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1309 was one of the Leyland Nationals delivered in plain white and it seems to want to return to that livery here on Oldham Road, Grasscroft.
431 to 434 - Carrcote to Diggle via Oldham |
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| surprised that its even out on the road. many of the nationals i knew refused to move in ice & snow as their air pipework underneath had frozen up. having said that, if they did venture out, the early mk1s had a weight distribution problem. i.e. nearly 3 ton of transmission at the rear, nothing at the front to balance the weight. many reports of nationals sliding sideways down roads.
great picture.
regards carl |
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5314 is in an almost identical position to 3255 in the previous shot.
10 & 180 - Greenfield to Manchester |
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| great pictures! Especially ones like these where they are in the same place but years apart!!! |
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Heading along Chew Valley Road towards the King Bill in Greenfield is the yellow Atlantean again, this time on a much brighter day.
355 Ashton to Oldham |
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| this yellow bus was always on this route at the same time every saturday in 1997 transferred to huddersfield used on their service shuttle to stothales hall park then sent to pvs for scarp
4413 was the last sharp of these to run on this service and its engine was different |
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In North Western days buses used to turn round at one end or the other of the bridge over the railway at Diggle station. In both cases it involved doing a three-point turn in the junction. The choice of which to use seemed to depend on the driver. A new turning circle was opened around 1972 on the site of the old goods yard and is still in use today. 224 stands at the bus stop ready to depart.
157, 356 & 437 - Mossley to Diggle |
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| Just the info I've been looking for after seeing what appeared to be a double deck bus at diggle in an early 1950s photograph. I assumed single deckers would have been used to Mossley so there we are. I am building Diggle Junction as it was corca 1954. What did the destination box carry from Diggle on the route 157?
Cheers, Larry |
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Preserved North Western 224 on Well-i-hole representing a morning school run on this service which ran via Dacres. It was the only working shown in the timetable (on any service) terminating at Saddleworth Station so that was my conclusion as what this destination display (printed at no mean cost!) was for.
156 Friezland to Newhey |
| [#8548335] |
2006-08-07 13:42:48 |
Left by Stephen Howarth (#1138273) |
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| Good Afternoon,
This journey was used to transport pupils from Friezland, Dacres, (where I used to live) and areas of Greenfield to Uppermill Saddleworth Secondary School.
There was no return evening journey, we used to have to cach the normal 154 service, although there was an extra depature run to cater for the extra school children. |
| [#8590553] |
2006-12-20 15:19:21 |
Left by Stephen Howarth (#1138273) |
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| Good Afternoon David,
Been having a good look through your recent additions, and saw this one again.
The farm in the background was owned by the Hadfield family.
Me and my brother used to help on it during the school holidays, hay making, collecting eggs, mucking out, and no doubt making ourselves a nuisance.
At weekends we used to help deliver the milk, (in an old Ford Thames van), and used to get the princely sun of 5/- EACH.
Thought we were rich !!!!
On to the bus.
I always thought that the Leyland Farringdon body was good looking, and was my personnel favourite
Compare this with CDB 214 with an ECW body, built in the same year, shown on my web site.
http://www.shortal.com/bus.tram.badges/NORTHWESTERNROADCARC.html
I think you will agree the Leyland is a much better looking vehicle altogether.
As a matter interest this school journey used to start picking up from the far end of Shaw Hall Bank Road, and not Friezland Church.
I remember this because a lad (can not remember his name) in our class at Saddleworth Secondary School used to live there and was on the bus when it got to Dacres.
The great thing about this run was that we could stand in our front room window, and only leave home as the bus left the Church, and arrive at the stop just in time.
Seamless travel or what, (would not happen these days), OR am I wearing my rose tinted glasses again.
Must finish now.
All the best
Stephen
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Stagecoach Olympian 16756 waits in Uppermill Bus Station for children to come out of Saddleworth School. The 427 had finished running to Uppermill some six months earlier, but was still shown by Stagecoach on their workings, probably for contractual reasons. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.
O, S, T, 27, 28, 29, 427 & 429 - Manchester, Hollinwood, Grotton and Diggle |
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| This journey is still operating as of Feb 2008, and is shown as a 427 in the GMPTE schools leaflet, making it the only remaining official 427 journey. However, the morning working (0804 from Mumps), although shown as a 184 in the leaflet, actually shows 427 on the front (probably because the B10M usually allocated has its electronuc destination programmed thus). |
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| I only actually realized a couple of months ago that school services don't seem to be wanted to change when a bus route is altered. Most of the services withdrawn on the 31st of October '04 still run as school services now, the 427 does and the 183 ... |
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The Alexander Royale Olympians were used on the 180 and 184 on Sundays only, which seemed a bit bizarre. Following the service revisions of October 2004 that practice continued until the widespread introduction of the B7RLEs. 30241 is in Uppermill Square on the first day of revised services. Note that the electronic display was incapable of showing Uppermill. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.
14 and 184 - Manchester to Uppermill, Diggle and Huddersfield |
| [#8849589] |
2009-08-04 22:18:38 |
Left by Mark Amis (#1022281) |
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| Apparently, on sundays, the 180/184 was interworked with the 59 service into Manchester.
As the Royales were common vehicles for the 59 during the week as well at the time their appearance onto the 180/184 can be explained by this.
