Independent Transport Videos - North West

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On a damp day in early January 2002, a group of friends from the Wirral Bus & Tram Museum in Birkenhead took three former Birkenhead Corporation buses out; two Massey bodied Leyland Titans and a Massey bodied Leyland Tiger Cub to re-live some of the routes they operated on. Our cameras travelled on board the vehicles, visiting various points on the Wirral and in Birkenhead.

We visit Laird Street depot just prior to the roof being removed to provide open parking. This gave the vehicles a chance to run around the depot just as they would have done prior to entering service for the day, or returning late at night.

March 1977 saw the end of two-man operation with Merseyside P.T.E. on the Wirral. We go back in time with a series of photographs of 152 (GCM152E) running a special enthusiasts tour. 25 years on, in March 2002, we re-run some of the routes using 152 with the same driver and conductor and retired staff along for the ride! More memories will flood back as we take a look at an 8mm cine film made by Dave Anders. He captured the early days of Merseyside P.T.E. in Birkenhead, Wallasey, Liverpool, Southport and St. Helens. He also visited the ‘Big Bus Show’ in September 1979 when the P.T.E. painted some of their vehicles in the traditional liveries of the former undertakings. He then went onto film them in service in their respective towns. To finish off Dave captured some of the operations of Birkenhead & District, a company run by GM Buses in competition with Merseybus in 1994.

We would like to thank Dave Anders for his film, and Bob Tennant of the Museum for his help during the filming of this video.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Dave Anders
First published on DVD: 2002
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 123-mins (2hr 3min) , Colour
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The year 2004 sees the 50th Anniversary of the introduction into service of the first production Bristol Lodekka. To celebrate this and coincidentally our 50th video programme, we took out and filmed two former, now preserved Crosville Bristol Lodekkas. Both are the ‘FS’ type, referring to Flat floor Short.

The first one we see is DFG38 (319 PFM), now reregistered AFM 402A. Originally a Liverpool allocated vehicle, and now restored in National Bus Company leaf green we take her on four routes starting from the ‘home’ of Crosville - Chester. First service is the C22, leaving Chester taking the scenic route to Parkgate via Mollington, Puddington, Burton and Neston. From Parkgate we depart as an F17 running to Birkenhead Woodside via Thornton Hough, Mount Road and Borough Road. From Birkenhead we recreate the F24 to Heswall via Storeton Village and Barnston. From Heswall we return as C23 back to Chester via Willaston and Mollington. Plenty of atmosphere - it could almost be 1960 again!

Next out is DFG157 (4227 FM) this time a Wrexham based vehicle which spent most of its life on the Chester - Llangollen group of services. We recreate the D1 from Chester to Llangollen via Pulford, Rosset, Marford and Acton. Some fine shots of the assent of Marford hill and the run into Wrexham! From industrial Wrexham we head on a beautiful run to Llangollen via Rhostyllen, Johnstown and Ruabon. On leaving Llangollen we return as a D1 back to Chester.

Adding to the pleasure of seeing these vehicles again, we have some cine film shot in the early 1980’s of the FS Lodekkas on the D1 and D2 routes.

To conclude the programme we visit Minehead in Somerset to see former DLG881 (838 AFM) still running in service with Quantock Heritage. This vehicle passed to North Western after Crosville who restored the interior to red instead of traditional Crosville green. Still sounding every inch a Lodekka, this LD type provides an interesting comparison with the other two.

So take yourself back to the 1960’s and indulge and relive the experience of these excellent vehicles.

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: 2004
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R
Origination: DV & cine-film

Running Time: 118-mins (1hr 58-min) , Colour
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The year 2006 sees the 100th Anniversary of Crosville Motor Services. To celebrate this we have produced a film celebrating a type of vehicle that played a major role in the life of that company during the 1950’s and 60’s – the Bristol ‘L’ type.

The first one we see operating is KW229 (LFM 810) a Bristol LWL6B with ECW B39R bodywork delivered in 1951, now lovingly preserved by John Prince. We took her out one sunny day in 2005 and recreated the 105 service that ran from Birkenhead Woodside to Meols. We join LFM as she leaves her ‘depot’ and runs to Birkenhead, from there we follow the route through the picturesque Wirral countryside. For parts of the journey you could be forgiven for thinking you have been transported back to a sunny day in, say 1952 as we journey through the village of Caldy, unchanged for decades. Proceeding on to Meols via West Kirby and Hoylake. You will be lost in the sounds from the interior shots and enjoy the atmosphere of the roadside views as we journey along the route from industrial Birkenhead to the leafy avenues of Hoylake and Meols.

