By 1984 the Manchester terminus had moved from Lever Street to Piccadilly Gardens where it remained until 1989 when it was moved to the gloom of Chorlton Street to make way for Metrolink. 5314 is still in original condition here and is in front of a Yorkshire Rider bus on the 365 to Huddersfield, meaning that this photograph was taken on a Saturday. Photo courtesy Chris Lowe.

The present terminus of the 184 is at the end of Oldham Street in Manchester. Dennis Lance 60948 waits departure time. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

An unexpected sight on this occasion was this Dennis Dart from Huddersfield which had spent the first few months of its life working for Esses Buses at Chelmsford. Fortunatley Chris Lowe was on the ball to capture this unusual working. Photo courtesy Chris Lowe.

North Western's first batch of Lolines were Mark II models which showed more clearly their Bristol Lodekka origins. The East Lancs bodies fitted to these had the standard double-deck destination display, however only two batches of double-deckers were bought in an eight-year period. Due to the use of an intermediate display they required special blinds, an expensive exercise due to the number of different depots - as a consequence they were rebuilt after a few years with a simple number and destination layout, see the picture later in this collection. 815 is still in original condition and like most of the batch had a Leyland engine. Work has just started behind on the new GPO sorting office. Photo courtesy Remember When (Michael Rooum).

8305 is in Lever Street, Manchester and I believe it is about to depart on the 184, although it is difficult to be sure. The GPO sorting office behind the bus, which had been built in the 1960s, is already in need of refurbishment.

Two Dennis Dominators in Stevenson Square. 1438 is on the left and waiting to leave for Rochdale on the 24, whilst 1437 on the right is on a short working of the 184 and going back to the garage in Oldham.

Not long after the major revision of Saddleworth services which saw some 184 journeys extended to Huddersfield, 30308 passes the end of Thorp Lane in Newton Heath. The blinds give no indication of where it is going, let alone where it has come from, but in this case it is probably on a journey from Uppermill. Photo courtesy Ian Roberts.

66765 is seen at the end of this collection in its home town of Huddersfield, but is almost at the other end of the route here as it heads through Newton Heath on its way into Manchester. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

66796 overtakes a similar vehicle working the 82/83 in Newton Heath. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

4009 passes Failsworth Pole on its way into Manchester. Gartside's shop was one of many agents for Yelloway's coaches although it appears you would have had difficulty buying a ticket at the time of the photo. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.

4008 has called at the Evening Street stop in Failsworth, which was the first after Hollinwood in the days when the 184 was a limited stop service. Evening Street itself is on the other side of Oldham Road. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.

One-time Glasgow Metrobus 30320 waits at the Hollinwood terminus whilst on the daytime short workings of the 184 from Grotton to Hollinwood. These were in effect the old 427 and were put on to limit Stott's share of the traffic. Since the beginning of 2006 these workings have been renumbered 183 and go to Limeside instead of here. This would have been one of the very last workings of a Metrobus in Oldham after twenty-five years, for some of which the type was the mainstay of the depot allocation. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

Also at Hollinwood the same day was 30297, new at the end of 1986 to Oldham garage and destined to work its whole life there. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

4006 is passing through Hollinwood - a scene that has much changed in recent years with the building of the M60 intersection in the background and the demolition of almost all the visible buildings. The blind has been set to Manchester Airport by mistake. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.

5089 is on Hollins Road and has just passed the end of Chapel Road. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.

North Western Loline 905 is going from the depot to pick up service on the 14 - probably a changeover as it was a Sunday afternoon. Above the car that's behind it is the sign pointing to Clegg Street depot and bus station. Behind that is the now-demolished Central Baths and beyond that the Post Office, now the Local Studies Library.

66865 is one of the unbranded B7RLEs which can "top up' the vehicle allocation on the branded routes when insufficient branded vehicles are available. It is at the Cheapside bus station heading for Manchester.

First Huddersfield never seem to be able to make up their mind whether to use single or double deckers on the 184. The single deckers are now usually B7RLEs which differ only in detail from Manchester's and 66746 of this type is leaving Oldham bus station on the last journey of the day to Huddersfield.

