From PTE To First
The arrival of South Yorkshire PTE did not bring much detail change for Sheffield. The county-wide route numbering, later abandoned under privatisation, left most Sheffield City services unchanged with inter-district routes gaining and extra 200. So the residents of Wybourn got brown and cream buses on route 56 instead of blue and cream.
The PTE's drive for innovation came to Wybourn, first with a few runs with the experimental articulated bus ...
... followed soon by an experimental service for real with real paying passengers.
This was fully covered in the excellent book subtitled "Coffee and Cream".
The privatised PTE first gained an apostrophe as South Yorkshire's Transport with the Coffee and Cream replaced by a large splodge of red.
The Employee buyout began branding key routes as "Mainline" in rather garish red and yellow but this startling livery eventually spread to all routes including Wybourn.
Competition was fierce and chaotic so that for a while, Wybourn's frequency was increased as route M11 replacing the 56.
But the vultures were circling ...
... and "the lads" decided to take the money and run - a lot easier than running buses. Mainline became First Mainline.
The PTE had bought out most competitors and those remaining became Stagecoach and, over time, the city bus business was carved up with a batch of joint services for First and Stagecoach and mostly undisturbed operations of the rest of First (formerly) Mainline.
Wybourn remained much the same as ever with a few blips that we will examine tomorrow.
Fellowship Meetings
Fellowship Meetings
Heres's this month's quiz!
Can you identify well known phrases which can be found in the Bible, compared with similar from other sources.
The graphics can be enlarged with a click! No prizes/
No Surprise, Then?
Goodbye St James'
News at last that the disused Northampton Tramways, a k a Northampton Corporation Transport, a k a First Bus depot is to be demolished and redeveloped. It is just a pity that the headline ...
... should show the former office block which is a listed building and will NOT be demolished!
It Could Have Been Granny
This picture shows passengers queuing at the Mercers Row bus stop in Northampton.
It was shared by routes 14 (circular via Abington) and Gran's route home by service 1 to Weston Favell. She could easily have been the eighth person in the queue.
Buses do not stop on Mercers Row any more and the corner looks like this ...
... from a slightly different angle.
Spot The Difference?
Two apparently identical milk tank wagons. Which is "the best"?
What is this and what is it used for?
As a helpful clue (?), it would cost you £60 and is illustrated in a magazine article about Flock and Sheep.
More tomorrow.
Coming Soon
Interruption of Normal Blog Quality.
Today's blog is not the best compilation due to shortage of time. fbb had serious technical problems with the presentation at yesterday's Fellowship meeting which drained both brain power and energy. Hopefully a better selection tomorrow; including the "world's longest bridge" which isn't a bridge at all! That's China for you.
Next Variety Plus blog : Tues 8 July
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