Trivia: Britain's Strangest Bus Routes

[TheGrandWazoo]

That remnds me of the bus service from Exmouth to Sandy Bay Holiday Camp when the bus used to run into the camp and terminate there. This was back in the 1960's - I think it is now called Devon Cliffes Holiday Park. Do any other routes enter a holiday camp?

The 291 from Kidderminster to Tenbury Wells enters the Little Lakes Caravan Park; in reality, it's a load of mobile homes for people who've retired there from the Black Country! However, the bus does delve off the main road and through most of the park to deposit the aged folk by the shop and amenities in the centre.

I can think of two examples of services that entered military bases. United Auto had services that served RAF Leeming and they would enter the main gate and then reverse to turn round. The one I travelled on was a market day service so it would only take on passengers (not dropping them off) for Ripon; I assume on their return, passengers would show their security passes. The old Wilts and Dorset 184 from Salisbury to Weymouth would divert off the A354 at Collingwood Corner and then go to the gate, get a soldier to act as escort on board as the bus then made its way around a loop of the base (possibly checking security passes of anyone who wished to alight?) before hopping off as the bus then left for Pimperne and Blandford. Neither now does it because of the security implications.

 

[Statto]

The soon to disappear (for good?) Stagecoach West Severn Express has one morning journey originating at the village of Magor and one evening journey terminating there. All the others avoid Magor and operate to/from Newport instead.

There's also one journey which is the first westbound journey, that starts at Bulwark Conway Drive at 08.40, instead of Bristol bus station.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Crosville's former R40 (later R41) ran up the Private Road to Stwlan Dam until about 1986 - the driver being given the key to the gate at the bottom of the gated road.

View attachment 77396

View attachment 77397

View attachment 77399

And the terminus of the R13 at Morfa Bychan could hardly have been more coastal before the council decided to restrict beach access.

View attachment 77400

Southport Corporation used to run services between Ainsdale and Birkdale along the beach, but that's before my time as a transport photographer. Plenty info on line through, about the former War Department Bedford QLs used on the service.

Just wanted to say - that picture of an LH is superb

 

[philthetube]

sorry my recollections are hazy

In the 80's, and presumably before Premier travel used to run one from the Chrishall area to Hitchin on Tuesdays, it used to have a five minute stand at one of the villages where the passengers had the chance to get off and visit the post office to collect their pensions.

At hitchin it used to park up by the market and the coach, premier didn't have buses, would be left with the doors open to allow passengers to drop off heavy shopping the go back out to cate's etc.

At departure time the driver would come back, as if everyone was abourd and then depart, no need to worry about tickets as everyone bought returns on the way out.

Amazingly this service could carry up to 30 passengers.

It was an enjoyable trip for the driver, made even better by, when arriving at the first pickup, after a school run, the first passenger would ask you in for a cup of tea.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Have enjoyed reading about all the routes posted here - some really interesting ones so far!

I've just remembered another one, the Stagecoach routes 1/2 in Guildford. The route itself is a circular service serving various areas in and around Guildford, but - for who knows what reason - the route is split into two sections (and not even in the same location!)

This is the 1 (clockwise, anti-clockwise):



This is the 2 (clockwise, anti-clockwise):



I struggle to see any logic behind this, as it appears to be designed just to confuse passengers. It'd make more sense to assign the "1" and "2" to clockwise and anti-clockwise services around the whole loop.

 

[MotCO]

When I worked in Derby many years ago, I caught a Trent bus to Kedleston Hall and back one summer Sunday; I think it was route 109. There is still a diversion (in normal times) into Kedleston Hall for 1 journey in each direction on summer Saturdays on the Derby-Hulland Ward-Ashbourne route (currently service 114 run by High Peak).

This is similar to London's route 246 which serves Chartwell on summer Sundays, terminating at Westerham at all other times. The timetable is the same - except for summer Sundays, the driver just gets a longer rest at Westerham.

 

[TheSel]

Just wanted to say - that picture of an LH is superb

Many Thanks!

 

[TheSel]

That remnds me of the bus service from Exmouth to Sandy Bay Holiday Camp when the bus used to run into the camp and terminate there. This was back in the 1960's - I think it is now called Devon Cliffes Holiday Park. Do any other routes enter a holiday camp?

In summer months, some of Arriva's 11 services between Holywell and Rhyl operate via Presthaven Sands holiday park, which still requires the security guard to raise / lower the barrier to permit access to the turning circle.