North Western 816 is seen at Market Place in Oldham being very closely followed by an Oldham PD2. When new these East Lancs-bodied Dennis Lolines had a destination display comprising destination, intermediate and number displays. These were rebuilt quite soon to the form shown here, only in this instance Oldham garage does not seem to have been able to find the correct destination blind and has instead fitted a much older combined blind (see pictures elsewhere of PD2 224) which was far too big for the aperture. Another unusual feature of these buses was the location of the fuel tank under the stairs. Photo courtesy Ted Jones.

4008 is at the Market Place stop heading for Uppermill. Despite the importance of this stop it is rarely photographed, particularly from this side of the road, and the result is a very evocative scene. We Saddleworth passengers were always made to feel important as the Market Place inspector had a small office which was attached to the shelter, both with the original shelter and the later one seen here. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.

With the pedestrianisation of Market Place buses now have to take a more roundabout route through the town centre. In the case of those heading to Saddleworth this involves using Lord Street. 66802 is seen outside the Oldham Sports Centre and is showing the destination only, without intermediate points. It is not clear why this variant has been programmed into the display. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

Oldham is still looking for a future for its listed Town Hall. The area in front was the terminus of the initial Oldham Corporation bus services, but has seen much change over the years. The Town Square bus station has been and gone, but still survives in vestigal form with a row of bus stops alongside the shopping centre. 66799 leaves on an early evening working which only runs as far as Hollinwood. The 180 collection shows that one journey on the 180 also shows this display, but this was a genuine 184 which follows that 180.

66764 is a Huddersfield bus branded for the services to Marsden with which the 184 interworks and the same purple line colour is used, the only difference being the route numbers, which could cause confusion in Uppermill as the Manchester 350 passes through there! It is seen in the vestigal Town Square bus station in Oldham, only used by Manchester-bound buses. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

The National Westminster Bank at Mumps makes a distictive backdrop to 8308 in the bus station there. Despite the destination the 184 never went to the Arndale bus station in Manchester and terminated in Lever Street (although always showing Stevenson Square) at the time of this shot. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.

7138 waits in the bus station at Mumps. It would seem that a crew change is taking place - this was (and still is) frustrating when you were only headed into the middle of Oldham and the new driver wasn't ready. Is it quicker to get off and walk? This scene has changed only in detail over the intervening years. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.

5170 has just left the garage to work, I presume, an evening peak extra on the 184. The brick building behind is the former tram shed, later used as the bus workshops but since demolished. Note the sign for the Pennine Lounge - this room being part of the erstwhile Oldham Passenger Transport Social Club and still a busy venue today. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.

5010 heads out of Wallshaw Place (often known as The Grotto) and is passing a building that had been used by the West Pennine Water Board but I suspect was originally the offices of the Corporation electricity department. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.

This photograph of Oldham PD3 104 was taken in the very early days of SELNEC, before that organisation had made its presence felt. The location has changed out of all recognition and in fact did so only months after this shot was taken at the end of Lees Road approaching Mumps Bridge. The bus would now be in mid-air as the roundabout at Mumps is now at a lower level here. The "new" part of Lees Road can be seen under construction on the right. The pub behind the bus is the Railway which soldiered on bravely in what became an isolated location, but eventually became derelict and was demolished. Difficult to miss to the right is the huge LNWR goods warehouse opened in 1887. That has also been demolished and the site is now occupied by the Post Office sorting centre on Hamilton Street. 104 has its cab in primer, presumably following accident damage, but the remainder of the bus is in the traditional Oldham Corporation crimson and white and was one of the few buses left in that livery by that date.

30816 descends Lees Road (Salem Brow) towards Leesbrook. The bus lane on the left was opened around 2004.

66802 carries full branding for the 180/184 apart from the small strip at the bottom of the windscreen.

66796, again at Leesbrook.

