British Tramways were heading towards oblivion in the late 1950s and early 1960s and Blackpool’s town routes fell victim from 1961 to 1963. The economics of bus replacements was clear, especially where track needed renewing. In 1956 legislation to permit 30-foot long buses to be used was passed further strengthening the bus cause.

Blackpool closed its route to Squires Gate via Lytham Road in October 1961 and the route round Marton a year later. To replace the trams, 20 Metro Cammell bodied Leyland Titan PD3s were ordered, basically a stretched version of 346 seating 73 instead of 63 – and rather better than the 48 seats in the single deck trams. There was sufficient spare PD2s to run the new route 12 to Squires Gate for the winter 1961/2, but the first PD3s arrived during June 1962, including pioneer 351 (YFR351). By October all 20 were in use on the 12 and the new 26. Following batches of PD3s adopted the ‘St. Helens’ fibreglass front, rather than the ‘tin front’ used on the PD2s and 351-370. The next ten retained the full front, but later buses had the more common half cab.

351 and its sisters were withdrawn during 1977/8, with 351 amongst the last to see service in August 1978. Like the Marton trams, the PD3s had become anachronistic, replaced by larger buses capable of operation by one person.

351 was sold to Thurrock Borough Council and converted into a children's playbus. Later it moved to the Wirral where it was used as a driver training vehicle until 1992 when it passed into preservation. A number of rather insecure years followed for the vehicle until it was acquired by the Trust in May 1998 and added to its 'Fylde Coast collection'. Initially stored at the St.Helens Transport Museum, No. 351 returned to the Fylde in March 2003. It is in rather a poor condition and awaits major restoration work before it can run again.