2 new Gemini 2's for Arriva, 1 for Yorkshire and the other for London plus a Cumfybus Solo outside

A business trip gave me a chance to see this bustling city and photograph some of its buses.

Nothing new in at Fleetwood so took a run into Blackpool and parked on the Prom for a while. All trams no buses.

Sitting outside waiting for my wife, saw 4 Tyrers Solo's and 2 coaches.

2 new Gemini 2's for First London

A flying visit to Lisbon to meet a ship allowed me an hour or so to visit the city centre and this is what I saw.

A few hours wait whilst waiting for a new passport gave me a chance to go down to The Strand and get snapping!!

1 Pulsar 2 for Arriva Merseyside only in Heysham. In Fleetwood everything from yesterday was still there plus 2 more Eclipse 2's for First S & A, 2 gemini 2's for First London and 1 Gemini 2 for Go Ahead London Central.

1 Eclipse 2 for First S & A, 2 Gemini 2's for Go Ahead London Central including the one which was on show at Coach & Bus Live last week and a Volvo B12B of Lochs & Glens in the coach parking area outside.

1 Pulsar 2 for Arriva Merseyside and an Eclipse 2 for First Bristol.

A busy business day at the show didn't allow me to photograph or even see all I wanted to, and unfortunately I didn't even get to the outside park!! But a few things here to see.

3 new Eclipse 2's for First S & A

Carrying on the general tidy up of the Fleetwood Docks site, this new collection will feature service buses and coaches outside of the docks.

Nothing new in at the docks so I went round by SC's Fleetwood depot to see if there was anything interesting: 4 Versas, 1 Olympian and a Stagecoach Preston Bus Trident, RESULT!!

All Arriva group buses coming in and going out through Fleetwood or Heysham docks since 2007.

This does NOT include stock vehicles for Arriva Bus & Coach UK

All First group buses coming in and going out through Fleetwood or Heysham docks since 2007

2 Eclipse 2's for First S & A and 3 Pulsar 2's for Arriva Merseyside

1 new Gemini 2 for Arriva London plus 2 oldies!!

Another 2 Gemini 2's for Arriva London

4 Gemini 2's in, 3 for First London and 1 for Arriva London.

1 Pulsar 2 for Arriva Merseyside, 2 Gemini 2's for Arriva London and 2 Eclipse 2's for First S & A

1 more Gemini 2 in for Arriva London.

5 in the docks in total of which 2 are new in overnight. A Gemini 2 for First London and a Solar for Thamesdown.

Having been away working over the weekend I know that I've missed a few buses, however 4 still in. 2 Solars for Scania UK, 1 Eclipse 2 for First S&A and a Gemini 2 for Arriva London

Not so many entrants as in previous years but a good show never the less. There are duplicates of many of the buses, this is to give some of the drivers a chance to see themselves.

Thanks to a very nice lady I was allowed into the yard to photograph the 4 Solo's parked up there.

1 new Scania Solar in the docks, plus a few goodies outside!!

A flying visit past Optare, spotted this Solo in the yard but not a chassis to be seen anywhere!!!

An hour spent watching the bus station plus a couple of shots in Morecambe and the Stagecoach Whitegate depot gave a good variety of types and ages.

I new VDL Pulsar 2 for Arriva Merseyside and one of Cumfybus's new Solos on the stance outside

A visit to a very busy Harrogate Bus Station and a good vantage point opposite the exit, except when the drivers were racing out to beat the pedestrian lights, then the photos are slightly blurred.

1 new Scania Solar for Arriva the Shires still on an '09 plate, no doubt will be changed when it gets to Luton.

2 new Gemini 2's in for Arriva London DW220 and DW221

Half an hour at Windermere Station bus stance saw a handful of Stagecoach NW vehicles and 1 tour coach

This week, just to prove that Heysham is not getting things all its own way, 4 new Gemini 2's for Arriva London have arrived here!!

New in were 2 VDL Gemini 2's for Arriva London, 1 Pulsar 2 for Arriva Merseyside, an Eclipse 2 for Volvo Bus UK and 1 Pulsar 2 still in since last weekend.