Mark Amis captured this rather symbolic image of competition at work as First 66795 overtakes Stott's J609 VDW in Leesbrook. Once upon a time the 184 was the express service and the 427 was the local, but nowadays that distinction doesn't apply. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

Huddersfield's contribution to the 184 is two buses each day. Nowadays these buses are likely to be Volvo B7RLEs identical to Manchester's. 66786 crosses the formation of the Oldham to Greenfield railway in Springhead. This bridge was considered structurally unsound in the late sixties and there was talk of the road being closed whilst it was rebuilt, giving the prospect of some interesting diversions. However, as the railway was closed the more simple expedient of filling in underneath the bridge was adopted.

Huddersfield's 66749 passes through Springhead on a damp day. The large building on the site of Kershaw's garage can be seen in the background.

Huddersfield's contribution to the 184 had been more varied, but the use of B7RLEs has become normal. 66742 passes through Grotton and is about to start the climb up to Lydgate. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

At the time the yellow mirrors most readily identify this Volvo B7RLE as being one from Huddersfield, although the practice has now become common in Manchester also. It has just descended from Lydgate and is passing the Grotton Hotel. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

66794 climbs out of Grotton. The bus in the next photograph can be seen in the background - so much for a ten minute headway!

66804 was bound for Diggle and is about to pass the end of Cover Hill Road.

66805 is headed in the opposite direction at the same location.

Two of British Leylands finest products! The Leyland National and the Austin Montego meet at the cross roads at Lydgate. This difficult junction has since had quite a few alterations with a view to improving sighting and safety. Photo courtesy Eric Ogden.

The North Western fleetname may have been familiar but the livery certainly wasn't. In the fleet was this Alexander-bodied Leyland Atlantean which started life as Preston 102. Photo courtesy Noel Ogden.

Seen at the same location in Lydgate is Bee Line 677. Bee Line lowered significantly the standards of presentation of buses in Manchester and this vehicles illustrates how. It was originally in the Glasgow fleet and traces of the orange paint are visible where adverts have been removed. It then operated for London Country where it received this two-tone green livery. Only limited work has been done to give it a Bee Line identity as can be seen, with a few patches of yellow paint, mainly as a background for the fleetname. The building on the right was once one of the two co-operative stores in Lydgate. It still survives, in much altered form, as Triangle hairdressers. Photo courtesy Eric Ogden.

Continuing the theme of Scottish Alexander-bodied Atlanteans with panoramic windows is this example which started life as Edinburgh 251 in 1971. Photo courtesy Eric Ogden.

Stott's very rarely ran buses in anything other than their own fleet livery - it appears in this instance the bus was needed for service urgently. WDA 975T was new to West Midlands PTE as their 6975 and was an MCW-bodied Leyland Fleetline. Photo courtesy Eric Ogden.

NOC 603R was another Leyland Fleetline from the same source but was two years older and had a Park Royal body. It is seen at exactly the same location at Lydgate. Photo courtesy Eric Ogden.

North Western's fleet at this time was very varied although in the case of 452, new as Ribble 1359, it can be considered to have been inherited from its predecessors. Photo courtesy Eric Ogden.

3718 has a passenger waiting to alight at Lydgate as it completes the climb from Uppermill. The back of the bus carries a George Cohen scrap advert which was very common on Manchester buses in this era. North Western bus stop signs like the one on the left were normal in Saddleworth.

3295 was one of a handful of Massey-bodied PD2s transferred from Wigan which brought even more variety to Oldham garage. It is proceeding with care from Lydgate towards Uppermill on what was probably a Saddleworth School extra. Judging by the loading they needn't have bothered!

Another North Western Atlantean which came from the Preston fleet was 496, here passing the end of Beechfield. Photo courtesy Noel Ogden.

Climbing up towards Lydgate from Grasscroft is Atlantean 8415. The use of 183 on buses returning this way from Uppermill was so common as to make it almost official.

3718 makes the climb up to Lydgate. At this time the relay station on the top of Wharmton had only recently come into operation, the tower itself having been built a couple of years before it was made into a working station.

