A Christmas Treat
It definitely is NOT the effect of seasonal over indulgence alcohol-wise, but fbb did not grasp the hilarity of author Keith's jolly jape. The "streetlights" are hospital bedside drip feed things. Hence the phrase 'intensive care'.
Chortle, chortle.
The Book deals very thoroughly with Barton's struggles in the chaotic years following deregulation. The blub on the back of the book gives a good summary of its contents.
A short blog cannot do justice to the book which is packed with timetables, vehicle allocation rosters and loads of local maps. The book begins with the network on takeover ...
.. and ends with the consequences of the intensive care under the encouraging heading of ...
It is worth, at this stage, reminding ourselves that Barton was still very much a separate operation from that of Trent. Now the companies have become one!
As well as the "inheritance" network, we are reminded that the takeover was a tough time for Barton's loyal staff ...
... but, inevitably, there were redundancies as the new management worked to stabilise their acquisition. An urgent need was to deal with the competition which, as was common in these early years of the new-look bus industry, was a real challenge.
You would need to look closely, but the later network is similar but more commercially sustainable.
Well that's what they hoped for.
The author gives detailed timetables for the days preceding 'treatment', plus a whole heap of other operational detail. For the student of the bus industry, this information is a real eye-opener. For a Nottingham resident and bus enthusiast, it is fascinating to look at then and now.
fbb may well do that in a future blog,
Pictures of the competition illustrate the challenge that the 'new' Barton faced.
One of the biggest attackers was Nottingham City Transport, then, as now, a Council owned company
Melton Mowbray, an area somewhat remote from home base, was particularly challenging because town services were not strong enough to sustain two rival operators.
The book has short chapter on what Barton did and didn't.
Then there were the minibuses ...
... and fbb had never thought of the hallowed Nottingham stalwart as lowering itself to run bread vans!
Even as the company returned to stability, there were still outbreaks of competitive incursions and here on route 115 ...
Annison didn't last!
We read of brightening up of the livery with a less fussy logo ...
... printed publicity in colour ...
... and a share in Trent's route branding.
Bus stop poles and frames also got a much needed refresh.
The original "style" appears on the right!
Of course, Keith Shaysutt knows what he is talking about, he was there ...
... which makes the book even more telling.
This book is a MUST for the serious student of the industry but for the bus spotter it is packed with pictures of Barton's fleet during those years - sadly no double decks back then!
This book is a MUST for the serious student of the industry but for the bus spotter it is packed with pictures of Barton's fleet during those years - sadly no double decks back then!
Get someone to buy it as a Christmas present then ...
... settle down with a mug of tea and a couple of mince pies ...
... and enjoy. The log fire is joyous but optional!
It will certainly be better than Christmas telly!
A minor health warning. This book was delivered to fbb mansions on Saturday so this review has been somewhat cursory. But it did seem to sit well with the old man's Nottingham railway investigations, which continue tomorrow.
If fbb has misrepresented Mr Shayshutt's book, he apologises but a short blog can only be a taster.
You know what to do to get it right!
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O utstanding O ffer
Quirky Answer, coming up ...
But first, another question. What is Christmas FOR?
Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, the gift of Free Will to humanity has allowed people to make a choice, between good and bad, between right and wrong, between truth and lie.
Many want God to do something; but it turns out that they want God to do something to change others but what God really wants is for people to do something to change themselves.
That is why Jesus was born; that is what Christmas in FOR!
Quirky Answer coming up!
He was a respected member of the Sanhedrin, the leadership of the Jews, which was appalled at Jesus' revolutionary teaching; a group that ultimately condemned him to death.
One night Nicodemus went to Jesus and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent by God. No one could perform the miracles you are doing unless God were with him.”
Jesus answered, “I am telling you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again.”
“How can a grown man be born again?” Nicodemus asked. “He certainly cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time!”
The Son of God must be lifted up (on he cross!), so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life .
That last sentence is what Christmas was for!
Christmas certainly wasn't pretty in the end ...
... as Nicodemus and his friend Joseph (called "of Arimathea" also of the Sanhedrin) took the body and laid it in Joseph's tomb. Quirky Question answered. 
And we know what happened next!
But we are only at the beginning of the story; there is a long three year way to go!
Quirky Question : Which despised man did what a priest and a professor wouldn't?
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Next Nottingham blog : Tues 16th December
Out of stock at the publisher - your blog must have done wonders for the sales!
ReplyDeleteMDS Books were restocked today. The book is also available on eBay and direct from the author.
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