I blame the scheduling software for coming up with this brilliant idea ;-) |
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Checkmate Travel have been running in Saddleworth for about twenty years now, but their current operation is limted to a Saddleworth School working to Bleak Hey Nook, Delph and Denshaw. It is regularly worked by this vehicle, which still carries the livery of Nu-Venture of Aylesford, Kent, whence it was purchased. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.
School workings |
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| Checkmate's vehicles have now been painted all-white. Just thought you'd like to know |
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| Hi again, I apologise as I have realised that only one of their two Varios had been painted all white when I had sent the last message. I don't know if the other one has now been given the treatment because lately I've only seen their MetroRider (R641OBV). |
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| Actually no, I stand corrected. I think one of them's in white, the other one is still in Nu-venture livery, but with black bumpers. I hardly see those now the two newly acquired Solos seem to have taken over |
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The Alexander Royale-bodied Olympians were regular vehicles on the X84 at first, but are no longer seen as they have been transferred away from Oldham garage. They were able to show a full and correct disply, unlike many other vehicles, and that can be seen to good effect here as 30245 crosses the railway at Greenfield station. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.
X84 - Manchester to Carrcote |
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| This batch of Oly/Royales are now earning their keep on t'other side of the hills in Leeds ! |
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5324 crosses the Huddersfield Narrow Canal as it leaves Greenfield. The canal bridge culverting had just been completed, you can see the earthworks still looking very neat. Undoing the culverting was a much bigger job, as the previous photos show!
10 & 180 - Greenfield to Manchester |
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| I find your hobby fascinating and have had great pleasure in viewing you pictures. I am only 19 so the buses from 1998 onwards brought back memories from school bus journeys.Its also interesting to see buses around my time of birth as i cannot remeber them! |
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Loline 895 is stopped near the Cross Keys Inn and is actually on a Ribble Enthusiast Club tour to commemorate the end of North Western in Oldham.
13 and 183 - Manchester to Uppermill and Greenfield via Scouthead |
| [#8626585] |
2007-03-28 01:09:10 |
Left by Tony J. Griffin (#1086591) |
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| Love this shot David - very few rear views of Alexander / Loline III's. Incredibly low slung rear window! A real brute of a bus |
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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.
14 and 184 - Manchester to Uppermill, Diggle and Huddersfield |
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| I was probably the guard on this |
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Checkmate's Iveco E184 CNE loads passengers for Greenfield Paper Mill at Mossley station.
Greenfield Paper Mill workings |
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| The bloke getting on the bus is called Des Cameron |
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This was my first sighting of this bus after its seven year overhaul and repainting into SELNEC orange livery. It is waiting in Lever Street to work the 1815hrs departure to Uppermill. Although the location is the same as the previous shots, the GPO Sorting Office has been built in the intervening years.
13 and 183 - Manchester to Uppermill and Greenfield via Scouthead |
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| I was only seven years old and can remember,like it was yesterday,catching this type of bus when they were brand new from Austerlands chiminey to Doctor Lane School at Scouthead.
Congratulations on a marvellous site that brings childhood memories flooding back of all those bus journeys to Scouthead, then later when a bit older, to Uppermill School |
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Leyland Leopards hired from Ribble helped to keep the Yelloway services going and 1028 is going well as it approaches Grains Bar from Halifax. The overhead electrical cables here were not always up to the winter conditions - in the early sixties a build-up of ice on the cables led to an excessive load on the pylon in the valley to the right, which collapsed, fortunately as far as I recall without injury.
556, 561 and 562 - Manchester and Oldham to Halifax |
| [#8554320] |
2006-08-24 13:21:49 |
Left by Stephen Howarth (#0) |
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| Good Afternoon David,
This site of yours just keeps getting better and better.
Still have not had time to sort things out with your photos yet, but will get round to it soon.
With ref to this photo and the mention of the pylons coming down.
Is your date of the early 60s correct?
I remember when I was at OCPTD and the weather was really bad that the Chief Inspector had gone out in the staff car to survey routes in the Grains Bar and Denshaw areas, and came back with a lump of ice off a power cable after the pylon had come down.
This ice as I remember it was about 2ft across and it had been in the car for some time, so had melted some what.
I started at OCPTD in 1968, so did the pylons come down twice?
As an aside I probably drove this coach when I worked part time for NWRCC at Hulme Hall Road Garage,I seem to remember that some of this batch were used on NWRCC work.
I wish now that I had kept my old duty books etc, we can all look back..
Sorry to ramble on.
All the best
Stephen |
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The first of several pictures of this bus, which seemed to be a regular on the 556, shows it starting the descent to Denshaw from Grains Bar (which was the highest tram terminus in the UK, excluding Snaefell on the Isle of Man). The bus was Crosville DVG 561, on hire to Yelloway.
556, 561 and 562 - Manchester and Oldham to Halifax |
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| I have heard that Thornbury on the Bardford and Halifax systems also claims to have been the highest tram terminus. |
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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.
350 - Ashton to Oldham |
| [#8815926] |
2009-03-21 20:39:22 |
Left by Harry Broughton (#0) |
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| I've been living in saddleworth since 1966 and if you were to say this route was the same as the old 355 (as it pretty much is), this is probably the only 350 I myself have ever seen with an electronic destination display! |
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| since this photo was taken this bus was transferred to Dukinfield who run all the duties to Oldham these solos are sometimes on it
still the same parking trouble in delph for buses to get though |
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Ken Shaw's PD2 is taking workers home from Owl Mill in Lees. This scene has changed considerably with the closure and demolition of Owl Mill and the building of the Co-op store on the site. The Angel Inn on the right has been a constant through the years.
