Just been looking through OK Travel in the Bygone Era and they had quite a few daily runs to Blackpool, what was the purpose of this as it is a long ride and buses/coaches must have come close to being run into ground, did OK have tendered work in Lancashire and used these services as way of putting Vehicles in place to fulfill contracts, I cannot figure who benefitted from that service and they always seemed a canny presence in Cumbria around Keswick and Penrith...

I know OK specialised in finding gaps in the market to run commercially, but how sustainable was it being miles away from there base, some services being 100+ miles away, did they operate outstations in deepest darkest Cumbria

A service to Blackpool still runs today, albeit under a different operator.

http://durham.pindarcreative.co.uk/tt/352_Classic.pdf

(21 Sep 2013, 8:56 pm)AdamY wrote A service to Blackpool still runs today, albeit under a different operator.

http://durham.pindarcreative.co.uk/tt/352_Classic.pdf

Got that one to Blackpool about 13 years ago, awful journey, took forever, which is why ever since I have preferred the train or going in a car

Marxista Fozz

(21 Sep 2013, 8:25 pm)fozzovmurton wrote Just been looking through OK Travel in the Bygone Era and they had quite a few daily runs to Blackpool, what was the purpose of this as it is a long ride and buses/coaches must have come close to being run into ground, did OK have tendered work in Lancashire a

Blackpool has traditionally always been very popular with Northerners who visit for the weekend or midweek.

It's a pain to get to in terms of the train (4 hour average journey time with changes) and it's a fairly scenic journey across the A66 and through Kirkby Stephen. It used to stop at Tebay for lunch but I don't think they do now

The market must still be there as Classic run it as mentioned above but in a different form as there's now express direct buses that run from Newcastle/Gateshead and of course you've got National Holidays who send thousands of the grey brigade there

(22 Sep 2013, 12:36 pm)gtomlinson wrote Blackpool has traditionally always been very popular with Northerners who visit for the weekend or midweek.

It's a pain to get to in terms of the train (4 hour average journey time with changes) and it's a fairly scenic journey across the A66 and through Kirkby Stephen. It used to stop at Tebay for lunch but I don't think they do now

The market must still be there as Classic run it as mentioned above but in a different form as there's now express direct buses that run from Newcastle/Gateshead and of course you've got National Holidays who send thousands of the grey brigade there

In the timetable Adam issued above, there is a 30 minute break at Tebay.

It's a shame the service doesn't set off a little earlier if you ask me - it would be nice to have more than 40 minutes there. Granted, I doubt the service is set up for same day returns, but would be nice if they'd have offered a journey say, 2 hours earlier - yet returns being the same time.

I see what you mean about the Train journey, but when I got the bus, drinking was strictly prohibited, and was told by an arsey coach driver if I so much as looked at my cans of lager he would put me off whereever we were...So since then the couple of times i have been, has been on the train

Marxista Fozz

(22 Sep 2013, 12:53 pm)Daniel wrote In the timetable Adam issued above, there is a 30 minute break at Tebay.

I don't fully understand the 30 minute break at Tebay in relation to its route/timetable. After leaving the A66 at Brough, the bus heads south-westerly down the A685 to Kirby Stephen. Presumably, it continues along the A685 towards the junction with the M6. Tebay Services are located North of that junction, so the bus either double-backs on to the A66 and joins the M6 at Penrith; navigates some windy country roads to join the M6 at Shap; or heads northwards up the M6 to Tebay (North or South) using the Shap interchange to resume its journey Southwards towards Blackpool.

Struggling to think what looks more painful. A classic coach of over 5 hours, or one of Northern Rail's finest machines taking you across the Pennines, via every single stop, totalling in over 4 hours.

(22 Sep 2013, 8:45 pm)aureolin wrote Struggling to think what looks more painful. A classic coach of over 5 hours, or one of Northern Rail's finest machines taking you across the Pennines, via every single stop, totalling in over 4 hours.

Compass Royston also run a scheduled service every Friday-Monday during the summer from Saltburn, Redcar, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Darlington to Blackpool... Service X30.

(22 Sep 2013, 9:01 pm)tyresmoke wrote Compass Royston also run a scheduled service every Friday-Monday during the summer from Saltburn, Redcar, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Darlington to Blackpool... Service X30.

You forgot to mention it ran with a tranny van this summer though...

(22 Sep 2013, 9:05 pm)Andreos1 wrote You forgot to mention it ran with a tranny van this summer though...

Only on the odd occasion Ran with a full size coach most of the time I saw it... Including 1624WY the executive team coach once!

(22 Sep 2013, 8:45 pm)aureolin wrote Struggling to think what looks more painful. A classic coach of over 5 hours, or one of Northern Rail's finest machines taking you across the Pennines, via every single stop, totalling in over 4 hours.

I can drink on a train but not on the bus...

The last time I went to Blackpool I got the Train from Durham to Manchester Piccadilly then Piccadilly to Bolton then Rail Replacement Bus to Blackpool and come back through Wigan or Preston the next day it was not too bad.

Maybe being drunk helped

Marxista Fozz