Lancashire United (Blazefield) 2137 (DBV 137Y) in Clitheroe – 30 May 2001 (467-11)

Wednesday 30 May 2001 (approx. 1510) – Not a Stagecoach bus!

In April 2001, just a few weeks before I visited Clitheroe, the Blazefield Group had acquired the former Ribble garages at Clitheroe, Blackburn and Bolton from Stagecoach naming the new operation Lancashire United (this had no connection with the large bus company that had once served South Lancashire). At the same time the Ribble garage at Burnley was acquired by Blazefield becoming part of Burnley & Pendle.

Initially all the buses received fleetnames applied over the former identity but continued to operate in the Stagecoach stripes livery.

One of the Clitheroe garage buses was 2137 (DBV 137Y), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Olympian new to Ribble in June 1983, which was seen here in King Street when operating service 225 from Blackburn or maybe Bolton.

The local police station stands across the street identified by the blue notice boards and the ‘old blue lamp’ mounted on the stonework.

In the background is another Clitheroe garage bus 427 (K27 WBV), an East Lancs EL2000 bodied Volvo B10M-50 new to Burnley & Pendle in April 1993, which was also operating a service 225 destined for Blackburn and Bolton.