Saddleworth Operators |
| [#8563446] |
2006-09-20 17:06:41 |
Left by Stephen Howarth (#1138273) |
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| Good Afternoon David,
This brings back happy memories.
When I passed my PSV test in 1972, I wanted a bit of experience, ie a bit of cab time.
So I went to Ken Shaw, (I think his son was called Mel) and got a bit of part time driving.
I remember driving this bus on a number of occasions on this very contract.
This was before I got a Part Time Driving job with NWRCC from Hulme Hall Road in Manchester.
All the best
Stephen |
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This time the driver HAS used Well-i-hole and Shaw Hall Bank Road and is almost at Greenfield station. Note the way the paintwork has turned the front of the bus into some sort of beast with fangs!
Rail Replacement Services |
| [#8805629] |
2009-02-07 18:51:21 |
Left by joe siy22366 (#1232962) |
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| it was allways ment to look as it had fangs on |
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One of the most surprising appearances in the post-deregulation era was buses from Crosville, an operator so strongly associated with North Wales. Their double-deckers were less common and this sight of Bristol VRT DVL 399 at Greenfield station was unexpected.
353 Ashton to Denshaw |
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| Another unusual point here is the use of "Ashton under Lyne" in the destination display. I can't remember seeing that on other buses. The destination boards usually just show "Ashton". |
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This has to be one of the best period shots of a bus in Saddleworth that I've come across and I'm grateful to Chris Heaps for allowing me to use it. In the low afternoon sun Oldham PD1/3 267 gives the learner driver quite a challenge in climbing the hill at Greenfield station. There are stone setts galore and the shop on the corner is very much open for business. As for other traffic, there just isn't any! Photo courtesy Chris Heaps.
Buses visiting Saddleworth |
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| Nice picture by Chris Heaps of an early post-war Leyland on learner duties negotiating the sharp bend on the climb leading to Greenfield Station. As is often the case, it is the street furniture that evokes memories rather than the actual subject of the picture, particularly as it was taken in 1954. For me, the memories are of arriving on the train from Oldham and going straight to that shop on the corner for crisps, apples and pop. These would sustain us while train watching “on the station. Just around the corner was a blacksmith that was just set back from the road on a slope. Hapy days! |
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| Although on Driver-Training duty, this bus was one of those favoured with advertising, which had been introduced on OCPTD twelves before in November 1953 in a bid to increase revenue. |
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Oldham 231 was one of the first batch of buses bought by Oldham after the war. They replaced the last Oldham trams and were the only 7' 6" wide double-deckers bought new by Oldham once 8' became a legal width. This bus was preserved for a while but sadly scrapped by 1970. It is seen here in happier days of preservation at the Great Western Hotel on Standedge and was on its way to Huddersfield and Bradford for tours of the trolleybus systems. Photo courtesy Martin Arthur.
Buses visiting Saddleworth |
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| Why was this bus scrapped? Bulkheads? chassis or what?
L.G. |
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| I can't remember why, although I think I knew once. I don't think it was anything as major as that and more a relative lack of interest. Whilst lamenting the loss of any vehicle that has made it into preservation, I would argue that 246 is historically more important and more typical of Oldham. |
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5342 shows off its classic lines as it waits to turn round at Greenfield Clarence. The advert on the side was part of SELNEC's campaign to increase their private hire business and it draws attention to the range of vehicle sizes available. Prior to the formation of SELNEC many of the local authorities did not have authority to run private hires outside their boundary but the PTE was under no such restriction.
10 & 180 - Manchester to Greenfield |
| [#8645868] |
2007-05-24 15:17:34 |
Left by Stephen Howarth (#1138273) |
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| Good Afternoon David,
You make mention of Private Hire work undertaken by local authorities, and the lack of the relevant authority.
Oldham Corporation used to undertake Private Hire work 'On Hire' to Ashton Corporation.
We used to have a supply of 'On Hire' window stickers to issue with the Work Ticket.
All the best
Stephen |
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5140 whines its way round the bend and up the hill. The advert on the side is for Christmas shopping at The Spindles in Oldham - but it is still only early November!
10 & 180 - Greenfield to Manchester |
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| I have stumbled accross your website whilst at home. It is excellent. I have been a long life fan of GMT buses and I work in Saddleworth and am fascinated by the photographs I have seen so far! I hadnt realised that Fletcher Brothers was served by the 180 service until as late as it was. Well done.
I would really interested in perhaps purchasing prints of some of the buses if possible.
Regards
James Ebden
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This fascinating shot at Oldham Market Place contains a puzzle as Leyland Tiger 62 has a black or grey roof which was not the normal livery. The first conclusion would be that it is a wartime shot, but the bus has no blackout masks, there is too much of the tram network still present (see the distant tram on West Street) and tram 111 on the left was withdrawn in 1937. What cannot fail to impress is the magnificent bus stop. Photo courtesy Roy Marshall.
13 and 183 - Manchester to Uppermill and Greenfield via Scouthead |
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| Definitely a prewar shot, likely early 1930s. The only tram service operating through Oldham during wartime was the 1 and 20. The photographer could have taken this picture for a number of reasons... the Leylands black roof (maybe it was one of those minor experiments that went undocumented, or the fact that the full front Saloons 18-20 were intended to replace these TS3's buses on 'Express' services.
