40436 has completed the climb up "The Barracks Road" from Ashton. From this point there is a splendid view over Manchester, Cheshire and on clear days into Wales.

Plaxton Pointer Dart 40273 has just completed the steep climb out of Mossley and will now drop down into Ashton. Local government elections were looming!

Climbing out of Mossley and wearing the brighter and neater "Barbie 3" version of First's corporate colours is Wright-bodied Dennis Dart 40435.

31952 leaves the stops at Mossley Brookbottom heading for Ashton. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

40428 descends Stamford Road in Mossley. The spire of St. John's church is prominent and the railway can be seen to the right of the bus. Further right is Manchester Road, served by the 354.

By coincidence this photo shows the same bus in almost the same position on a different occasion.

40277 climbs Stamford Road in Mossley. The wall on the right bears plenty of evidence of the major rebuilding carried out between 2000 and 2004 which caused the closure of this road and the very substantial diversion chronicled in the "Diverted Mossley Services" collection.

40432 has turned left from Manchester Road to climb up to Top Mossley.

Dennis Dart 40281 has been carrying no large fleet numbers for some time (see also pictures of it at Diggle in the 354 collection). It is crossing the railway at Mossley station. The descent from the top of Mossley is quite steep and there used to be a compulsory stop half-way down. Despite this in October 1911 a tram ran away down the hill and crashed through the bridge parapet, resulting in the deaths of six people.

30233 is on Manchester Road in Mossley passing the Friendship Inn. The road that goes off here (which was once served by the 154A/353) was once known as Smith Hill but is now known as Waggon Road, presumably after another pub only a few doors away known as the Waggon and Horses, which closed as long ago as 1908 and is now demolished. 30233 was part of the original fleet of Walthamstow Citybus, as their 153, an operation based at Northumberland Park garage. This later became part of Capital Citybus which was in turn bought by First. This bus was transferred to Manchester in 2001.

Carrying the Barbie 2 livery which is no longer seen on this service is 40309 on Station Road in Micklehurst. It is passing the building that gave the road its name, the station which opened in 1886 and closed in 1917. Since the closure of the line in 1966 the station building has been sympathetically restored. Although the use of BR totem-style signs is not historically accurate, they have been used tastefully and are at least in character. This building was the station master's house and entrance, the platforms and other buildings (all wooden) were at a higher level as the railway was on an embankment here - they would have been just above the front of the bus.

Heading the other way is 40279, which had recently been repainted and received this unusual style of advertising.

40434 heads up from Hey Farm Estate towards Micklehurst, with the bulk of Wharmton (with its TV relay station) behind. The retaining wall on the left has been newly rebuilt, part of a large programme of such work in the area.

One of the more difficult maneouvres on this route can be the right turn at the Royal George, on the border between Mossley and Greenfield. 40309 is making this turn easily as there is very little traffic around.

2007's spring was exceptionally dry and a few grass fires ensued. To deal with a fire well up the hill the fire brigade had to tap into the water supply on Manchester Road in Greenfield, with their hoses leading all the way up Friezland Lane. 40434 carefully crosses the ramps over the hoses in a scene somewhat reminiscent of the blitz.

40434 is seen on an earlier occasion in lovely early autumn sun in almost the same place.

Northern Counties-bodied Dennis Dart 40255 at Greenfield Clarence.

Heading the other way at the Clarence is another Dart, 40274, this time with a Plaxton body.

The Volvo B10Bs were quite common in Saddleworth at one time but have now gone elsewhere. The very deep blue skirt and the magenta fade have left little room for any white below the windows, giving a very dowdy look. 60117 has just turned at Greenfield Clarence Hotel. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

40279 has already been seen in this collection at Micklehurst, but here it is very soon after repaint looking bright and smart in the morning sun. Approaching the Clarence along Chew Valley Road the backdrop to this photo has already changed with the new Millbank development having sprung up on the site of the erstwhile Andrew Mill.

Dennis Arrow 31925 patiently follows the Whit Friday church walks along Chew Valley Road. This particular journey was severely delayed by the walks as, despite the presence of inspectors diverting buses "on the hoof", there were no options available for this particular bus due to its timing.

31925 waits as the Whit Friday service is held at Road End in Greenfield. As seen in a previous photo it then had to follow the march until the walkers nearly reached Dacres, where they turn round.

40285 was the last bus to run in the area in this Barbie 2 livery but was repainted in 2007. Here it has joined Chew Valley Road in Greenfield and has just crossed the canal.

Whilst most of First Manchester's Dennis Arrows are based to the west, there are a few at the former Pennine depot in Dukinfield which works the 350. 31950 turns into Chapel Road having passed through Greenfield.