The last day of 2001 was bright, if cold. 946 is picked out in the sun on Oldham Road in Grasscroft.

5187 negotiates some seriously tricky conditions as it passes the bottom of Lovers Lane in Grasscroft. I am never quite sure whether this is a 184 or a diverted 183 - the blinds leave some room for interpretation!

Manchester PD2 3682 is on Oldham Road in Grasscroft.

3479 was one of five Burlingham-bodied PD2s repainted in Manchester red by SELNEC and incorporating a (barely visible) blue flash. At the top of Brookway in Grasscroft we can also see former North Western Fleetline 4 headed the other way.

Olympian 30224 is working a school extra from Saddleworth School. In the shadows behind is a Stagecoach vehicle on a similar working which retains the old local bus service number 427.

66800 provided additional capacity for the Saddleworth School exodus on the same day although in this case it is the normal service working which happens to be scheduled to leave Uppermill at that time. As often happens with this type of destination display, the fast shutter speed has lost the text altogether.

Mercedes O305 1355 was new as EX55 in the series for experimental buses. It spent most of its life in Oldham and is seen on Oldham Road, Grasscroft, heading for Uppermill to work a schools journey. The 184 was a double-decker service at this time.

A feature of at least the latter part of the 2006-7 school year was the appearance of a vehicle from Dukinfield depot on one of the afternoon school journeys from Saddleworth School. 31939 is one of the Dennis Arrows normally utilised on this working and is passing Clough Park Avenue in Grasscroft. The yellow paint just visible either side of the destination display belies its origin with Capital Citybus.

Metrobus 5153 makes its nervous way up through Grasscroft.

At almost the same spot in much brighter conditions is 7532.

5304 works towards Manchester some twelve years earlier.

On the same day as the picture of 7532 National 1313 was also seen, unusually working through to Manchester.

66795 passes the development at Fernhill, just above the junction at the Farrar's Arms. This development involved demolishing one large house and replacing it with a lot more smaller ones. It's a type of development that has become quite common in Saddleworth recently.

In decidely inclement weather, Leyland National 110 passes the entrance to Fernhill well before the developers moved in.

8349 is at the bus stop at the Farrar's Arms and is working a school journey from Saddleworth School which went to Grotton as a 184x and then continued into Oldham as a 427.

The back end of ex-Stockport PD2 5870 shows just how filthy buses can get in severe wintry weather.

Whilst the driver of 37460, passing the Farrar's Arms in Grasscroft, was probably not enjoying the conditions it's fair to say those on the pavement were making the most of it.

Still quite new, 66805 manages to display intact branding at the junction by the Farrar's Arms in Grasscroft. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

66891 heads up Oldham Road at the Farrar's Arms.

31938 is another of Dukinfield depot's Dennis Arrows working an afternoon school trip from Saddleworth School. This one has a tree deflector on the nearside upper corner and, judging by the panel next to the fleet number, has or had a CCTV camera fitted.

7712 proves that it took a lot to stop the buses in Saddleworth as it turns at the Farrar's Arms.

5870 was a surprising vehicle to find on an all day working on the 184 so late and one would have thought the crew might have preferred a bus with doors. However, drivers would probably be reassured by the engine weight being over the front (steered) axle. Driving a rear-engined bus in snow can be quite interesting!

60939 was originally 4001 and the first of a large fleet of Plaxton-bodied Dennis Lances which modernised the fleet at Huddersfield almost overnight. They were seen regularly in the early days of the extended 184 but many have now been transferred away from Huddersfield and sights like this at the Farrar's Arms are no longer to be seen. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

66799 is passing the Farrar's Arms on the first day of service of the new Volvo B7RLEs. The house in the background lost its top storey to a fire in about 1969 and whilst the building was made safe the road was closed. Buses were diverted at Lydgate along Platting Road to Scouthead then to Uppermill and, in the case of the 10 (as it was then) to Greenfield. The third storey was replaced in the late eighties.

3296 is another bus originally from Wigan. The destination blinds are just about capable of showing the correct information. Like the other similar vehicle in this collection, this is working a school extra.