Larry G. |
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| The black roof is a bit of a mystery and not confined to this bus as I have a postcard showing two early double-deckers with a black (or at least dark) roof. In all cases it is well before the wartime era. |
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At the same location but waiting to work a journey going out via Lees is Oldham 410, one of five Crossley-bodied Leyland PD2s. These were attractive buses and pleasant to ride on as the deep windows gave very good visibility. However the body design (which was actually from Park Royal) proved particularly susceptible to corrosion and these buses had very short lives with only about ten years active service. 409 was the only one to survive and it was the expense of overhauling that bus that led to the decision to cease work on the others. This was particularly undignified for this bus, 410, as work had already started and the stripped-down body shell languished at the back of the garage (along with the more complete other members of the batch) for a couple of years before they were finally disposed of. Photo courtesy Roy Marshall.
P, 153, 155, 433 & 434 - Uppermill Circular |
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| I'd dispute that the body design came from Park Royal; as far as I know the design was originally by Crossley to the requirements of Liverpool Corporation for their batch of DD42s, and it is a modification of this design that we see here. Certainly it was also used by Park Royal, but I would say the original came from Errwood Park. - Jon |
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| The Crossley book is clear on this point. The design evolved for Liverpool did carry over to other operators, such as Aberdeen, but this one was a Park Royal one inflicted on Crossley. |
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407 was one of a large batch of Bristol K5Gs bought by North Western just before the war and their first major double-deck purchase. In 1950-51 they were given new Willowbrook bodies as seen here and as a consequence the chassis gave very long service to the company. Peeling paint at the front is giving 407 a down-at-heel appearance towards the end of its life. It is at the Ashworth Street terminus and waiting to work a clockwise journey on the 153, going to Uppermill via Scouthead. Photo courtesy Tony Moyes.
P, 153, 155, 433 & 434 - Uppermill Circular |
| [#8746209] |
2008-06-04 13:50:45 |
Left by Bob Bracegirdle (#0) |
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| Can the photo of 407 really be January 62? Still with a cream roof 4 years after the 1958 livery change? I don't believe it. |
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North Western Dennis Loline 883 leaves Uppermill towards Lees on the way to Oldham. The barber's shop I seem to recall as being owned by Austin Collier, although someone may wish to correct me on that. Behind the bus is the Waggon and to the left of the photographer is the Saddleworth Museum car park. Photo courtesy Geoff Lumb.
P, 153, 155, 433 & 434 - Uppermill Circular |
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| Good Morning David,
With refernce to the Barbers Shop.
You are correct in saying it was Austin Collier. I seem to recollect that he used large amounts of 'Brylcreem'.
With reference to the Loline I seem to remember that the doors were rather fierce, in that they closed rather fast, and I am sure if somebody was unlucky enough to get caught, they would have suffered a nasty injury.
Unfortunately I never got to drive a NWRCC Loline but did drive the ex 'Blue Bus Service' ones when I was at Derby.
(I think that they were the prototypes.)
All for now
Stephen |
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| My name is Phil Smith and I grew up in Uppermill. I am Operations Director at Stagecoach North West and I would like to congratulate you on this excellent website showing many pictures that I certainly have not seen before.
Your recent article on bus services in Saddleworth was also very interesting that appeard in Clasic Bus. The fact you revealed ref Miners buses from Grotton was something that I had certainly never heard of before.I certainly hope that you produce more, e.g. "Hansons bus" and the Tyne Tees Mersey or "Northern Pool/Limited stop" as it was osometimes known would make another article in iteself not to mention all the NWRCC Saturday summer "bucket & spade" services that used to call at Uppermill on the Yorks Coast Services, did you know they survived well into National Travel days and didnt stop calling at Uppermill til the late 70s. |
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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.
14 and 184 - Manchester to Uppermill, Diggle and Huddersfield |
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| Great pic and i love the irony of First Manchester operating a service to Huddersfield with an ex-Leeds Metrobus! |
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This was the only Universal Buses vehicle I saw in any livery other than all-over white and I suspect the colour scheme is a legacy of its operation with Travel West Midlands Your Bus, in which fleet it was 138.
154, 154A, 353 & 354 - Ashton to Uppermill and Denshaw |
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| Travel WM Your Bus unit had an orange/white/brown livery, if I recall correctly, and this particular HandyBus body doesn't have a recessed windscreen! |
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This splendidly evocative shot of Saddleworth of yore shows, I am assured by Tony Moyes who took it, North Western Bristol L 298 working a journey on the 156 to Newhey. The combination of buses leads me to believe it is the 2.30pm bus from Friezland passing 767 working a 160 from Huddersfield. The Swan Hotel behind the bus is having a new sign affixed, which will mean the removal of the wonderful old "Bents King Hal" sign which is just discernible. The building on the right of the bus was, until recently, the office of Key Moves estate agents. 298 was a sister vehicle to 299 (see the 153 collection) but had managed to keep its corresponding registration and fleet numbers. Photo courtesy Tony Moyes.
156 Friezland to Newhey |
| [#8586697] |
2006-12-10 18:06:44 |
Left by Stephen Howarth (#1138273) |
Reply |
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| Good Afternoon David,
I am finding a bit more time, the eldest lad is out of hospital (for the moment) so we are not having to dash around as much.
The shop which you say was the office of Key Moves, was once the shop of my mothers uncle.
He was Edger Hardy.
He was a Unholsterer/French Polisher, Electricial, and I suppose just about everything else.
He used to be 'open all hours', before it became fashionable (and the TV series of that name).
