John James of Ammanford

[Diplodicus]

If any kind soul has any photographs of John James buses that they would be happy to share, I would be both grateful and delighted. I had such a wonderfully eclectic mix in the fleet. My mother told me about the first day they ran the bus service along the Amman Valley. Everybody travels for free!

 

[Busaholic]

If any kind soul has any photographs of John James buses that they would be happy to share, I would be both grateful and delighted. I had such a wonderfully eclectic mix in the fleet. My mother told me about the first day they ran the bus service along the Amman Valley. Everybody travels for free!

Were they the first independent to run an Atlantean?

 

[Tom Gallacher]

Were they the first independent to run an Atlantean?

It would seem so. I think theirs, Glasgow and Wallasey all entered service the same month - Dec 58

 

[Diplodicus]

Yes they were first and my first ride in it was back to my grandma’s after a dance in Ammanford. The driver allowed me to stand alongside him and I was mesmerised by the operation of the automatic gears.

 

[Busaholic]

It would seem so. I think theirs, Glasgow and Wallasey all entered service the same month - Dec 58

I think Wallasey's was the first to enter service: that was certainly how it was reported at the time in 'Buses Illustrated' magazine, which I had just started to get on a regular basis.

 

[geoffk]

Yes they were first and my first ride in it was back to my grandma’s after a dance in Ammanford. The driver allowed me to stand alongside him and I was mesmerised by the operation of the automatic gears.

James of Ammanford was not strictly an "independent" by 1959 as it was by then a subsidiary of British Electric Traction, but when and how this came about I don't know. The first independent to run an Atlantean is usually stated to be Silver Star Motor Services of Porton Down, which placed its first in service in or about June 1959.

 

[Bristol LH]

I'd recommend Vernon Morgan's book on the company history:

Vernon Morgan : James of Ammanford - Book

 

[geoffk]

I'd recommend Vernon Morgan's book on the company history:

Vernon Morgan : James of Ammanford - Book

Thank you. I've no connection with the area but knew that James, Wallasey and Glasgow Corporations all had an Atlantean in service in December 1958, followed by Maidstone & District the next month. The South Wales Guardian of 26th July 1962 states that James was operated as a family business until 1950 when it was sold to the British Electric Transport Group (sic), when Mr Angus James, MD of the family-run company, continued to act as general manager.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

A much respected operation , I recommend the book mentioned. I have very young memories of travelling on them - there are plenty of internet photos on their operations if you do some digging. The town of Ammanford website has some articles on them (and much else of local interest)