Our next ‘L’ type journey starts a long way from Crosville territory, Taunton to be precise. KG118 (KFM 767) is a Bristol L5G with ECW B35R bodywork delivered in 1950, that was owned by Quantock Heritage, but is now in the hands of Jon Pratt. Jon is in the process of restoring KFM back to full Crosville specification. Our cameras joined Jon and KFM for a ride from Taunton to Weston-Super-Mare one summers day in 2004. You can make the interesting comparisons with LFM with sounds and sites as we journey along the motorway and trunk roads on this interesting trip.

We join KFM again, this time in October 2005 when she attended a running day based at Swindon. This time we journey through the Wiltshire countryside – not unlike some of the roads she would have been used to when operating with Crosville.

To finish off the programme we have some glances of the Llandudno Festival of Transport where former Crosville ‘L’ types can be seen operating with full loads.

So sit back and transform yourself to a bygone age and journey with Crosville on a Bristol L.

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: 2004/2005
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 95-mins (1hr 35min) , Colour
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In 1906 the Crosville Motor Company was founded and five years after the Company’s inception, motor bus operation began with the first route operating between Chester and Ellesmere Port. To mark the 100th Anniversary a commemorative Rally and Road Run was organised. independent transport videos cameras were on hand to capture the celebrations on April 30th 2006.

We open the programme at the Rhyl Events Arena and witness the arrival of almost 40 former Crosville vehicles ranging from a 1937 Leyland Tiger TS7 through various Bristol models up to Bristol VR’s and early Leyland Olympians.

Following a brief ceremony attended by the Mayors of the local coastal towns and local MP Chris Ruane, a birthday cake was cut by Bob Hind of Arriva NW & W, our cameras then capture the first vehicles departing for the Road Run, a re-creation of the old 409 service from Rhyl to Llandudno Promenade.

The Mayor of Rhyl distributed rally plaques to the entrants as they left the Arena with a helpful commentary by Clive Myers. Amongst these include KA226 (LFM 302) a 1950 Weymann bodied Leyland PS1/1 of which we ride on to the Little Orme, savouring the sounds and atmosphere of travel along the North Wales coast 50 years ago.

Back at Rhyl we film the rest of the vehicles departing for Llandudno before boarding a 1976 ECW bodied Bristol LH6L SLL620 (MCA 620P) for an interesting ride along the coast in a vehicle 26 years younger than KA226! The vehicles are then seen passing over the Little Orme on their decent into Llandudno.

Finally we view some of the vehicles operating on Llandundno Promenade and around the Great Orme. This video programme is essential viewing for Crosville devotee’s and is a unique record of the event which culminated in a dinner attended by over 100 people at Rhos on Sea that evening. So sit back and enjoy the day!

Availability: AVAILABLE
First published on DVD: 2006
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 112-mins (1hr 52min) , Colour
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The days have long since gone when the major bus operator along the North Wales coast was Crosville Motor Services. In Chester, home to Crosville’s head office, the streets were also graced with the Massey bodied Guy Arabs of Chester Corporation buses from the late 1940s to the 1970s mingling with the Bristol/ECW vehicles of Crosville. All that has now changed, fast forward to 2014 and we see the main operator along the North Wales coast is Arriva Cymru (formally Crosville Wales) and in Chester we have Stagecoach (Merseyside & South Lancs) along with Arriva Cymru and Arriva North West. Local serves operated by Arriva in Chester are branded as Chester City Bus. There are also a number of independent operators that provide services in Chester filling the gaps where the big groups don’t operate. On this programme we see buses operating from Helms of Eastham, Arrowebrook Coaches, Aintree Coachline, Vale Travel, D. Jones & Son from Wrexham and the now defunct G.H.A. Coaches.

Our filming begins in May 2014 at Llandudno, on the same weekend as the famous ‘Llandudno Transport Festival’, where we see the latest ADL400 double deckers operating with Arriva Cymru alongside single deckers from the fleet. Locations include Mostyn Broadway, The Parade and Mostyn Street. We then move along the coast to Colywn Bay and film Arriva vehicles on Abergele Road and Conway Road. We see a number of MPD Dennis Darts, now removed from the fleet due to recent DDA legislation. Our next location is Rhyl. Filming takes place in the bus station and along the High Street. Here we see low-height Wrightbus bodied VDL DB300 double deckers with ‘Cymru Coastliner’ branding recognising the famous route started by Crosville in the mid 1960s. Our next stop is the bus station in Prestatyn where we catch up with more buses from the Arriva Cymru fleet. Now we have a look at Chester, starting with some archive video from the camera of Malcolm King shot in 1990. We see Daimler Fleetlines and Dennis Dominators from the erstwhile Chester Corporation fleet, as well as a Bristol VRT and Leyland Olympians from the Crosville and Crosville Wales fleets.