Crosville used to run several services that accessed caravan sites along the Prestatyn - Rhyl - Abergele stretch of the North Wales Coast. "Winkups Camp" and "Robin Hood Camp" were both on the destination blinds of the open toppers, and used bays and turning circles off the main road, but outside the main camp gates. There was also a service to Pines Caravan park, but again this turned at a little turning circle just outside the gates. Also, R50 Pwllheli - Butlins used to access Butlins Camp, but again, I think the current service (Arriva / Caelloi [joint] 3 from memory) simply pulls off the main road and up to a turning circle outside the camp (now operated by Haven).

 

[Whisky Papa]

Pre deregulation, Metro had some odd Sunday morning journeys in the Calder Valley. Unfortunately, I donated all my timetables to the National Archive last year, so I'm relying on memory here.

The first two journeys down from Portsmouth into Todmorden on what was then the 587 diverted via the Ashenhust estate, which lies parallel to the main road but higher up the hillside, and was normally served by the 591 then (now TLC T1), buses on which have always shown "Cross Lee" as the destination, but it is not strictly accurate. The first bus down from Portsmouth diverted via Ferney Lee Road to get up onto the estate, but the second operated via Wellington Road, an extremely narrow street only just short of Todmorden town centre. I was told by a driver this was to accommodate worshippers at St Joseph's church on Wellington Road, whether this was true or not I cannot say - there wasn't a stop there or on Ferney Lee road either, for that matter. I did cover the journey one morning iwhen I was working as a data-collector for Metro in the autumn 0f 1985, but we didn't operate the booked route - I think Wellington Road may have had a weight restriction or temporary block put on it as it crosses a culvert over the River Calder, and it has since been closed permanently.

The other one I seem to remember was a Sunday morning journey on the 590 from Halifax to Hebden Bridge which diverted via Midgley and the Banksfield Estate in Mytholmroyd. It may even have taken a diversion between Halifax and King Cross - anybody got a better memory than me or (better still) a timetable?

I think all these disappeared when the the 587 and 590 were extended beyond Littleborough to Rochdale, which was during the period I was data-collecting. GMT started running through to Burnley and Halifax, and the timetables were tidied up.

 

[Whistler40145]

Crosville's former R40 (later R41) ran up the Private Road to Stwlan Dam until about 1986 - the driver being given the key to the gate at the bottom of the gated road.

View attachment 77396

View attachment 77397

View attachment 77399

And the terminus of the R13 at Morfa Bychan could hardly have been more coastal before the council decided to restrict beach access.

View attachment 77400

Southport Corporation used to run services between Ainsdale and Birkdale along the beach, but that's before my time as a transport photographer. Plenty info on line through, about the former War Department Bedford QLs used on the service.

That’s very daring, especially with the tides

 

[vlad]

That remnds me of the bus service from Exmouth to Sandy Bay Holiday Camp when the bus used to run into the camp and terminate there. This was back in the 1960's - I think it is now called Devon Cliffes Holiday Park.

I got that bus - the 95 - back in March 2018 - purely for the journey. The Devon CC bus map shows it now only runs in the summer, although whether it'll run this year is up for debate.

 

[Bungle965]

Pre deregulation, Metro had some odd Sunday morning journeys in the Calder Valley. Unfortunately, I donated all my timetables to the National Archive last year, so I'm relying on memory here.

The first two journeys down from Portsmouth into Todmorden on what was then the 587 diverted via the Ashenhust estate, which lies parallel to the main road but higher up the hillside, and was normally served by the 591 then (now TLC T1), buses on which have always shown "Cross Lee" as the destination, but it is not strictly accurate. The first bus down from Portsmouth diverted via Ferney Lee Road to get up onto the estate, but the second operated via Wellington Road, an extremely narrow street only just short of Todmorden town centre. I was told by a driver this was to accommodate worshippers at St Joseph's church on Wellington Road, whether this was true or not I cannot say - there wasn't a stop there or on Ferney Lee road either, for that matter. I did cover the journey one morning iwhen I was working as a data-collector for Metro in the autumn 0f 1985, but we didn't operate the booked route - I think Wellington Road may have had a weight restriction or temporary block put on it as it crosses a culvert over the River Calder, and it has since been closed permanently.

The other one I seem to remember was a Sunday morning journey on the 590 from Halifax to Hebden Bridge which diverted via Midgley and the Banksfield Estate in Mytholmroyd. It may even have taken a diversion between Halifax and King Cross - anybody got a better memory than me or (better still) a timetable?