When we lived at Dacres I remember our Mother taking us to Friezland, (walking through Well-e-Hole Farm) and catching the bus (possibly this very one) and travelling to New Hey to visit a friend of my Dads who he used to play cricket with, for Milnrow - my Dad was Captain.
How many more people used to travel the full route??
Have any pictures turned of Delph Post Office?
I would really like to have photo of a bus outside there.
As usual I have rambled on enough.
We will meet up in the New Year.
All the best for the moment
Stephen |
| [#8667500] |
2007-07-30 14:09:23 |
Left by Bernard Halliwell (#0) |
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| One of the peculiarities of the North Western single decker buses that worked the Friezland to Newhey route in the late 1950s was the spelling on the front destination blind: "NEW HAY". |
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Albion Aberdonian 715 breasts the summit near the Moorcock above Denshaw. 715 was notable for being in an all red livery and was unique in the North Western fleet in this respect apart from, curiously, Royal Tiger 517 at Matlock. Those who travelled on North Western buses in Saddleworth at the time would have no difficulty recognising the driver as Clifford, notable due to his girth. The spelling of Newhey is worthy of comment. It is believed the place was originally called New Hey but this changed many years ago to the single word Newhey, which is the version I have used in this gallery. However, this photograph shows that North Western always displayed "New Hey" and they were not alone as Manchester's buses also did. Oldham buses used the official spelling. Photo courtesy Geoff Lumb.
156 Friezland to Newhey |
| [#8586705] |
2006-12-10 18:20:18 |
Left by Stephen Howarth (#1138273) |
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| Hi me again,
The Driver Clifford you mention, was in fact Clifford Harrison.
As you say he had an ample girth.
I always remember that his tunic always wore out just where the steering wheel rubbed against it.
When SELNEC took over NWRCC, and I was involved in transferring all the staff pay record etc from Clegg Street to Wallshaw Street, I remember Cliff coming up to me, and saying
"I know thee"
"I remember taking thee and thy brother from Delph to School, thy little buggers."
"You are related to Frank Farrar (one of my uncles on my Mothers side), if thee does not get my pay right there'll be trouble."
He was a great character, and always had a cheery word.
I often used to sit with him in the canteen, and it was interesting listening to his tales of the old days.
Why did I not keep a record?
If memory serves me right all the Albion Aberdonians were based at Oldham.
I remeber sitting behind the Driver (there was a single sideways facing seat) and watching him. Was this what made me want to become a Bus Driver?
I also seem to remeber that the Albion had a 'Chinese Gearbox' back to front.
Sorry for boring you.
Stephen |
| [#8587927] |
2006-12-13 15:50:29 |
Left by David Beilby (#1028627) |
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| Your comment isn't boring at all - it adds a bit of personality to the
photographs. I once gave a talk in Saddleworth and prefaced this slide by saying that a lot of people would instantly recognise the driver on the next slide - and quite a few named Clifford without even seeing the photograph! He was well known! |
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For many years the Mossley bus from Oldham started from the top of Greaves Street, very close to the Town Hall entrance. 362 was a Crossley SD42/7 which was one of four in the second batch of these Roe-bodied single-deckers. These later examples had a more rounded outline than the earlier ones. These fourteen Crossleys comprised Oldham's single-deck fleet for some fourteen years and hence monopolised Oldham's workings on the E. Photo courtesy Ted Jones.
E, 16, 343, 344 and 416 - Oldham to Mossley and Hyde |
| [#8667506] |
2007-07-30 14:35:56 |
Left by Bernard Halliwell (#0) |
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| One curious feature of the Oldham/Mossley bus service occurred on the last bus on Saturday nights (late 1950s). The joint service timetable resulted in the last bus leaving Mossley belonging to the SHMD whilst its counterpart from Oldham was an Oldham Corporation vehicle. Obviously this was not ideal. The Oldham vehicle left the Town Hall at 10:35 and ran non-stop from Oldham Mumps to the Grotton Hotel. The SHMD bus left Mossley at 10:40. At the Grotton Hotel all passengers were disgorged from both vehicles, both buses then performed a 3 point turn. We all then got on to the other bus and resumed our journey.
I lived on Coverhill Road and used this particular bus many times. All usually went well despite the seating capacity of the Oldham bus being only 32 whilst the SHMD vehicle sat 38. The Oldham bus was always packed to capacity but luckily it was very rare for the SHMD bus to be full.
PS. on my recent comment on the Friezland - Newhey bus front blind reading "NEW HAY" I did mean HAY: it is not a typo on my part. |
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I remember a ride on a North Western Fleetline through Roughtown on a 157 in the ‘sixties and even then being struck by the incongruousness of the experience. Memories of double-deckers going that way had become distant until, in 2000, Stagecoach started to work the 353 and suddenly a bizarre assortment of double-deckers appeared. This bus became quite a common sight on the 353 for a while and was an Alexander-bodied Olympian which had recently been transferred from Busways (Tyne and Wear). The shop on the right has since disappeared, almost without trace.
353 Ashton to Denshaw |
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| Carrhill Road was used by double deckers during much of the 80s and 90s when this was the 355 route (after the road was modified at Black Rock bridge, Heyrod, which allowed double deckers to pass under it). |
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On only the second day of operation of the 356 Universal’s standard offering for the service - a Plaxton Beaver-bodied Mercedes - is seen in Boarshurst incorrectly showing Uppermill as the destination.
