Dennis Basford's Rails, Roads and Runways: 'Scene' in Blackpool and Fleetwood recently

Friday, 11 October 2013

'Scene' in Blackpool and Fleetwood recently

Although rail connections are still in place in Blackpool and a good range of destinations can be reached from the town.

It is the coach that seems to carry the large numbers of holiday makers that visit Blackpool. Many of these making their way to Fleetwood Market on a Tuesday.

They come from far and wide. I saw coaches from as far away as Devon, Aberdeen and the Isle of Wight.

What follows then is just a sample of what was on display.

KN07 SPA

A Volvo B12B with VanHool Acron bodywork from ‘Spa Coaches’ of Strathpeffer.

T999 PVC

A Bova Futura from ‘Pewsey Vale Coaches’ from Pewsey in Wiltshire. Note the use of an appropriate registration.

K10 LHT

A Neoplan Transliner N316 SHD from ‘Living High Travel’ in Dunfermline in Fife.

WA08 JVX

A VDL Bova FHD127.365 of ‘Silcox’ of Pembroke Dock and Tenby in South Wales.

T118 SOA

A Setra Special from ‘Lambs’ of Stockport.

PN10 AFO

A MAN R33 with Beulas Stergo Spica bodywork from ‘Walton’s’ of Freckleton, Lancashire.

MW51 PJW

Another of ‘Walton’s’ fleet this time an Ayats Alpha A2E.

OU58 BOF

Another of Walton’s fleet. This time an Ayats Atlantis A18.

YN07 DZK

A MAN 18.360 with Noge Catalan bodywork from 'Seaview Services on the Isle of Wight.

Seaview Services are a long established company with a history going back to 1918.

At one time it worked for the 'Kings Ferry' in the Medway area.

OE02 WAU

Is a rare Dennis ‘R’ with a Plaxton Paragon body. Now operated by 'Carmel of Devon'. Carmel operate across Devon having depots in Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay and Okehampton.

It previously worked for 'Dartline' also in Devon.

MIB 394 (formerly K4 HWD)

A VanHool Alize bodied MAN from ‘Copelands’ of Meir, Stoke on Trent looks to be in superb condition for a vehicle now approaching its 20th. birthday.

C560 BUS

I have always thought that this type of bodywork from Jonkheere to be one of their best efforts. Elegant, stylish and immediately recognisable.

The chassis is a Volvo B12B (thanks to Andrew Jones at Coachstyle for that piece of information).

'Coachstyle' are based in Chippenham, Wiltshire.

JJZ 8701

A Volvo B10M with Jonkheere Mistral bodywork dating from 2001 that previously worked for 'RJG Bullick' coaches a Northern Irish operator.

'Gwyn Williams' its current operator being based in Llanelli in South Wales.

Sadly, shortly after this picture was taken. Director Graham Williams announced that the loss of six schools contracts was the ‘final straw’.

As a consequence the company was put into voluntary liquidation and ceased to operate as from the 27th. of September 2013 after just over 50 years in the industry.

YJ11 GGX

Is a VanHool T916 Astron of 'Galloway Coaches'. The company operates out of a number of bases in East Anglia.

MX05 AHN

A Volvo B12M with Jonkheere Mistral bodywork shown in the livery adopted at the time that 'Shearings' took over Wallace Arnold.

It was deemed to be the new livery that ‘joined’ the two parts. However, blue has appeared on later deliveries.

WA03 MGE

A ‘big city’ operator ‘Plymouth city coach’ (Pcc) sent along this Volvo B12M fitted with Transbus’ Paragon bodywork. Pcc being part of the Go Ahead group subsidiary Plymouth City Bus.

D20 CTC

‘Central coaches (Aberdeen) Ltd.’ sent along this Scania/Irizar combination.

KIG 7218

While fellow Scottish operator ‘Blacks of Brechin’ were represented by one of the few King Long coaches that I have seen on the road. This being the XMQ6127C model.

I like the Saltire ‘flags’ that adorn the mirrors.