Feeble Cheers For Bees Please (1)

Remember Andy's Maps?

One was of the existing network in Manchester (above) and the other was of the shiny new network he would introduce, as if by magic (below).

Andy ...

... The Manchester Mega Metro Mayor, planned to introduce lots of new routes as part of his "London-Style" franchising plan. It seems unlikely that anyone really understood his maps, possibly not even Mr Burnham himself (!) but no matter, they and their detailed policies have passed ignominiously into history.

It is a little over a year since the First "tranche" of the new Bee Network kicked off - and it was simply the old network with different operators and yellow buses - well, some yellow buses.

Likewise the second tranche produced no network change.

And the third tranche, due on Jan 5th 2025 will also presage a no change situation.

From a "service available for the public" point of view , the Bee Network has been a real non-event.

But all that changed on Monday 28th October.

The local media was VERY excited ...

... and so was Roger French who went or a ride. 

And so did Maxson Goh ...

... one of a fairly small number of flocking enthusiasts ...

... that tried the route out on the first day.

Of course is is most definitely NOT a new bus route. It is an old route that had been re-introduced, so the commentators say.

fbb can find no record of the "old" route on-line or even whether it was numbered 615. There are buses-a-plenty photographed on a 615 but they all predate its new terminus. Here is one branded "GMbuses".

Here is one in the newer all-over orange in use just before privatisation ...

... but adorned with "First" logos. First bought Greater Manchester (North).

And, below, First post-Barbie but with the "illustrated" Manchester logo.

Whether that was the same 615 or not, the new version of the 615, after four years' absence, duly started with much hype from the PTE.

The picture on the poster is impressive, so might we expect and multi-bus frequent service Between Wigan and Middlebrook?

No!

Where is Middlebrook anyway?

Here is a bit of Middle Brook!

Here the brook babbles** just north of an electrified railway line.

** "In a shady nook, ny a babbling brook", a favourite song of fbb's mother, recorder by Donald Peers ...

 ... on a "78" in 1944. Mum was an avid listener to Mr Peers radio "show" on the Light Programme.

Here is Middlebrook (one word) today - a vast retail area ...

... complete with relatively new footy stadium, the home of Bolton Wanderers Footy "Club". The Middle Brook is the smear of greenery bottom centre and the railway line calls at Horwich Parkway station, lower left.

Here is an old map with nothing there ...

And here is a new map with lots there!

The yellow road running north east (ish) from Four Gates is common to both maps, as are the two red roads. Middle Brook runs alongside the railway, past Horwich Parkway station then wiggles up past the modern "Middlebrook" name.

The former (and extensive) Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway's Horwich works are top left on the old map, demoted to a bland 'Industrial Estate" on the new.

So the reborn 615 runs from Wigan to Middlebrook.

Look for "Aspull" top centre on the above map and there is the RED station blob which, as it is some distance from Horwich, was christened Horwich Parkway when it opened in 1999. 

In 2007 it was actually blessed with a ticket office!

More on   Wednesday .

 Next cartographic mini blog : Tues 26 Nov