| These services were introduced with bus service deregulation, but commenced on 27th October 1986 as there was no Sunday service. Dennis's coaches was a new operator to stage carriage work as well as the Saddleworth area, but in my experience they ran a very reliable service. Dennis's subsequently expanded that side of the business significantly until they were taken over by Stagecoach in 2005.
The two services numbers served to distinguish buses using either Stockport Road (341) or Carrhill Road (342) to approach Mossley from Haddens. Sadly, this distinction has subsequently been lost and timetables have been very confusing. The service originally from Uppermill, through Grasscroft to Mossley, thence taking the direct road (the "Barracks Road") to Ashton. It was soon extended to serve the Asda store just north of Ashton. It then settled down to a fairly quiet existence, until service revisions from 8th May 1988 saw the Uppermill to Mossley section covered by a revitalised 353. The road from Mossley to Ashton was already sufficiently well-served and no replacement was needed for that section. The 341 and 342 were always worked by Dennis's, mainly with minibuses. As can be seen though, larger vehicles did appear giving at least a very comfortable ride. The mixture of vehicles does not reflect the actual operating mix - if something unusual appeared I would generally make an effort to photograph it! |
One of the most unusual vehicles ever to run in Saddleworth on service must have been this ACE Puma with Van Hool coachwork. ACE chassis were never very plentiful. This was the only time I saw this one used on the service. The vehicle carries the destination board normally used on the Mercedes. Registered as C633 RSG it was originally registered B31 XSN, an unusual case of a vehicle being given a registration mark indicating it is newer than it actually is. 799x533 341010_12796.jpg |
This Mercedes (ANA 116Y) was similar to the one originally used by Dennis’s, but is otherwise a bit of a mystery. It is not in their livery and I didn’t see it again, so I suspect it was on short-term hire whilst the normal bus was unavailable. As with most of the shots related to this service, it is on Mossley Road in Grasscroft. 799x533 341012_12794.jpg |
This Mercedes soon became the regular vehicle on the service and had the advantage of a proper destination display. 799x533 341015_12797.jpg |
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B910 RDB was the first vehicle used by Dennis’s on this service and was the regular vehicle until the arrival of D607 LSG. The destination board was actually double-sided for each direction of travel, but wasn’t always reversed at the terminus. 799x533 341016_12793.jpg |
On the 25-minute marathon run from Uppermill to Ashton it was reassuring to know there was a toilet available, or at least there was on this day as this DAF coach provides an unaccustomed level of luxury, including the toilet! 799x533 341017_12795.jpg |
This DAF coach was only two months old when pressed into service on the 341/342. It is seen at Greenfield station. 799x533 341030_12798.jpg |
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Also at Greenfield station is the regular Mercedes, heading back to Ashton. 799x533 341040_12792.jpg |