As soon as you say something, something else crops up to contradict you!! Yesterday I said that it looked like Heysham was now the main incoming English port for Wrightbus and today one appears in Fleetwood. A Volvo B7RLE Eclipse 2 for Volvo Bus UK

A superb day out, lots to see old and new. Sorry about the lack of captions but as I'm going into hospital tomorrow for a new hip (YIPPPPEEEEE) they'll have to wait until I come out.

Windermere Railway Station is busy not only for trains but also buses, Stagecoach Cumbria use it constantly. In the short time I had I saw 3 of the newly converted ALX400's, 18357, 'The Lakeland Pathfinder' (Wainwright), 2 PS's laid up and as I arrived there was a pair of Solo's, one in Barrow Connect livery but by the time I got parked they had gone. also parked up was a VDL Bus Van Hool Alizee T9 of Stainton, Kendal

2:30 on a Friday afternoon, not a car in the car park and the only bus to be seen was this Volvo B10M-50, Alexander RV G616 OTV new to Trent in 1989 but I've no idea who the current owner is.

Stagecoach NW's annual open day was held at the Morecambe depot this year and without doubt the highlight was 5 Ribble Leyland PD3's!! Great show and enjoy the photographs.

Quick trip to Blackburn, nothing at all in the yard at Optare and only this Stagecoach East midlands ALX200 at NWB&C.

A few minutes spare in Lord Street gave me a chance to try to photograph a few buses despite the very heavy Easter traffic.

A very unusual working on the 42 Blackpool - Lancaster, I saw it passing my house just as I was pulling out of the drive, Quick follow to the Poulton bus stance and then another 4 miles or so until I was able to park and photograph it coming out of Great Eccleston. Great looking bus, roll on the CMNL model!!

A bit of time in Colne and photographs of some of the new Eclipse 2's in Mainline livery as well as Renown's and a Tyrer Solo

I new Trident/Enviro 400 Olympus for London General and a (very) unfinished Enviro 200 Dart Esteem also for London General being put on to a low loader, WHY?

4 vehicles to see, Cumfy Bus Solo, Reading Omnidekka, Transdev Keighley & Dist. Renown and an ex Manchester Olympian.

An hour or so spent in Preston gave me a chance to photograph a lot of both Stagecoach and Stagecoach Preston Bus vehicles on the road and in the bus station, including EL Esteem's and Lolyne's in Stagecoach swoops.

2 buses in the yard, a Volvo B10M-50/Alexander RV and a Reading Scania Wright Solar in for repaint

A business visit to the NEC also allowed me take photographs of some of the exhibits, time restraints didn't allow me to photograph everything but all the new stuff is here plus Mike Sutcliffes' magnificent restored Leylands

An excellent collection of buses from Arriva, First, Stagecoach, Go Ahead (Wilts & Dorset), Newport, Oxford, Southern Vectis, Manchester Airport and Nat. Ex. West Midlands. Overcast but dry day made for a good crowd watching the action.

A bit to see today, Reading Ethanol Scania, Selnec Fleetline, Pegasus Dart, Metrobus Omnidekka and more.......................

For a bank holiday weekend this was a very quiet coach park, 2 Classic, 2 Marshall, Leighton Buzzard, 1 Arriva, 1 Henry Crawford and a few others.

2 new B9 tri axles in the yard presumably for Wiltax but no legal lettering so I can't be sure. A couple of B9 chassis for Ensign and a Parts van with full Optare livery.

All 8 of the new Versa's were at Fletwood this afternoon albeit one of them 25227 (already photographed and in collection http://alistair268.fotopic.net/c1550333.html) was in the shed. They officially start in service tomorrow (4th.) and a lot of the older Solo's have now gone.

Quick tour around the coach parks revealed a rather disappointing amount of vehicles but what I saw is here plus one of the German registered Pleasure Beach shuttles.

The first resident Versa liveried for the 84 is now in place. 25227, which was on display at last weeks Tram Sunday has now had its vinyls applied and is in the depot awaiting the others prior to going in to service at the end of the month. Only one photograph I'm afraid as it was tight against a Solo on the near side and to close to the fence to allow a rear shot.