Oldham PD2 378 passes the house referred to in the picture of 66799 not very long after the fire that destroyed the top storey, hence the unusual appearance.

Titan 4006 heads towards Uppermill from the Farrar's Arms.

66886 in the same location, the camera having frozen the destination display as blank. The letters on the registration plate of this bus are unconventionally spaced.

These Leyland Leopards with ECW bodies added some attractive variety to the single deck vehicles seen in Saddleworth. 81 is heading for Uppermill and a schools journey.

5324 has been the subject of some of my more unusual photos. It has just passed the top of Oaklands Road, for some years (well after the date of this photo) the route of the 354. The tanker following the bus was no doubt quite popular in the winter weather (even though it was actually spring!).

The timings of the 184 and the 429 did not give an even service between Uppermill and Oldham, but the buses didn't often get this close together! 3123 is headed for Chorlton Street and 8308 behind is going to Limeside. The location is at the top of Oaklands Road; there used to be a toll house right on this junction but this diappeared in the very early days of motor transport.

5313 was fairly new when seen passing the top of Oaklands Road. The old bifurcated concrete lamp standard is in the last stages of replacement.

66796 sweeps past the top of Oaklands Road, the scrolling intermediate line on the display being caught in mid-line.

Atlantean 8349 speeds towards Manchester Piccadilly on a sunny Autumn day. I always felt this to be the best of the PTE liveries and thought the colours contrasted pleasantly with the typical Saddleworth landscape of greenery and weathered millstone grit.

A rear view of 5197 heading towards Uppermill shows the lack of engine shrouds on this last batch of Atlanteans ordered by Oldham Corporation, but not delivered until some eighteen months after the formation of SELNEC.

Oldham's ten PD3s were the first new buses for six years and the only front-entrance, front-engined buses in the fleet. They spent many years working the express services into Saddleworth, the higher seating capacity proving useful in those days. 103 was one of four of the batch to receive the pommard and cream livery and looks in good fettle in the winter sun despite being nearly due for an overhaul.

Exactly a year after the previous shot and in almost the same spot is coach-seated Olympian 3255.

SELNEC 5324 passes the three railway houses on Oldham Road. There was an entrance to the station beyond this short terrace, but that closed in the eighties, giving a much longer walk round, particularly if you wished to come from Grasscroft for a Huddersfield-bound train.

5089 heads schoolchildren home to parents who were probably relieved to see them back safely.

66803 is headed for Huddersfield and has picked up a heavy load of children headed for Saddleworth school. Note the new retaining wall which is but a stone-faced concrete wall replacing the original dry stone wall seen on earlier photos.

Olympian 30225 was running late and thus was less well patronised as 66803 in the previous photo had picked up the majority of passengers as it passed along the road a few minutes earlier. At the time 30225 had not been at Oldham gargae very long and did not have suitable destination blinds to display "Uppermill".

Former Salford buses could be seen in Saddleworth due to the movement of vehicles between garages. SELNEC 3068 was originally Salford 222 and is working from Hyde Road garage when caught on camera on Oldham Road near Greenfield station. Photo courtesy Martin Arthur.

34334 is well-laden with pupils on their way home from Saddleworth School. The bus is showing a special display for the school (the first time I'd seen it) which I suspect is really intended for journeys TO the school.

66798 has someone's "little darlin" making an inappropriate gesture by sticking their hand through the doors. Pity the ordinary passenger on this normal service bus.

By the time of this photograph very few Oldham buses indeed still remained in the crimson and white livery and this example, 5350, was the last Roe-bodied Leyland PD2 which was still the most dominant combination in the fleet. It only ran for a few weeks more after this shot was taken as it left Greenfield station.

37382 makes its steady way towards Manchester along Oldham Road at Greenfield station.

3127 was one of the Olympians initially painted in Express colours for operation on the 400 Trans-Lancs Express. They were soon replaced by new vehicles and ran in Oldham for just a few months in Express colours before being repainted in normal fleet livery. It is working a Sunday journey, which only went as far as Oldham at this time.