Moving to the contemporary era we begin our filming in 2014 along Northgate Street and Foregate Street – just see how things have changed! A visit in May 2015 calls at the Bus Exchange and Northgate Street, and later on that year our cameras visit Foregate Street, Pepper Street and return to the Bus Exchange where we see an open top Alexander ALX400 DAF DB250, 3990 (S243 JUA), branded as ‘Roller Coaster’ from the Arriva depot at Rhyl on driver route learning duties. Further filming takes place in Northgate Street, Gorse Stacks and Frodsham Street.

Our visits during 2016 are also of great interest. We see the introduction of ‘Stagecoach Gold’ branded services with refurbished Solos on route 5 and new ADL Enviro300 single deckers for routes 1 and 2, the Chester - Liverpool service. Also new ADL200MMC single deckers for the rerouted Chester Park & Ride services replacing the Wrightbus Eclipse Volvo B7RLEs introduced by Firstbus in 2009. Locations include the Bus Exchange, Frodsham Street, Vicar’s Lane, Love Street, Union Street and many more. We are sure you will enjoy this packed visit to Chester and the North Wales coast where the bus interest still carries on!

Not to overlook the urban days of the VR, we include some of Alan's footage taken not that long ago within Bristol, Bath and Weston, of City Line and Badgerline buses together with some of the many small operators who chose the VR, not just for schools work, but on competing services.

Finally, a photo gallery of Bristol Omnibus VRs taken during their heyday in the 1970s & 1980s.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: 2014-2016
First published on DVD: 2017
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 71-mins (1hr 11min)

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2004 saw the centenary of public transport in Preston and to mark the occasion we took our cameras to the city where we had unrivalled access to the present day operations of Preston Bus Limited.

The company is unique as it is the only former local authority operation sold to employees in the early 1990’s that remains privately owned by its management and employees. It is a delight from the enthusiast’s point of view as more than a dozen Leyland Atlanteans purchased new in the 1980’s remain in service, as do Leyland Lynxes dating from the late 1980’s/early 1990’s.

However there is also a distinctly modern image to the company’s fleet of over 120 vehicles with low floor Tridents and Solos introduced from 1999/2000 onwards to enhance a number of existing routes into “Super Routes” with more intensive services, new bus stops and bus priorities to speed up journey times. These routes form part of a Quality Bus Partnership with Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council and Preston Bus is proud to have been the first bus operator in Lancashire to introduce them.

Further innovation has seen the introduction of Real-Time Passenger Information with displays at over 80 bus stops throughout the city and a new orbital route will shortly be introduced as a result of a “Kickstart” award from a successful Urban Bus Challenge bid. Looking a little further ahead the company is one of only 3 operators in Europe to benefit from the “Civitas” initiative that will see 7 hybrid double deckers take to the streets of Preston in an effort to further reduce pollution.

We go behind the scenes at Deepdale Road Depot and view the workshops and bodyshop; see the bus wash in action and enjoy the afternoon run-out with Olympians and Atlanteans leaving for schools journeys. Then jump aboard Atlantean 152 (GFV 152W) for a trip along many of Preston Bus routes and see Tridents, Lynxes, Metroriders and Solos in action plus some Atlanteans in all day service!

Our cameras then move to the city’s bus station where from the integral multi-storey car park we get a birds-eye view of afternoon peak services. The bus station which was built in 1969 is scheduled to close once a new station has been built as part of a large redevelopment plan for the city centre. We finish with a ‘Photo Gallery’ depicting Preston vehicles operating in 1975, 1982 and 1986.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: John M Edwards, November 2004
First published on DVD: 2004
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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In October 2004, the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust re-created the magic of express coach travel, when Preston came alive for a festival of public transport.

The Trust, based in Freckleton, Lancashire, is a registered charity dedicated to saving and restoring buses and coaches with a Ribble connection and to remembering the glory days when the Frenchwood based company dominated coach travel in the North West.

Most of its express routes passed through Preston, and the Trust felt that the re-creation for a day of some of these services would form a fitting tribute to Ribble’s buses, coaches and its staff.

At the modern Walton-le-Dale Park and Ride site, close to Preston City Centre and just across the River Ribble from Frenchwood, the Trust gathered together over 40 mainly vintage buses and coaches but also a selection of more modern vehicles associated with Ribble routes and local operators including Preston Bus Limited, John Fishwick & Sons and Stagecoach.

