In 1909 Widnes started its own corporation bus service and purchased four Commer covered top double deck buses from Commercial Cars Ltd based in Luton.
These were the first covered top double deck buses in England "probably the world". They had to be covered top due to the corrosive atmosphere and acid rain in Widnes associated with the chemical factories. The name "Widnes Corporation" ...
... was displayed on the side of all the buses until April 1974 ...
... it was then that the name was changed to the present day name of Halton Transport.
A lot has changed since those early days, but parts of the 1900s town can still be seen today. Here is Victoria Road ...
... looking towards Widnes Library and St Pauls Church. Most buildings can still be spotted ...
... but a large roundabout has appeared!
As Widnes Corporation, most routes were fairly local, but following Haltonisation, privatisation and deregulation (and possibly some other "ations") the arms length company expanded its operation (yep, there's another one) into more distant communities. Would that be after due commercial consideration, an expansive revelation and accompanied by some competitive consternation?
By C-day (C for Collapse), its main routes were as follows:-
Service 14A Liverpool to Hough Green and Runcorn
Service 14C Hough Green to Widnes
(via B5178)
Service 17 Widnes to St Helens
(Joint with Arriva)
Service 26/26A Widnes to Cronton Circular
Service 27/27A West Bank to Widnes and Shell Green
(27 ONLY on Saturdays)
South (West Bank) ...
... to North (Weates Close = Shell Green) local service
Service 61 Runcorn to Prescot and Liverpool
Service 62 Widnes to Runcorn and Warrington
(click on this TT to enlarge it)
There were a few other bits and pieces including some evening tendered work but notable there were 16 one-bus school services which must have been a huge challenge to the business.
And if you wonder why there is no longer any evidence of double deck vehicles, please remember that the Runcorn Busway is only suitable for single storey passenger carrying vehicles.
So it was that all of the above vanished with little warning at the end of last week.
Tomorrow's blog will explore how these services have been covered (or not?) by other operators since C-day.
Next Happier Halton blog : Friday 31st January
Possibly some other "ations" indeed, but "Privatisation" is not among them - Halton was firmly in the public sector.
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