The thick snow-bearing cloud was making it darker than it should be. Passing the end of Ladcastle Road is 37460, one of the unbranded Geminis that appear on the 180/184.

66800, recently repaired after accident damage, looks resplendent in the spring sunshine as it turns to cross the bridge at Greenfield station.

An unidentified former Oldham dual-door Atlantean is seen at Greenfield station. At this distance in time I'm not even sure what service it was on and the snow makes it impossible to tell.

The elevated viewpoint reveals a lot of roof detail not normally seen on these buses. 66796 is one of the few branded vehicles to carry a smiling face as part of its branding - most 180/184 branded vehicles have none.

5300 was once Oldham Corporation 400 and is crossing the railway at Greenfield station. Work is in progress behind the bus to repair the wall after one of the all-too-frequent accidents at this junction. Going straight on was not an option as it was a considerable drop to Chapel Road below. I recall one incident when a car did just that but the occupants escaped unhurt as their car landed in a bush!

The rhododendrons are in bloom behind 5857, one of the Stockport PD2s which ran in Oldham for several years. The rear upper deck ventilator is at a crazy angle! Photo courtesy Photobus.

Leyland Olympian 3209 is wearing the “tomato soup” livery initially used by First before corporate colours made their mark. It is working a schools extra from Uppermill to Oldham.

Seen from the same viewpoint is 5161, a Leyland Atlantean new to Oldham Corporation at the end of 1967. One of many similar vehicles it has, like many of the type, lost its front ventilators.

One of the last batch of Leyland PD2s delivered to Manchester (3696-3720) crosses the railway seen from the platform at Greenfield station. The station was being demolished at the time but the gas lamps still just about survived. However, the view from this point has changed significantly as a footbridge was placed at just this side of the road bridge the following year.

8018 was a Leyland Fleetline, of which there were a few at Oldham garage to add some variety. It is crossing the bridge at Greenfield station.

7115 was one of the first Standards to come to Oldham and was fitted with a Park Royal body. Severe winter conditions have caused the hill down to Greenfield to be closed.

Old and new Express vehicles are seen here, with Metrobus 5210 heading for Manchester during its short initial spell at Oldham. 3061 has already been displaced from the Trans-Lancs Express by some of 5210's sisters.

The new Geminis meant the re-introduction of regular double-deck working on the 180/184 services. On the day of their introduction two are seen together at the top of the hill at Greenfield station. 37381 coming up the hill on the 180 is brand new but 37289 is one of two from the 2007 that were transferred to Oldham.

5312 is seen from an elevated viewpoint at Greenfield station with the large complex of Knoll Spinning visible in the valley behind. It is Spring Bank Holiday Monday and the 184 is only running between Oldham and Uppermill.

7801 is seen from a similar viewpoint.

5336 hits the corner at the top of Shaw Hall Bank Road heading for Manchester. The spare land visible in the valley below has now been infilled and is used as a dog training centre.

37383 heads through the snow across the railway at Greenfield station. I believe this journey was only going as far as Oldham.

5888 was originally Stockport 88 and was one of four surprise additions to Oldham's fleet in 1971, still in Stockport red and white. I remember a friend commenting, as we boarded one in Uppermill, "look how they've tried to tart up these old buses with modern plastic trim". The conductor pointed out, and I concurred, that the bus was barely two years old at the time! They were the last open platform buses to enter service in the UK. Behind 5888 can be seen a panorama of Greenfield.

Manchester Daimler 4645 passes the shelter at Greenfield station that was by then disused. This picture shows the short-lived caravan sales park belonging to Four Seasons (who also had and still have a base in Pudsey) in the bottom of the valley.

8672 heads into Uppermill at Greenfield station.

30228 appears a lot in this gallery. On this occasion it is working an extra journey from Saddleworth School at Greenfield station.

31939 is on the same task and was following close behind 30228. The thick pillar in the lower saloon is a consequence of its conversion to single-door from the dual-door configuration in which it originally operated in London.