The driver of Albion Aberdonian 717 stands up in his cab to reset the blinds for the trip back to Carrcote following the arrival of the bus at the Mossley Brookbottom terminus. 717 had been rebuilt at the front end with different headlamps and a pressed registration plate, but none of the others was so treated. Behind is nearly-new SHMD Bristol RE 115 on the Mossley to Oldham service. Photo courtesy Colin Routh.

Greater Manchester Transport 147 heads through Roughtown on the 436. The bus is very close to where I believe the terminus of the SHMD 17 service to Roughtown was, the predecessor of this route - see the 157 & 437 collection. Behind the bus was, and still is, the factory of George Sixsmith, church organ builders appropriately occupying what was formerly a church.

147 screams up Carrhill Road as it climbs out of Roughtown.

GMT 5015 was one of two Leyland Tiger Cubs bought by Oldham Corporation that had locally-built Pennine bodywork. They were quite regular visitors to Saddleworth, in later years on the former North Western services such as this 436 working to Denshaw, seen in Grasscroft. The original negative had some serious emulsion damage which it has been possible to repair digitally, something that was just not possible using traditional photographic techniques.

Leyland National 109 heads through Grasscroft on the 436.

The telephoto lens has distorted the perspective somewhat and in the process rather emphasised the relatively low profile of Metro-Scania 1345, which was one of three of the type allocated to Oldham, one being 1360 which had additional soundproofing and was labelled as "The Hushhhhhhhh Bus". (I may not have exactly the right number of h's!)

EX55 was one of the two Mercedes O305 buses that feature quite a lot in this gallery. At the time of this photograph it was still carrying its original number in the experimental series as well as the SELNEC flash. It is approaching Greenfield station and heading towards Mossley on the 438.

The evening sun catches National 151 as it passes the Woolpack in Dobcross. Just visible on the left is Woods Lane which climbs up to the centre of Dobcross village. The junction in the foreground now features a mini-roundabout. Note the typical Saddleworth bus shelter. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.

Here is North Western 718 on Delph New Road at the bottom of Wall Hill Road. The fleet number is displayed as 718A, the A suffix indicating a vehicle equipped for one-man operation. These Albions were some of the first in the fleet so equipped and often carried a painted metal "Please Pay as You Enter" sign in the nearside front window, although not on this occasion. Photo courtesy Alan Cross.

One of my favourite photos is this one of the preserved North Western PD2 on Delph High Street during a photo shoot in Saddleworth (see this and other collections). An unexpected bonus in this instance, when trying to recreate a vintage scene, was the sign to the right which still showed a Saddleworth telephone number.

Crossing the river bridge in the centre of Delph is 1304, one of the first production series of Leyland Nationals for GMT. It is working the 436, meaning it will enter Mossley via Carrhill Road. The bridge dates from around 1770 and replaced the original ford crossing nearby. Work on this bridge in recent years has to led to the occasional temporary closure of the road here and the diversion of bus services. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.

224 is on Delph High Street and crossing the bridge over the River Tame.

North Western PD2 224 is on the open stretch of road through New Tame, heading from Denshaw towards Delph. Most 158 journeys termin ated at Delph but one or two extended to Denshaw to fill gaps in the 156 service.

A closer view of North Western 224 with Densahw village behind.