The registration gives away the fact that 40292 was originally a PMT vehicle which moved to the area following PMT's takeover of Pennine Blue which formed the basis of present-day operations from Dukinfield depot. It is heading down Chapel Road towards Greenfield.

40365 gets away from the top of the hill at Greenfield station. It is not easy to get out when making such a right turn at this point.

40255 passes through Uppermill, seen from the elevated window of Ian Barrell's barbers shop.

40433 pauses in Uppermill square on a filthy evening.

Wednesday is market day in Uppermill. Dennis Arrow 31950 stops in the square whilst the market stalls reflect the 2006 World Cup theme.

Northern Counties-bodied Metrobus 30298 loads in Uppermill square. The destination, whilst admirably clear, is wrong, as the 350 has always terminated at the bus station and not on West Street. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

60440 was new to Grampian as their 534 and made the long journey south to Oldham with several others of the batch. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

This batch of Optare Prismas from Leicester show very well what a mess First made of their national numbering system as they formed nine out of a block of ten consecutive registrations, yet the fleetnumbers are 61149-51, 61247-51 and 62115. 61248 joined the Manchester fleet at the end of 2002 and is entering Uppermill on a rather damp day. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

This Alexander Royale-bodied Volvo Olympian was new as First Bradford 5656 but never used by them, entering service in Manchester. It was an unusual type of vehicle to see on the 350. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

31930 passes under Saddleworth viaduct at Brownhill in the evening sun.

A rear view of 31950 as it waits to turn right at Brownhill under Saddleworth viaduct.

Dart 40301 was new to Q Drive Buses in London and features a split-level entrance as well as a not very uniform set of number blinds. It has just turned left at the Brownhill Visitor Centre and is heading from Uppermill to Delph.

Dennis Arrow 31950 heads along Dobcross Old Road towards Uppermill.

The 350 is normally operated by Dennis Darts, but one duty is worked by a double-decker to cover peak demands to and from Saddleworth School. It is normally worked by a Dennis Arrow but other vehicles do appear, in this case Northern Counties-bodied Olympian 34334. It is passing Newbank Garden Centre on Dobcross New Road.

40433 was originally 6527 until First implemented their national fleet numbering scheme. It is heading along Dobcross New Road towards Uppermill.

40428 passes the site of Ken Shaw's Kenlyn garage, one of the many vanished filling stations of Saddleworth. However, Ken Shaw was an important coach and contract bus operator in Saddleworth.

40274 passes the former Tame Water Mill on Delph New Road. Latterly this building had housed a night club on the first floor ("The Mill Experience") with a pine furniture showroom and workshop on the ground floor (Adept Pine). As is common in Saddleworth, it is now being converted for residential use.

One of the many Optare Prismas which came from Aberdeen is 60440, heading into Delph along Millgate, with the steep steps up to the theatre just visible.

This appearance of a Solo was most unusual, and on a day when the route was providing plenty of vehicle variety. As well as this Solo, there was a Dennis Arrow, an Olympian and several Darts. 40315 passes through a rather cluttered Delph High Street.

Having completed the loop round Carrcote, Dennis Arrow passes the Bull's Head in Delph on its way to Oldham. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

61150 is another one of the Optare Prismas which came from Leicester. Heading onto Millgate in Delph it is passing the library, now run by volunteers as Oldham Council said they could not afford to keep running it.

40277 is one of the Plaxton-bodied Dennis Darts which are regular performers on the 350. It has just turned out of the Sound in Delph and is heading up the hill to Scouthead and Oldham. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

Northern Counties-bodied Dart 40255 is seen yet again at Thurston Clough.

40433 is in the process of the long climb from Delph up to Scouthead. The stone wall on the hillside in the background marks the line of the road used by the 351 and 356 services.

Former London Olympian 30234 passes signs at Thurston Clough which reflect the rather rural nature of this part of the route.

Dart 40302 has completed the horseshoe bend at Thurston Clough - the road can also be seen in the background.

This unique bus is well-described in the 180 collection, but on this occasion was working a 350 and has almost reached the top of the climb to Scouthead from Delph, with a splendid panorama of rolling Saddleworth hills behind. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

The Glasgow Metrobuses were quite a common sight on the 350 for the first six months or so, when the through journeys were operated from Oldham garage. 30315 heads out of Oldham along High Street with a nowhere-near capacity load! Photo courtesy Mark Amis.

30228 appears again on the 350 and is seen in Oldham High Street. By this time Dukinfield garage was responsible for the through 350 workings; since the photo ironically 30228 has been transferred to Oldham. Photo courtesy Ian Roberts.