356 - Greenfield to Oldham |
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| I think this website is brilliant!! whoever decided to withdraw the 356 and 351, tell them to bring them both back! |
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Oldham PD2 357 is on Henshaw Street by the corner of the Victoria Market, better known as the Market Hall. This much-loved facility was destroyed by fire on 5th October 1974. The name of Haigh's Walk Round Stores (the shop to the right) takes us back to the days when "being served" was normal practice in a shop. Photo courtesy Roy Marshall.
H, 4, 6, 404, 406, 408, 422 Oldham to Denshaw |
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| I remember this bus well. I was an apprentice at the oldham bus garage and the engine for this bus was overhauled completly by Matt Wallace with me cleaning all the bits as I learned my trade.There was no better engine fitter than Matt who stampped his name on a plate with the mileage and the date of the engine overhaul.Wonderful times! |
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In ten years there has been little change on High Street. The bus is new, however. 101 was the first of ten forward-entrance PD3/5s which showed a lot of the influence of the new General Manager, Harry Taylor, in details such as destination blinds and also saw a complete change in the interior trim. The Stardrops advert clearly visible was a very common sight on Oldham buses at the time. Of the buildings behind the bus only the Hilton Arcade survives in a modernised form, together with the upper storeys of Flacks's which survives as part of the current Woolworth store. At the time of this photograph Woolworth's was across the road. Photo courtesy Roy Marshall.
O, S, T, 27, 28, 29, 427 & 429 - Manchester, Hollinwood, Grotton and Diggle |
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| Bus 101 and its sisters were soon removed from the O, T & S service because they lost time due to the doors, staircase and poor loading/unloading 'platform'. General unpopularity with passengers and bus crews wherever they went, they were dumped on G-Group eventually where timekeeping was easier to maintain on Limited Stop services from Manchester to Greenfield and Uppermill. |
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Until the early fifties the bus stop for eastbound buses at Mumps was on the main road by the junction, just in front of the West Pennine Water Board offices visible in the previous shot of 158. The finger post for the junction is just visible on the lamp standard to the right of the bus, whereas on the left is the Salisbury Hotel. The subject of the photograph, Leyland Titan TD2 68, had an eventful life. New in 1932 it was loaned to Bristol for no less than five years during the war. After sale in 1948 it saw further service in Scotland before returning much closer to home as a showman's vehicle in the late fifties. Photo courtesy Roy Marshall.
O, S, T, 27, 28, 29, 427 & 429 - Manchester, Hollinwood, Grotton and Diggle |
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| I must thank David for directing me to this photograph after I had sought his help in confirming the name of the pub/hotel at Mumps Bridge where my wedding reception was held. The fact that I, later, became a North Western bus driver (at Stockport) was a happy coincidence. |
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This picture of Oldham High Street will no doubt bring back memories for those who shopped there. Firstly there is the news stand at the bottom of Hilton Arcade, a busy and useful facility right next to the express (10/13/14) bus stop. Then there was Market Avenue, another arcade behind the bus. This was more popular with the youth of the time as it contained two record shops! Although the Hilton Arcade has been refurbished, it hasn't recaptured the vitality of these once-popular thoroughfares. Photo courtesy Roy Marshall.
O, S, T, 27, 28, 29, 427 & 429 - Manchester, Hollinwood, Grotton and Diggle |
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| Typo here David as the year is most likely 1956 while the bus carried its original livery sans upper deck waistband. |
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| The date was a default one set by Fotopic which I missed when entering data. I don't have an accurate date so, in line with my policy, it's shown as 1st January 1950 meaning sometime in the fifties. |
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The Leyland Titan TD3 certainly marked a visual step forward in design with the deeper radiator. 58 was the first of this model with Oldham and the first of forty-one Titans to be bodied by English Electric in the 1930s, making them the second most important body supplier to Oldham in this period (after Roe). 58 is on High Street and heading for Grotton on the O service, it was only later on that workings to Grotton gained a separate route letter T. Photo courtesy Roy Marshall.
O, S, T, 27, 28, 29, 427 & 429 - Manchester, Hollinwood, Grotton and Diggle |
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| This was one of several publicity shots of this vehicle. It differed from the remainder of the batch in having a sloping base to its windscreen. |
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As this photo makes clear, 5319 was heading for Grotton when trouble struck. More recently Optare Prisma 62115 caught fire and was destroyed in the new West Street part of the bus station here, but in that case the cause was arson. (My legal advisors suggest I use the word "allegedly" here.) Photo courtesy Ian Roberts.
O, S, T, 27, 28, 29, 427 & 429 - Manchester, Hollinwood, Grotton and Diggle |
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| Just a slight correction on this photo is that Optare Prisma 62115 actually caught fire not in this Bus Station but the new one on West Street |
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New Oldham PD3 104 looks slightly out of place amongst the traditional Oldham enamel bus stop flags and standards for a tram service that had ceased more than thirty years earlier. However, new concrete lamp-posts are already in place and the scene is about to change considerably, with the exception of the substantial Lees Brook Mill. Photo courtesy Tony Moyes.
O, S, T, 27, 28, 29, 427 & 429 - Manchester, Hollinwood, Grotton and Diggle |
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| Sadly I lost two very good friends at this spot the year before (1963) when the car they were travelling in failed to negotiate the bend at high speed. It probably seems strange today that this road had no speed restrictions at the time, not even 70mph! |
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As with the previous photograph, this Stott's bus is displaying an indication for a school journey that doesn't serve Saddleworth so again the reason for the journey is unknown. M74 WYG is in Uppermill square. Photo courtesy Ian Roberts.
