Catching up with SeaFront 12

Summer is passing by so quickly and blog posts have been few and far between over recent weeks, which are our busiest months of the year. Catching up with SeaFront 12, the service was extended to St.Annes from 20th July, as well as starting the evening operation with later journeys between Pleasure Beach and Norbreck Hotel only.
On the bus front, Routemasters are now making some appearances on SF12 and also "Wallace & Gromit" liveried Olympian 269 has returned to service and will be dedicated to the sea front operation until the autumn closure. The next Olympian to return to Sea Front service is no stranger to the Promenade, having previously operated in orange/yellow Line 1 livery with Blackpool Transport. It is ex-Trent Olympian 701 (XAU701Y) which has received a poppy red & white front (echoing its NBC Trent days) and an all-over advert for the Pleasure Beach Hot Ice show.

701 - returning to active duty on SF12 after returning to Classic Bus North West custody following its previous loan to the LTT collection. In this view it was posed at Mereside and clearly shows the NBC inspired Poppy Red and White front echoing its early days at Trent. (Philip Higgs)

大巴士在黑澤

The biggest bus in Blackpool has now entered service on SeaFront 12 in its eye-catching Wallace & Gromit advert livery for the Pleasure Beach's new "Thrill-o-matic" ride. This 102-seater bus is the first of two ex-Big Bus open tops to join the fleet of CBNW for the 2013 season. It originated as one of arouund 80+ tri axle Metrobuses delivered to China motor bus (CMB) back in 1988. Its first day of use on SeaFront 12 was Friday 21 June.

102-seater MCW Metrobus 69 on SeaFront 12

 

A Cracking Contraption!

The finishing touches are being put to former Big Bus Tours MCW Metrobus open top F69SYE and its wrap for Wallace & Gromit. 69 is now looking superb in its stunning advert livery that will certainly turn heads this summer on SeaFront 12. F69SYE last carried passengers back in 2009 and it is expected to start operating on 12s during mid-June.

Lothian 269 un-wrapped

Former Lothian Olympian 269 has been unwrapped of its Pleasure Beach vinyl advert applied in 2010 to reveal its maroon & white livery once more. However, it will not be for long because 269 is currently out of service for receipt of a new vinyl wrap for the Pleasure Beach's "Thrill-o-matic" ride, inspired by the much loved characters Wallace & Gromit. 269 will be joined by one of the MCW open top double deckers in a turquoise based scheme.

269 with its Pleasure Beach vinyl wrap removed.

Heritage Day a Success!

The loan of two LTT buses to Classic Bus North West on Saturday 25 May for its first Heritage Day proved to be quite a success. Blackpool 529 and Lytham 19 joined CBNW's own London Routemaster RM1568 on the 30-min Saturday service. This was the first working of a Blackpool PD3 on service 22 since back in 1988 when the type was withdrawn from service by Blackpool Transport. Many local passengers were surprised by the arrival of the vintage buses and enthusiasts, some travelling from as far south as London, enjoyed the heritage workings. Further heritage dates are now being discussed with CBNW.

Heritage Day Timetable

Blackpool 529, Lytham 19 and an iconic London Routemaster will be operating on Classic Bus North West's "Catch 22" service this Saturday on the first heritage day. Full details have now been published on the Catch 22 website.
See http://www.catch22bus.co.uk/heritage-day-25-may
The CBNW depot will also be open to visitors and will feature a display of CBNW and LTT owned buses. It will be the first time that a Blackpool PD3 has operated on service 22 for nearly 25 years, with the last PD3s being withdrawn from regular service in November 1988.

Welcome to the fleet 915

Another vehicle to join the CBNW fleet from the Stagecoach clan is Olympian 915 (P915RYO) which has just returned from respray into all-over red livery. 915 joins us from Stagecoach North West but it was acquired by Stagecoach from the Yorkshire Traction acquisition. Prior to this, 915 was new to London Central as NV115 as a dual-door vehicle in 1997.