I think all these disappeared when the the 587 and 590 were extended beyond Littleborough to Rochdale, which was during the period I was data-collecting. GMT started running through to Burnley and Halifax, and the timetables were tidied up.

I have absolutely no idea the reasoning, but one 590 service took a detour and served Stansfield Estate early in the morning. Unfortunately I cannot look up if it still does as TfGM appears to have removed the PDF timetables from their website.

 

[M60lad]

As for services using militry basis I dont know if it still does but Lancashire County Council route 75 Fleetwood-Preston used to run into Weeton Baracks and at one someone from the security post on the way in used to do the full circuit round the barracks before getting off at the security post on the way out.

Regarding 590 I dont think any journies operate via Stansfield Estate anymore from what I remember looking at the timetable.

 

[Whisky Papa]

I have absolutely no idea the reasoning, but one 590 service took a detour and served Stansfield Estate early in the morning. Unfortunately I cannot look up if it still does as TfGM appears to have removed the PDF timetables from their website.

Indeed, one 590 and one 589 diverted via Stansfield Estate on their way into Rochdale to provide a service earlier than the 457 started running. Worse, Sunday journeys on the 590 diverted either on their way in or out on alternate hours, and for some years evening journeys diverted in both directions . This was hugely unpopular with through passengers and especially the drivers, as the terminus at Stansfield tended to be a gathering point for the local yobboes in the evening, who would block the road and abuse the staff. I certainly "forgot" to go round the estate on some mid-evening trips - the few locals likely to want the bus walked down to the main road anyway rather than risk waiting at the terminus.

 

[Man of Kent]

I can think of two examples of services that entered military bases. United Auto had services that served RAF Leeming and they would enter the main gate and then reverse to turn round. The one I travelled on was a market day service so it would only take on passengers (not dropping them off) for Ripon; I assume on their return, passengers would show their security passes. The old Wilts and Dorset 184 from Salisbury to Weymouth would divert off the A354 at Collingwood Corner and then go to the gate, get a soldier to act as escort on board as the bus then made its way around a loop of the base (possibly checking security passes of anyone who wished to alight?) before hopping off as the bus then left for Pimperne and Blandford. Neither now does it because of the security implications.

I think I recall what was then Badgerline 126 (Weston-Wells) going into the camp at RAF Locking, similarly with an armed escort on board. However, I remember the journey more for being one of Badgerline's last REs.

 

[Bayum]

The 637 (Walsall Bus Station - Manor Hospital) is a rather strange one. It’s only 0.7 of a mile between the two, but the service goes ‘round the houses’ via Pleck to get there. It takes 52 minutes to do a round trip and operates an hourly frequency. It is subsidised, but why it goes to Manor Hospital (which is served by the more direct 36 & 39) rather than just terminating in Pleck puzzles me.

Is there a bus service from Pleck to the hospital though?

 

[Dai Corner]

Mention of Hospital services reminds of the Newport Transport 99(?) which did a loop from the bus station to the city's two hospitals; the Royal Gwent and St Woolos. One of the company's smallest vehicles had to be used to negotiate the narrow roads within the grounds with cars squeezed into every conceivable parking space.

The 99 was hourly but both hospitals are on main roads and have very frequent services so the pragmatic decision was made to discontinue it after a few years.

 

[Belperpete]

The AM peak is usually the busiest so keeping major flows off of other services is useful, however the major reason could be that it give a more guaranteed departure time.

I suspect that it was more to do with a guaranteed arrival time. Most major factories used time clocks where you "clocked in". If you clocked in late, even only a minute after the bell, you would automatically be deducted an hour's wages. In some extreme cases, you might not be allowed to clock in at all, and you would lose half a day. So it was very important to get to work on time. Getting back home was not so critical - you could stop off at the pub with your mates.

 

[Belperpete]

Crosville's former R40 (later R41) ran up the Private Road to Stwlan Dam until about 1986

They also used to run a service into the Llechwedd slate quarry, when that opened for tourists. I remember that in the early days, the road into the quarry was exceptionally pot holed, and I recall Crosville using their oldest buses for this route to avoid ruining the newer stuff. The bus journey itself was quite an experience, struggling up the hill out of Blaenau and then lurching every which way across the pot holes - the first time I did it, I wasn't sure the bus was going to make it.

