Lytham Hall Beauties

The August Bank Holiday weekend brought oohs and aahs from the cognoscenti flocking to Blackpool's tramway to ride on the prolific heritage tram tours which were a highlight of the weekend - and reported on in magnificent detail elsewhere.

The author was 'treated' to the sight of Box Car 40 swishing past Rossall School road junction en route back from Fleetwood - whilst further down the line at Cleveleys, the subject of countless accolades - Motor Unit 680 - rumbled past at Anchorsholme at the start of its secondment from Heaton Park. However :

The final blast of this year's abysmal summer saw transport gatherings up and down the country with events large and small. Nearer to home - Lytham Hall was host to a gathering of splendid buses brought together by several groups.

Notable among the display were former Blackpool Corporation half cabs - an almost essential part of any local bus rally these days, together with the magnificently restored Lytham St Annes Leyland demonstrator from the 1930s (and reported on in an earlier blog this year). One of these days one of the two surviving Blackpool Corporation centre entrance Burlinghams may well make it to this, and other, bus gatherings. In the meantime lets enjoy 1960s classic 501.

Two wonderful restored buses from the 1930s - top : Ribble Motor Services Leyland Cheetah LZ2 with Brush coachwork and Lytham St Annes all Leyland LT5A Demonstrator of 1934 purchased by that municipality as a one-off. Finally bringing things more up to date? Ribble 1397 of 1973 - Leyland AN68 chassis with Park Royal bodywork a near contemporary of Blackpool's Leyland Atlantean fleet. It looks immaculate in the later Ribble colours - perhaps slightly less distinctive than the cherry red of previous years; but still inspiring compared to the corporate fleet concoctions which disfigure our roads today. Well done Lytham Hall Organisers and contributing participants. All Photos by Tony Armitage.