Thanks to Peter Weetman Fleetwood saw 3 very unusual buses serving local route 84, 2 Enviro 400's, 19035 and 19043 and 1 Optare Versa 25226. Unfortunately 19043 proved elusive but 19035 and 25226 were in abundance.

Fleetwood's famous transport festival was blessed with great weather, huge entry and so many visitors, photography in some places was completely impossible. I've included everything in this collection, cars, trucks, buses, oh and a couple of trams. Many congratulations to the organisers, especially Peter Weetman who arranged many of the exhibits and who through his own efforts persuaded Stagecoach North West to put 3 'specials' on local services for the day.

Quite a bit to see for a Sunday, at East lancs there was a new Omnidekka for Nottingham and in the chassis park there were B9TL's marked up Kent, anyone any idea who they are for? At North West there was a Reading Buses Solar, a Cardiff Bus Olympus, a First Bristol Trident and a Transdev Lancashire United Renown.

A business meeting that finished early gave me an unexpected chance to take some photographs and then the rain put a stop to that!! Parked the car in Penny Lane then walked along to Hattons Model Shop (as you do) and spent 10 wet minutes photographing as much as I could.

At the East Lancs factory the two Wiltax B9TL/Olympus tri axles are ready for delivery and a Scania Omnidekka was almost ready for Nottingham City Transport. At North West Group (North West Bus & Coach) there were 2 Olympus's for Metroline, ABus, Bristol Omnidekka and an Omnidekka of Metroline.

A varied collection of Coaches including Stagecoach, Nottingham City, Dalesman, Generation and others. At the bus station there were buses from Pennine, First and Transdev

Unfortunately the organisers didn't get the weather right this year, gale force winds, rain showers, sand blowing in of the beach and spume coming in of the waves as the tide reached its height! However all that apart there was still plenty to see with both old and new buses from local fleets (Blackpool, Fishwicks, Transdev etc.) and further afield (First Glasgow). I've just put everything I took apart from the non bus pics on here and I'll sort the captions out over the next 24 hours or so

Half an hour spent at the junction of Manchester Road and Fishergate/Church Street got a lot of both Preston Bus and Stagecoach including 4 of the new Optare Solo SR's.

An hour or so to kill gave me plenty of oppertunity to have a wander around the main bus areas in the town centre. 50% (3) of the new 08 reg. Solo's in action plus all the other usual suspects and a few Stagecoach.

A few hours in Southport this morning nothing very special apart from a substantial portion of the Napier fleet bringing bands in from Liverpool for an Orange Order march. The rest was mainly local Arriva and a couple of Stagecoach. Quick stop at Preston on the way home, being bank holiday it was very quiet but got a handful of Preston Bus and Stagecoach.

Spotted this ex Chase National parked in Fleetwood near the ferry this afternoon. It's owned by John Ashton of Glossop and appeared to be here on a special excursion.

Quick 20 minutes at Skipton Bus Station saw 3 Penine Darts, 2 Transdev Eclipse's 1 Pride of the Dales Solo, 1 First Royale and a Protours Irizar Century

Chance spotting in Blackpool, then followed to the LTT site in Marton and a few quick photographs before it went inside.

After a seemingly very long absence for major track work the system re-opened today albeit in a shortened state from Starr Gate to Cabin only with the rest due to open over the course of the next couple of weeks or so. Main interest today was 723 in its new colour scheme and carrying adverts for a local TVR servicing company.

This collection is an attempt at making it easier for those of you who follow the comings and goings at Fleetwood. Until now I've always filed the Fleetwood photographs in the Misc. file after they come out of their individual collections and it's been pointed out that some times it's not easy to remember where a particular photograph was, hopefully this'll make life a bit easier.

Quick visit to Southport and a chance to grab a few photographs, mainly Arriva North West with a couple of Cumfy Bus and Stagecoach thrown in for good measure.

