indeed 512 has already made the journey to Barnsley where it is destined for scrap.

362 on Leckwith Road in Cardiff following collection and ready for the 220 mile journey north to Blackpool.

Posed at Blackpool alongside Central Drive and with the Tower in the background.

Fleet News Update

Ex-Cardiff Dennis Dart 147 (T147DAX) has returned today from respray into fleet livery after having a replacement engine fitted. 147 has been out of service since April.
Replacing it at the painters is 474 (W474UAG) which will also receive fleet livery following acquisition from Walsall Community Transport, but was previously East Yorkshire Motor Services and is part of the same batch as 466 & 468 already in the fleet (some of the batch are still operating with EYMS).

147 rests at Stafford services on the M6 on its return journey to Blackpool.



474 prior to delivery for repaint.

Atlantean 334 goes to the Zoo

Another former Blackpool Corporation Transport vehicle made its debut on the heritage bus operated Service 21 this week. 1980 East Lancashire bodied Leyland Atlantean 334 (AHG 334V) made its first outing on the 21 to Blackpool Zoo on Tuesday, resplendent in full Blackpool green and cream livery as applied in 2007 following restoration by "the Busworks" in Blackpool. Atlantean 334, owned by the Lancastrian Transport Trust has been out of service since 2010.
Recently Catch22Bus, in partnership with LTT, has had the radiator replaced, the brakes fully overhauled and other work undertaken prior to being submitted for Class VI MoT at Preston.

334 on Adelaide Street in a scene so typical of 1980 when the bus was new to Blackpool. (Photo: Alan Robson)

Fleet update

A further Dennis Dart MPD has been acquired and is related to two already in the fleet. 474 (W474UAG) has been purchased from Walsall Community Transport and is receiving a replacement gearbox in Wolverhampton before it joins us. Following this work, 474 is likely to be resprayed in fleet livery once ex-Cardiff MPD 147 is completed.