The Fame Of Rame (1)

The Rame Peninsula (Cornish: Gorenys Rama)[ is a peninsula in south-east Cornwall. It is surrounded by the English Channel to the south, Plymouth Sound to the east, the Hamoaze to the northeast and the estuary of the River Lynher to the north-west. On a clear day, the Atlantic Ocean can be seen from advantageous points from Rame Head. The largest settlement is Torpoint, which is on the eastern coast, facing Devonport in Plymouth, Devon.

Long ago, under the "ownership" of Western National then First, buses to Torpoint and the peninsula had a huge collection of route numbers and suffixes.

Now it is all route 70 but it retains suffixes A, B and S.

But look at the computer generated map on the GoAhead timetable page.

Hmmm. About as useful as a chocolate teapot!

The Plymouth area bus map is incomplete on Rame ...

... but, of course, Plymouth is in Devon and Rame is in another far off country called Kernow (or Cornwall in translation).

Fortunately a peer at the Cornwall bus map reveals something more helpful!

The above piece of cartography tells us that buses via Sheviock and Crafthole are labelled 70B but the route of the 70A is not revealed to the inquisitive passenger aiming to rejoice in a ramble on The Rame.

The published timetable helps.

We have to ignore the shaded school journeys because, clearly, they do not follow the same routes as the 'normal' 70 or 70B. But are the 70A and 70S schoolday routes variations deserving of recognition on the Cornwall map?

In a word, no!

The real 70A is mainly used for morning trips ...

... which omit Torpoint Kynance Close - wherever that might be!

It is perhaps good to remember that the people who draw bus maps, the people who name bus stops and the people who compose public timetables NEVER talk to each other. Well, as Captain Corcoran of HMS Pinafore might opine, "hardly ever".

Dilgent research reveals that Kynance Close is a cul-de-sac off Trevithick Avenue - both roads being in Torpoint.

And there it is served by the 70 and 70B but NOT the 70A. Further diligent research reveals that Trevithick Avenue is part of the 'Great Park' estate, the little bobble on the Cornwall route map.

In case you wondered, the Plymouth area map, referred to above, mention neither Kynance Close nor Great Park!

And there is the side road and bus stop for real!

Public Transport is so very easy to understand!

To get to the peninsula, you could use the toll bridge at Saltash ...

... or one of three ferries, remember?

Cawsand and Cremyll are for foot passengers only but the Torpoint crossing carries vehicles; loads and loads of them.

And there us a bus far left. Look, there is a red bus on the ferry.

We conclude, plumbing the depths of our observational skills, that the 'normal' services numbered 70 etc. cross from Plymouth to The Rame on the Torpoint Ferry.

There is a link to the recent set of blogs that featured Bovisand ...

... as we shall see tomorrow.

Quiz Answers 21 to 30

Flibco has recently been bought by Flixbus.

Also between Stansted and London, National Express.

A drone view of the HQ of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

Huddersfield. Can't remember whether they were Corporation or Joint Omnibus Committee owned vehicles.

It contained the highly unrealistic detachable ramp to get cars on to the top deck.

Republic of Ireland.

Caledonian Sleepers now re-absorbed by Scotrail.

Scotrail.

A horse tram at Nether Edge, Sheffield.

The interior of a Voyager refurbished for First's train service between Stirling and London Euston.

The last ten will appear tomorrow.

  Next Variety blog : Saturday 9th May