Wednesday 9th January ~ New Tricks and Thurston Moore

Started on Hybrid Gemini WHV30 on the 19 from Finsbury Park to Cambridge Circus, to my excitement I saw Dennis Waterman and Amanda Redman outside the Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church at the top of Shaftesbury Avenue - presumably something to do with the TV series 'New Tricks'. Shortly afterwards, whilst walking back up Shaftesbury Avenue, I passed Thurston Moore out of Sonic Youth! After all that excitement my next move was Gemini DW453 on the 73 from Oxford Street (Poland Street) to Oxford Street (John Lewis). From there it was OmniCity SP141 on the 10 to Hyde Park Corner. After a coffee I boarded Routemaster RM1204 on the Heritage 9 from Green Park to Trafalgar Square via Pall Mall. Finally it was Gemini DW470 on the 29 from Trafalgar Square to Harringay Green Lanes.

Monday 7th January 2013 ~ Back to London

It was all aboard 142 093 at Blackpool North on the 18.20 to Manchester Victoria which we took to Preston. Then at Preston my ride to London was provided by Pendolino 390 126 Virgin Enterprise on the 19.58 to Euston. Unlike previous occasions when this train started from Preston, it now starts back at Glasgow, being the 17.30 departure from there. Along the way I spotted 57308 as the Preston Thunderbird and DRS liveried 57302 Chad Varah in the bay at Rugby. While at Euston, 90020 Collingwood was at the head of the Lowland Caledonian Sleeper, the 23.50 to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Saturday 5th January 2013 ~ A ride to Poulton

Started off with a ride on Flexity Tram 016, from Starr Gate (departing 13.50) to the Tower.

Flexity Tram 003 passes the Tower with a southbound service

Market Street in the early afternoon. ALX400 no.18158 with the 68 to Preston, while behind is Trident 309 with the Fleetwood-Mereside no.14.

From the Town Centre we took a trip to Poulton aboard Volve 532 on the 2C, this running via Grange Park (The 2C continues on to Knott End, while the 2 terminates at Poulton). After a brief stop in Poulton and some very bad coffee we returned to Blackpool Town Centre on the top deck front seat of Trident 340 on the 2. This running a more rural route via Staining, it being dark by the time we passed through there. Finally it was Volvo 527 on the 7 from Town Centre (Market Street) to the St Annes Road/Highfield Road junction.

Thursday 3rd January 2013 ~ A bus day out to Liverpool

Started with ALX400 no.18152 on the 68 from Lytham Road (Medical Centre) to Preston Bus Station, running via St Annes, Lytham and Warton. All buses we rode on today were operated by Stagecoach.

Enviro400 no. 15576 reverses out of it's stand at Preston bus station at the start of it's journey on the 125 to Bolton

At Preston we boarded Enviro400 no. 15474 on the 2X from Preston to Liverpool, via Southport. At Southport the bus's route number changes from 2X to X2. The journey from Preston to Liverpool takes around 2 hours.

Enviro400 no. 15474 after arrival in Liverpool City Centre

An early evening shot of Arriva Pulsar 2904 departing Liverpool's Queen's Square bus station

After a few hours of culture, including a sighting of Brookside creator Phil Redmond, we headed to Liverpool's Queens Square bus station and boarded Enviro400 no.15823 the X2 to Preston, it's route number changing back to 2X at Southport.

A couple of shots from inside Preston's soon to be demolished 'brutalist' bus station. A bit gloomy to tell the truth, like stepping back in to the 1980s.

Finally, at around 20.00 it was ALX400 no. 18154 on the 68 from Preston bus station to Blackpool Airport.

Tuesday 1st January 2013 ~ Happy New Year

As usual, New Year's Day saw an hourly service on the 5, operated by a couple of double-deckers. Here is Trident 331 heading south down Lindale Gardens at around 14.00

Monday 31st December 2012 ~ A Trip to Cleveleys

New Year's Eve's rides started with Solo 246 on the 16 from Highfield Road (Acre Gate) to the Town Centre, running a circuitous route via Harrowside, Waterloo Road and Whitegate Drive.

Solo 246 on arrives at the Highfield Road stop with the 16

Then it was a steamy Trident 346 on the 7, from Town Centre to Cleveleys via Devonshire Road

Trident 339 departs Clifton Street with a Fleetwood bound 14

Passengers board Trident 346 on the 7 on Clifton Street in Blackpool Town Centre

Stagecoach Solo 47487 in Cleveleys on the 84, which runs from Poulton to Fleetwood

After some fish and chips in Cleveleys and a dusk walk to the promenade, it was the same Volvo single decker from two days previously - Volvo 528 - on the 9 from Cleveleys back to Blackpool Town Centre. Finally it was recently introduced double-decker (ex Isle of Man) DAF 365 on the 7 from Town Centre to St Annes Road (Stadium Avenue).

Saturday 29th December 2012 ~ A Trip Up Town

Today's rides were Volvo 528 on the 7 from Halfway House to the Town Centre, returning on Trident 318 on the 11 from Town Centre to Farmers Arms.