Classic Bus Lotto: Another Escape to the Pantry Special

Do you have a young child who is mad on Greater Manchester’s buses?

Due to Coronavirus-orientated cabin fever or stir craziness, you may be wondering what a bus looks like. You might have a youngster who wants to go to the Greater Manchester Museum of Transport, though couldn’t do thanks to recent events. You know, the very rugrat whom in later years might want a British Rail moquette cup coaster for his or her office.

Bus Regulation The Musical: The Review

How Ellie Harrison’s show brought us fifty years of Greater Manchester transport history on wheels

Baroness Castle of Blackburn (played by Summer Dean, left of centre) with the eight skaters.

• Bus Regulation The Musical.
• Manchester Art Gallery, 28 September 2019 (2pm and 3pm).
• Produced by Ellie Harrison.

I could think of several ways of spending half an hour of my leisure time. One is listening to the entire ‘B’ side of Foxtrot, Genesis’ 1972 LP which includes the magnificent Supper’s Ready. Another is sitting on a 216 bus or tram bound for Manchester city centre. By opting for the latter, I unearthed a little gem in Ellie Harrison’s production, Bus Regulation The Musical.

Parking the Bus: Bus Routes That Share Numbers with Football Formations: The Not So Perfect Ten

Ever wondered which Greater Manchester bus routes share or shared their number with a football formation?

For many people, New Year’s Day isn’t only about giving up smoking, going on a diet, or alcohol abstinence. January sees the start of a 31-part soap opera known as The Transfer Window. Yes, it is that time of the year which leads to Transfer Deadline Day. The climax which sees Barclays Premier League and English Football League players change hands for silly money.

Christmas Day On The Buses, Greater Manchester, 1986

Was 1986 the last year when Greater Manchester had an extensive bus network on Christmas Day?

For many carless households, leaving the house on Christmas Day is nigh-on impossible. As a rule of thumb, it is assumed that many people spend Christmas Day at home. They are more likely to open presents, get entangled with the turkey, or fall asleep in front of the television.

Fifty Years a Bus Man: the Stagecoach Driver Recognised For Long Service

Stockport driver clocks up half a century behind the wheel

Between 1968 and 2018, the bus industry has changed beyond recognition. In place of public sector operators, private sector giants have taken over many of Britain’s bus services. One-man operation is something we take for granted nowadays.

J.A. Griffiths’ Bus Routes: A Lost Bus Routes of Greater Manchester Special

A look at the 223 and 227 routes from Hyde

A steam engine shed in Dinting formerly part of the Dinting Railway Centre, close to the terminus of the long forgotten 227 service. Image by Trevor King (Creative Commons License: Attribution-Some Rights Reserved).

The start of bus deregulation gave us a mix of smaller operators, trying to muscle in on the big boys’ territory. Some had great success, identifying niche markets and developing new bus routes. Among the new wave of bus operators were established coach operators. Some of which, like Mayne of Manchester, had operated buses in their earlier years, and prior to deregulation.

Sinatra Fan Retires After 42 Years in Bus Industry

John Kevill hangs up clipboard after 42 years in the bus industry

Yes, he did it his way: Driving Examiner John Kevill, retiring from Stagecoach Manchester on the 31 March. Image courtesy of Tangerine PR Ltd, 2017.

After 42 years of working for Greater Manchester Transport and its successors, John Kevill is hanging up his clipboard for good. For drivers who began their career on the Hyde Road skid pan or the Bennett Street training centre, Mr. Kevill is a familiar face.

The 29 Which Clocked Up 797 Years

Labour MP honours longstanding Stagecoach Manchester employees

797 Not Out: This year’s recipients of Stagecoach Manchester’s Long Service Awards. Image courtesy of Tangerine PR Ltd., 2017.

29 members of staff have been thanked for notching up a splendid 797 years of service in the bus industry, at Stagecoach Manchester’s annual Long Service Awards.

As usual, the company’s long service awards recognise employees who have worked with Stagecoach Manchester and its predecessors for 20 years or more. Particular commendation went to Peter Sumner and driver, John Ward. Both employees have worked for 45 years. Back then, Sunglow Orange and the Lazy S of SELNEC was all the rage.

A6, the Road to Ashton-under-Lyne and Denton

Another Lost Bus Routes of Greater Manchester special

Image © 2010 Matthew Clark.

The timing of this post coincides with one major bus-related event. That of Go-Goodwins’ revival of the Little Gem brand. With minibuses, in a version of the GMT orange, white, and brown livery. Most importantly, the return of Ken Mortimer’s Crillee Black logotype. Instead of the Dodge and Iveco minibuses of old, Optare Solos are the order of the day. With the excellent reputation of the Go-Goodwins brand, we at East of the M60 think they may well succeed.

Park Bridge’s Bus Routes: A Lost Bus Routes of Greater Manchester Special

A look at past attempts to introduce buses to Park Bridge

What’s left of Park Bridge Mill, photographed in March 2011.

Park Bridge is as much a cradle of the Industrial Revolution as Ironbridge and Coalport in Shropshire. Also its much bigger brother on the banks of the River Medlock, further downstream. According to tradition, the iron from the Park Bridge Iron Works were used for the rivets of the Eiffel Tower.