Independent Transport Videos - North West

Ref: IT128D

Price:£16.99

It was on 21st April 1902 that the first electric tram ran in Warrington heralding the start of public transport in the town. 1913 saw the first motor buses running, and by 1935 the trams had been replaced by the buses. In 1986 the formation of Warrington Borough Transport took place, taking over from the

Corporation Transport Department.

On Monday 3rd June, 2002 a special Open Day was held at the departments Wilderspool garage to celebrate the 100 years. This video is a fascinating pictorial account of the preparations and the main event. The day before 92 buses had to be moved out of the 2 sheds to a nearby car park so as to house some of the visiting vehicles on the day - this never to be seen again event is captured on film together with the washing of some of the vehicles ready for the big day.

Preserved and current vehicles arrive from all over the north west and are seen parking up the night before and on the day. The Mayor of Warrington visits the show and awards prizes for vehicles judged best on the day. Shuttle services were run using Warrington and visiting vehicles. At the end of the day our cameras capture all the visiting vehicles leaving the garage, and then we witness the return into the sheds of the fleet in double quick time. A unique event on a weekend that also marked the Golden Jubilee of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.

The programme concludes with a Photo Gallery of Warrington buses in service during the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Amongst these are shots of Leyland Atlantean 75 decorated for the 75th Anniversary celebrations held at Chester in 1977. Chester City Transport also celebrates its Centenary in 2002 and four of their vehicles were visitors to this event. Chester’s buses are the subject of another of our videos, now available. We would like to thank Nigel Featham, M.D. of W.B.T. and all his staff for making this video possible. Here’s to the next 100.

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: 2002
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 105-mins (1hr 45min) , Colour
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Ref: IT1062D

Price:£17.95

A special Birthday Celebration! Warrington Borough Transport’s 148 (originally 48) was 40 years old in May 2005. It is a 1965 Leyland Titan PD2/40 special with East Lancs H64F bodywork, built to a special width of 7ft 6ins so as to fit the narrow town centre streets of Warrington.

Registered BED 729C it has the distinction of still being owned by the undertaking, although now only used for special occasions and private hire work. A group of local enthusiasts thought it would be a good idea to take 148 out to relive some of it’s former routes, so the date of 29th May 2005 was chosen as it is as near as possible to the date it entered service some 40 years previous. Driven expertly by Dave Leigh, who incidentally is the company’s driving instructor, 148 was put back into ‘service’ to recreate some scenes from 1965.

The weather was excellent, bright sunshine enhancing the beautiful Cheshire countryside, and brightening up the more urban areas of which 148 would have been at home during it’s days in regular service.

We set off from the W.B.T. garage at Wildespool Causeway and head out to Appleton Thorn. We pay a brief visit to A1 Travel and see 148’s former shed mate 24 (EED 8) which is in preservation. Heading onto the Hatton bus turning area via Stretton and Hatton village. From here we go via Dudlows Green, Lower Walton to arrive at the Walton Gardens bus turning circle.

Then back to Warrington via Thelwall village and passing over the Manchester Ship Canal on the Knutsford Road swing bridge. From the garage we visit the soon to be demolished bus station for a couple of runthroughs! We then head out past the Town Hall’s Golden Gates to Dallam. From here we take 148 on the old Liverpool Road past the Crossfields factory, a road use by most Warrington and Crosville services. Finally we visit the Westy area and then return 148 back to the garage.

To finish off there is a section on the current bus scene in Warrington.

If you are a Leyland fan, then this video is a must for your collection

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: 2005
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 76-mins (1hr 16min) , Colour
.

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Ref: IT076D

Price:£16.99

Availability: AVAILABLE
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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Ref: IT070D

Price:£16.99

Availability: AVAILABLE
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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Ref: IT077D

Price:£16.99

Availability: AVAILABLE
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Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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Ref: IT1114D

Price:£16.99

Sunday 20th September 2009 marks our third visit to the Merseyside Transport Trust’s annual Running Day. Again we have captured the excitement and atmosphere of the day, taking you back in time with these superbly restored vehicles.

This time our programme starts at the smart new bus and rail transport exchange, Liverpool South Parkway, one of the main termini used for the running day. The others being Liverpool Pier Head and Exchange Street, Woolton and of course Penny Lane. We see the vehicles arriving and then taking up their duties for the day. Our first ride of the event is on board Leyland Atlantean L835 (FKF 835E) departing Liverpool South Parkway for the city centre, arriving at Exchange Street. Here we also witness some of the new vehicles in service with Arriva which form an interesting contrast with the buses of yesterday.

From here we travel to Penny Lane on board East Lancs bodied Leyland Atlantean 1836 (TWM 220V) on service 4. After a short pause at Penny Lane it is time to board verona green and cream liveried Atlantean 1003 (A323 GLV) a 1983 Alexander bodied example on service 35 back to Exchange Street. Back in the city centre we are joined by both Crosville and Ribble vehicles to set the scene of the ‘NBC’ years. Our cameras board Crosville Bristol VRT DVL435 (RMA 435V) for the short run down to the Pier Head.

The new road in front of the Liver Buildings is now open and provides an excellent backdrop for the preserved vehicles, bringing back even more memories from the days when this was the major terminus for the buses and the trams in Liverpool. From the Pier Head we board Leyland Atlantean 1055 (A135 HLV) on service 35 to Woolton then changing to service 66 to Liverpool South Parkway. From here we travel on AEC Regent A267 (VKB 900) to Woolton where we change vehicles to Leyland Panther 1054 (FKF 933G) for our final run to Penny Lane.

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: 2009
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 85-mins (1hr 25min) , Colour
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Ref: IT083D

Price:£16.99

Availability: AVAILABLE
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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