Buses visiting Saddleworth |
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| M 74WYG not UWY
Excellent site. |
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| Thanks for the correction, Dave. Don't know how I made that registration up! |
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I’ve been unable to find out anything about this vehicle or its operator and would welcome any information. It is almost certainly a former NBC Leyland Leopard with Plaxton body and is in Greenfield for the band contest.
Buses visiting Saddleworth |
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| Dave,
I photographed it 11 days prior to your photo.
The operator is Howie's of Roberttown, east of Huddersfield.
The coach was new as United Autos 1295 (NHN795K) a Bristol RE. |
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At the same location is 30222, one of the Olympians new to Capital Citybus which currently form the bulk of Oldham's double-deck allocation. Photo courtesy Mark Amis.
183 - Grotton to Limeside |
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| This service is cancelled w.e.f. 30th March 2008. |
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| Well, as it turns out not cancelled, but transferred to First Dukinfield and revised to become an Oldham - Limeside circular only, thus removing it from the purview of this site. |
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| Well, not completely cancelled ... the Oldham to Limeside bit is still running. |
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Redevelopment has completely changed this scene at Tame Water, where 5006 is swinging round the corner at the bottom of Wall Hill Road to head towards Delph. The buildings on the right formed the warehouse of J. T. Sykes and Sons. This was Tame Bridge Mill which once even had a railway connection from the Delph line, although this was taken out of use in the very early 20th century. Sykes had five shops (four in Saddleworth and one in Shaw) and proclaimed themselves as Corn Millers, Grocers and Provision Dealers and as specialists in cheese, bacon and ham. To the left of the bus can be seen the yard of Kenlyn Garage, which was Ken Shaw's garage and coach depot. By the time of this photo Shaw's had sold out to Stott's of Oldham and there were two disused former Burnley and Pendle PD2s in the yard, one of which is visible. Photo courtesy Paul Wreghitt.
13 and 183 - Manchester to Uppermill and Greenfield via Scouthead |
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| J T Sykes was my great grandfather and I remember the mill very well. My sister and I spent many a happy hour hiding amongst the sacks of corn whilst my Dad, Robin, was working in the office! |
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932 turns off the railway bridge at Diggle onto Sam Road.
14 and 184 - Manchester to Uppermill, Diggle and Huddersfield |
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| Your pictures of Saddleworth buses are wonderful! I am siting here in Canada looking at your many pictures. It has made me really homesick! My mother still lives in Diggle and it takes me back to catching the bus on Sam Rd on those crispy winter days.
Thanks for the memories. |
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JP Travel Mercedes J20 JPT passes through Uppermill square. As the blind says Uppermill and the bus is empty it is likely that it had just completed the last working on the 354 and was headed back to base. Photo courtesy Eric Ogden.
154, 154A, 353 & 354 - Ashton to Uppermill and Denshaw |
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| When I lived in Friezland, this was the regular bus (with regular driver) on the 354. I used to catch it back from Uppermill nearly every Saturday, taking my shopping home. JP always ran smack to time, and our driver was always friendly and cheerful ... and then Universal won the contract, and it all went to pot.
When I first moved to Friezland I was still working for GMPTE, and noticed that JP were running the 354 the opposite way round Shaw Hall Bank Road to the official route. I persuaded the PTE Service Planning Dept. to change the official route to match JP's, as it made much more sense! |
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Minibuses rule in Uppermill bus station! JP Travel H147 CBU waits departure time whilst another Mercedes of Dennis's is also headed for Ashton on the 353. The 354 will be the 1210 departure as this was the only time the two services were seen together here, helped by the long layover as the bus arrived 35 minutes earlier, giving the driver time for a lunch break. Photo courtesy Jon Brierley.
154, 154A, 353 & 354 - Ashton to Uppermill and Denshaw |
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| I didn't have to travel far to take that pic - at the time I was living in the dormer extension visible on top of the house to the rear! |
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Universal 814 (the fleetnumbers gave the impression of a much larger fleet) is on Shaw Hall Bank Road near Friezland church. Photo courtesy Jon Brierley.
154, 154A, 353 & 354 - Ashton to Uppermill and Denshaw |
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| Another bit of idle gricing - I only had to cross the road from my house to take this shot of the first ever Universal Buses departure from Friezland. I must say that, contrary to your route history, I don't recall it being operated by Glossopdale; I thought Universal took over the contract directly from JP.
It's also not quite true to say that Stagecoach 'took over' Universal: UB went bust, owing money all over the place, and Stagecoach acquired the assets from the recievers. |
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| You're right Jon, I've checked my source data and I ws just plain wrong! Glossopdale never worked the 354. I've amended the route history accordingly, also taking account of your comments about the demise of Universal. |
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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.
350 - Ashton to Oldham |
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| this bus runs mainly on the x84 that leaves uppermill at 7.46am with the same driver each day it and 31950 are the only 2 of the type left at Dukinfield others have been replaced by volvo double decks |
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| since I left the above message 31927 has reappered at Ashton |
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| since I reported this 31925 is still at Dukinfield joined back by 31927 but 31950 has been reported to Wigan |
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Also on High Street, but many years before, was Oldham's 178. The interest in this shot is that it shows a working on the S, a service rarely photographed, mainly because its operation was generally confined to peak hours. Behind is another TD5, 201, but this time one of the large batch with Roe bodies. Photo courtesy Ted Jones.