I remember reading somewhere that this service started in the days when the Ffestiniog only ran to TanyBwlch, and Crosville ran a bus to bring passengers down from the BR station at Blaenau to TyB, where it waited until the passengers got back. The Ffesty station master spotted the bus sitting there doing nothing each day, and suggested running a trip to Llechwedd for passengers coming up from Porthmadog.

The journey up to Stwlan dam could also be a bit finger biting. At one time, cars were also allowed up that road (I think you had to buy a ticket from the visitor centre first), so the bus could meet a car coming the opposite way. I seem to recall that at one time the Llechwedd and Stwlan services were combined?

I wish I had known that the Morfa Bychan service went righht onto the beach, I would dearly have liked to see that. Great photo, thanks.

 

[Statto]

Pre d-reg the Crosville route 76 in the Liverpool area was the only route operated exclusively by Crosville that was not in the H series, or had any other prefix letter, Crosville did have other routes without a prefix letter, 89 being the main one, they were mostly joint services.

 

[Driver362]

Only one I can think off is when I worked for first was summertime only Stirling Castle to Wallace monument. Pretty much a streight line, lightly used by the odd tourist and puzzled locals. Not very interesting or weird

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Mention of Hospital services reminds of the Newport Transport 99(?) which did a loop from the bus station to the city's two hospitals; the Royal Gwent and St Woolos. One of the company's smallest vehicles had to be used to negotiate the narrow roads within the grounds with cars squeezed into every conceivable parking space.

The 99 was hourly but both hospitals are on main roads and have very frequent services so the pragmatic decision was made to discontinue it after a few years.

I suspect that hospital services have been mentioned in the past in relation to the services that would operate to what had been "County Asylums" and were generally some large Victorian pile out in the sticks where people were incarcerated rather than be cared for in the community. Most of the ones I recall tended to have services for visitors rather than staff so usually something on an evening and/or a Sunday afternoon.

Seem to recall that United and Northern used to run services to Prudhoe Hospital from various Tyneside spots, and there was also a service or two to St Georges near Morpeth. United also ran a service from East Cleveland to a number of hospitals for evening visiting terminating at Poole Hospital in Nunthorpe. I'm sure that was a pattern replicated across the country.

Also in Northumberland, the X18 has for many years had a small diversion to serve Acklington Prison https://www.google.com/maps/@55.298...4!1sRtUS8ssbE2KdRgOIHZ2M4g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 - I believe it was statistically significant as one of the reasons why people bought multi operator Explorer tickets!

 

[nidave]

I suspect that hospital services have been mentioned in the past in relation to the services that would operate to what had been "County Asylums" and were generally some large Victorian pile out in the sticks where people were incarcerated rather than be cared for in the community. Most of the ones I recall tended to have services for visitors rather than staff so usually something on an evening and/or a Sunday afternoon.

Seem to recall that United and Northern used to run services to Prudhoe Hospital from various Tyneside spots, and there was also a service or two to St Georges near Morpeth. United also ran a service from East Cleveland to a number of hospitals for evening visiting terminating at Poole Hospital in Nunthorpe. I'm sure that was a pattern replicated across the country.

Also in Northumberland, the X18 has for many years had a small diversion to stuff Acklington Prison https://www.google.com/maps/@55.298...4!1sRtUS8ssbE2KdRgOIHZ2M4g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 - I believe it was statistically significant as one of the reasons why people bought multi operator Explorer tickets!

Slightly off topic but it really was appalling how we treated people with mental health issues up until the 70's. Lock them up in asylums as far away as possible. Out of sight, out of mind...

 

[TheSel]

They also used to run a service into the Llechwedd slate quarry, when that opened for tourists. I remember that in the early days, the road into the quarry was exceptionally pot holed, and I recall Crosville using their oldest buses for this route to avoid ruining the newer stuff. The bus journey itself was quite an experience, struggling up the hill out of Blaenau and then lurching every which way across the pot holes - the first time I did it, I wasn't sure the bus was going to make it.

I remember reading somewhere that this service started in the days when the Ffestiniog only ran to TanyBwlch, and Crosville ran a bus to bring passengers down from the BR station at Blaenau to TyB, where it waited until the passengers got back. The Ffesty station master spotted the bus sitting there doing nothing each day, and suggested running a trip to Llechwedd for passengers coming up from Porthmadog.

The journey up to Stwlan dam could also be a bit finger biting. At one time, cars were also allowed up that road (I think you had to buy a ticket from the visitor centre first), so the bus could meet a car coming the opposite way. I seem to recall that at one time the Llechwedd and Stwlan services were combined?