Yet again LTT do it, all night the rain poured down and come the morning the skies cleared and the sun shone to allow a great day out for enthusiasts both at the depot and at St. Chads headland on the front.

A small show with most of the big players being absent, however new models on display including the Wright MAN Meridian and the Optare Solo SR helped to make up for that.

Fleetwood depot is an out station of Preston and the resident fleet is mainly Solo's with a scatter of Vario's and Dart's thrown in for good measure.

An overcast day but a record entry for the final, all the buses used in the competition are here and any mistakes in the captions are entirely mine!!

This collection should have been added weeks ago but unfortunately the memory card decided to go for a walk and it's only just returned!! Anyway, a pleasant day marred by horrendous rain from about lunch time onwards but the EL staff as always were friendly and helpful, the buses on display in the car park were interesting even if all the buses 'in build' were Olympus's for Metroline.

They say that the sun always shines on the righteous, well the organisers of this years event have every right to feel righteous, all around Blackpool it was raining but on the South Promenade the sun shone on a wonderful display of vehicles. It's a pity that there were no visitors down from Scotland, at least none that I saw but there were plenty of magnificent buses to whet the appetite, thanks for looking and enjoy the photographs.

This gallery will be used to store all the photographs taken at the Darwen East Lancs & Darwen North West facilities in Blackburn. New photographs will be put into the current collection and moved here after about 3 weeks or so.

Photographs taken in the museum and at the rally site on a beautiful summers day

A handful of photographs taken at the depot during the course of the first three hours or so of the event.

Out on the wander this afternoon and spotted this brand new Solo parked on the Esplanade at Fleetwood and thanks to a very friendly driver was allowed to photograph 'his new flying machine'

Odd photographs taken as when the subject appears. Keep looking as updates can be very frequent.

Photographs taken whenever I have got an odd 5 minutes or so.

2 New ADL Enviro 300's bought by Scottish Borders Council for use solely on school contract at Berwickshire High School in Duns. They will also be available at the wekends for private hire work such as school rugby trips etc. and to this end one has been fitted with a tachograph and the other will be fitted shortly. Thanks to Munro's for giving me such free access to the vehicles. All of the interior shots were taken on fleet no. 562.

Passing Seafield this afternoon saw a load of new Gemini's and managed to photograph as many as could be seen from the gates, also one of 757 taken in Central a few days ago. UPDATED Gemini's 800 & 817 prior to entering service

Went to Seafield this afternoon, gates closed and locked, took these 5 photographs through the chain link. 2 new Gemini's and a damaged eclipse, Gemini 801 and 3 Routemasters.

A scatter of photographs I took in Munro's yard on the way home from my visit to Edinburgh and Lothian Buses Seafield Works.

Third visit to Seafield, new Gemini's 'factory fresh', two ex Airlink President's back from being contract re-sprayed and some other bits and pieces. This will be the last Seafield visit for some time as I have been told that Lothian Buses management have been upset by derogatory comments posted on the net along with photographs of the new buses, so it is now a closed gates policy. One person spoils it for everyone!!! Since I wrote this commentary I have received a letter from Lothian Buses saying that the photography ban is NOT as a result of website comments but has come about as a result of tighter health and safety regulations.

A second visit to Edinburgh within a week gave me the chance to go back to Seafield hoping to see 801 in a finished state and it almost is but the best part was seeing 763 in the new route 31 branding. There's a few other bits and pieces as well.

A chance visit to Edinburgh and thanks to a very friendly Lothian employee the opportunity to have a look round and photograph the first of the new Gemini's as well as a few others.

Some of the buses used in the final of the Bus Driver of the Year competition, held in Blackpool on the 10th. September 2006. ONE ADDITIONAL PHOTO (FIRST W. YORKSHIRE) ADDED 16-09-06.

Just a few photographs taken on the Sunday, pouring rain in the morning quite nice in the afternoon!!

This album, whilst originally intended to simply hold photographs I've taken over the last 4 or 5 years has now reached the stage where it's being (fairly) regularly updated with goings on in around Blackpool. New bus and tram liveries will be photographed and put here whenever the oppportunity arises, so keep looking.