O, S, T, 27, 28, 29, 427 & 429 - Manchester, Hollinwood, Grotton and Diggle |
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| The bus is likely going to pick up school children from Hollins Secondary Modern. I travelled on one of these Leyland bodied jobs from that school 1954 or 1955 (anything could turn up on this school run)and they often terminated at Clarksfield Road, the other end of the 'S' run. Looks like the bus behind does not intend picking up passengers seeing as it has 'Lees' as the destination!
Larry Goddard |
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This Roe-bodied Fleetline was ordered by Provincial (Gosport and Fareham) but delivered to Hants and Dorset. It actually seems to have spent most of its time in the associated Wilts and Dorset fleet. It was one of two such vehicles in the Yelloway fleet. Others from the same batch remained in service with Wilts and Dorset for another ten years and one has been preserved in Hants and Dorset green livery. This shot was taken on the first day of operation of the service by Yelloway. Photo courtesy Jon Brierley.
556, 561 and 562 - Manchester and Oldham to Halifax |
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| This was taken (with my Dad's camera!) on Sunday 26th October 1986, when Yelloway running local buses (again) was still novel and exciting. Little did we know. The bus, if I have it right, was ex-Hants & Dorset, but originally ordered by Provincial (Gosport & Fareham). |
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Yorkshire Rider 1544 (KUB 548V) was new to West Yorkshire Road Car as their 2574 in 1980. It is breasting the summit at Grains Bar on a very pleasant afternoon.
556, 561 and 562 - Manchester and Oldham to Halifax |
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| A very good site.wyled away many hours on here great pictures and informative detail |
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| Hi there I used to love traveling on theses old coaches I think 1529 was the best as it had a quieter engine then the others and also had a lower front like the tiger coaches |
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Along with others of the type, 30286 has not got long left to run and looks decidedly the worse for wear as it starts the long descent from Grains Bar into Oldham.
556, 561 and 562 - Manchester and Oldham to Halifax |
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| I love this site just for the magnificent scenery once you get out into the villages.
This picture is of the house in Grains Bar where I lived as a child. It was actually a shop when we lived there and when we moved away in 1970 the business continued. However, the shop closed down soon after, possibly due to less passing trade as the M62 was built.
The bus services when I lived there were the number 6 which terminated at Denshaw most of the time and at Grains Bar occasionally. Around the time the buses changed to Orange Atlanteans (SELNEC) the number changed to (I think) 404. Some of these went round Sholver en route but others not. As far as I can remember there was nothing to tell you what the difference was. As I made my way home from School (St Annes at Greencacres) or from Cubs (St Thomas' at Moorside) I never knew whether my bus would take the
Sholver detour until we got there.
Great pictures - I look forward to more being added |
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When these Metrobuses were running in Glasgow it is unlikely that anyone envisaged them operating in surroundings such as this. They seemed just as incongrous as all the other double-deckers that worked this service but they had the distinction of being the last of the type. First Manchester 30317 is seen here - it was originally Strathclyde Buses MB57.
556, 561 and 562 - Manchester and Oldham to Halifax |
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| Maybe not, some of these Metros go out into the country in Glasgow |
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1608 carries registration WSV 410 at the time of this photo but was new as A608 KYG. It is at Besom Hill with the expanse of Sholver estate in the background. Notable in the distance are the despised flats of Pearly Bank, already boarded up ready for demolition.
556, 561 and 562 - Manchester and Oldham to Halifax |
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| Seening this photo takes me back in the early 90s I use to travel on these coaches on this route and also in halifax and huddersfield on these and 1616/19 of halifax and 1613/4/5/7 of huddersfield on the x36 also another bus I liked to travel on was 5175 (F175 XYG) based at Todmordon at the time and now withdrawn as 30671 |
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66913 leaves the terminus at Carrcote having completed its evening journey on the X84 from Manchester. Note in the top left corner the direction sign put up by Tameside depot showing the 353 going onward to Denshaw and the 355 turning round at Carrcote using Lodge Lane, as this X84 has just done. The sign dates back to before deregulation in 1986 and the 355 stopped running in 2004!
X84 - Manchester to Carrcote |
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| good picture but the 355 stopped running in 2004 not 1986! |
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By the time 37384 was making its way to Greenfield, conditions had worsened considerably and this seemed to be the last bus through to Saddleworth except for what I believe were Huddersfield depot's b
10 & 180 - Manchester to Greenfield |
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| I was on this bus. I was supposed to get off in greenfield, but I was so scared when going down the hill at the station I got of at the top of the hill instead! |
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JP's L708 LKY is in Uppermill square on the first day of their operation of the 349 service. The destination is one that I would never have expected to see on a bus! Photo courtesy Jon Brierley.
349 - Saddleworth Park and Ride services |
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| I took this on the first morning of the revised 1996 service, so this would be May 5th that year. I think this is actually the first journey run by JP.
I had a timetable case put up at Dovestones car park for this service ... and had it taken down again when the service was axed. I wonder if anybody ever looked at it? |
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A more distant view of JPT 305 on Well-i-hole. The blue and yellow livery makes a refreshing change in Saddleworth.
Diverted Mossley services |
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| Cream? Definitely yellow, David! - Jon B |
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| Okay, okay - I was in a hurry... |
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One of the few surviving Dennis Arrows, 31933, is seen here on a 350 diverted through Heyrod. It has just passed under Black Rock arch, where nowadays nothing other than minibuses are seen.
Diverted Mossley services |
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