I wish I had known that the Morfa Bychan service went righht onto the beach, I would dearly have liked to see that. Great photo, thanks.

Timetable from 1983 confirms that at that time, the Stwlan Dam and Llechwedd Slate Mines services were linked.



I'm not sure about whether the same vehicles ever worked through, though. Certainly in my experience, the Slate Mines service tended to get ex Southdown Fleetlines or second hand flat-screened VRs.

 

[TheSel]

Pre d-reg the Crosville route 76 in the Liverpool area was the only route operated exclusively by Crosville that was not in the H series, or had any other prefix letter, Crosville did have other routes without a prefix letter, 89 being the main one, they were mostly joint services.

Do you mean immediately before deregulation?

Until the mid 1950s, Crosville routes were [just] numbered - the area-based prefixes being introduced in (I think) 1957 [someone please feel free to correct me if that's not quite right, but I'm pretty sure it was before the 1958 fleet re-numbering scheme].

Then in 1971, the second Mersey Tunnel (Wallasey Tunnel) was opened and shortly afterwards the Liverpool - Heswall 'Rapidride' services (via M53 and Wallasey Tunnel) were introduced. These were numbered 418/419, in the Merseyside PTE 'Rapidride' services. Whilst these may well have technically been "joint" with MPTE, they were operated exclusively by Crosville (Heswall depot) - indeed, they became Crosville's first double deck 'one man operated' (no sexism implied - that's just how it was termed in those days) services, after a short period of operation with dual-purpose Bristol RELLs.



Then in 1979, the whole of the Wirral service network was recast. Most F prefix routes were removed, and Crosville became the sole operator of MANY numbered services with no route prefix.

There were also, as you say, several other joint services which had no route number prefix letter - several in Warrington such as the 17, the 43-46 group and the 140 to/from St Helens, and some from Biddulph where Crosville took over the former North Western routes, and for a while operated 310-312 jointly with PMT. You rightly mentioned the 89 - of course there was also the 89A variant, which Crosville invariably operated showing A89.



But how about this one? This is from the 3 July 1977 Crosville 'English area' book:



There is nothing to suggest this was part of a joint operation, and I freely admit I don't know. Does anyone out there know?

 

[splashoutradio]

Don't think this one has been mentioned yet...
The 23A Warminster - Imber (and beyond), is a frequent service with approximately 6 buses per hour, but only runs for one day of the year, although I belive there was a skeleton service for a second day in 2019.
Last years detailed and summary timetables are attached - it has unfortunately been cancelled this year.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

If the full route that it is crosslinked with is near the beginning of the route/ it's garage is at the beginnin of the route It's probably more cost effective to do a return working than to run out of service back to base. Even if it only picks up one or two passengers that's £1.50 more revenue than they would have otherwise got for a similar running time.

IIRC the route was introduced to tempt parents from their cars by allowing the child to be dropped off at school with the return catering for the parent heading off to home / work

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Don't think this one has been mentioned yet...
The 23A Warminster - Imber (and beyond), is a frequent service with approximately 6 buses per hour, but only runs for one day of the year, although I belive there was a skeleton service for a second day in 2019.
Last years detailed and summary timetables are attached - it has unfortunately been cancelled this year.

It is also a very rare (possibly only?) non TfL route to feature on the Countdown system. Suitably equipped vehicles are able to display stop names (one of which has a permanent TfL flag) and it will show off sites such as lvf.io

 

[86247]

Really enjoying the crosville part of this thread.They had some weird and wonderful routes in England and Wales. I think I read somewhere maybe 20 years ago that the 76 was swapped with MPTE for a crosville route to Huyton.Not to sure but I think it went the main road route to Liverpool same as the H2,3,4 . The pines caravan park route was the M81,and the one to Towyn was M87. Can't remember which one but I'm sure either the R1,2 or 3 went to the butlins camp at pwhelli.

 

[philthetube]

Mention of Hospital services reminds of the Newport Transport 99(?) which did a loop from the bus station to the city's two hospitals; the Royal Gwent and St Woolos. One of the company's smallest vehicles had to be used to negotiate the narrow roads within the grounds with cars squeezed into every conceivable parking space.

The 99 was hourly but both hospitals are on main roads and have very frequent services so the pragmatic decision was made to discontinue it after a few years.

Burnley and Pendle's hospital bus, which ran one return trip daily used to be numbered 99, is this common for hospital services?