In addition to the static display of vehicles, the Trust organised a series of services so that enthusiasts and the general public alike could step back in time and take free rides to places such as Chorley on the famed X60 route that originally ran from Manchester to Blackpool; Blackburn on the X55 and Lytham on the X61. Medium distance services were represented with journeys from West Yorkshire to Preston via Accrington and Burnley re-enacting Services J1/ J2 and from Morecambe and Lancaster to Preston to recall services operated by Western Scottish to Preston and beyond.

Happily we were there to film the day’s events and capture the “feel” of vehicles that would have worked peak period services from Manchester to Blackpool so sit back and enjoy some evocative moments from trips to Chorley on preserved vehicles such as Lytham St Annes all Leyland PD1 no. 19 and newly restored ex Ribble RESL no.338. Look out for shots of Ribble coaches including a Burlingham bodied Tiger Cub; a Plaxton Panorama bodied Leopard and White Lady no 1279 plus coaches representing the fleets of West Riding, West Yorkshire and Western Scottish.

You can also take a ride aboard Preston Bus Limited’s Atlantean no.176 repainted in a special livery to commemorate 100 years of public transport in Preston, as it operates a special service from the Park & Ride site to the Ribble Steam Railway on Preston Docklands. Plenty of action shots and familiar Atlantean engine sounds to savour!

John Edwards (with additional material supplied by Peter Hesketh) Nov, 2004

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: John Edwards & Peter Hesketh
First published on DVD: 2004
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 71-mins (1hr 11min) , Colour
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Chester Corporation Tramways started operations on January 1st 1902. It was not until February 1930 that motor buses took to the road in the historic City of Chester.

This video celebrates the 100th anniversary of municipal passenger transport in the city. The programme starts with a look at the current day operations - Dennis Darts, Dominators, Leyland Olympians etc.

Next we visit Birkenhead to see semi-retired Guy Arab No.1 operating a shuttle service at the Wirral Bus & Tram Museum’s open day.

We then go to the Scottish Bus Museum at Lathalmond, Scotland - where we put Guy Arab No.42 through her paces, bringing back memories of the familiar sounds associated with the type. No.1 then has a treat! We take her from Birkenhead, home to Chester, to run around her old familiar routes, to the pretty villages of Eccleston, Christleton, Littleton and through the historic arched gateways into and out of the walled City of Chester.

To bring back further memories there are 100 photos in the ‘Photo Gallery’ showing examples of the fleet from the late 1960’s to the 1990’s. We finish the video with an exclusive! The first views of No.10, the 1989 Olympian repainted into a version of the tram/ early bus livery of apple green and ivory, with an added maroon band.

Thanks must go to Bob Tennant, John Lee, Norman Moore, Martin Connolly and Bob Armour for their help in making this video possible.

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Filmed by/when: 2002
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 110-mins (1hr 40min)

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Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R


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The current Isle of Man Transport fleet is very modern and smart. Double deckers are represented by low-floor Dennis Tridents and DAF DB250s with East Lancs bodies, except for three supplied by Optare. There are also Leyland Olympians with ECW, Leyland and Northern Counties bodies. Single deckers consist of 25 Dennis Darts bodied by Marshall in 1997. The Island is a picturesque place and looks very much like England, but it is self governing and as such not part of the United Kingdom.

Here we show the current scene. We start at the Douglas Ferry Terminal to see the buses in operation and then onto the Promenade, a focal point for most of the visitors to the island. There is no longer a bus station in Douglas, but all the buses congregate by smart new shelters on North Quay and in Lord Street. Here we witness the Friday evening rush and a more sedate, but busy Saturday afternoon.

The Isle of Man is also famous for the Manx Electric Railway. We spend some time at the terminus to see a tram leave and some of the comings and goings of the equally famous horse trams. We also pay visits to the busy towns of Ramsey and Peel to see the bus operations.

Our cameras then travel by steam train from Douglas to Port Erin. We go via Santon and due to essential railway maintenance we connect to Castletown by coach. From Port Erin we travel by DAF double deckers via Castletown and back to Douglas.

There is a Photo Gallery of Douglas Corporation and Isle of Man Road Services vehicles taken in May 1976. It shows the many AECs and Leylands operated by both undertakings during that period. In October 1976 IOM National Transport was formed merging both companies.

A fascinating video if you like smart modern fleets with an interesting history and heritage of how buses used to be!

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

Running Time: 55-mins (0hr 55min) , Colour
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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.

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Filmed by/when: 2002
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 105-mins (1hr 45min)

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“Sunny Rhyl” as it has always been known, has been home to open-top buses for many years. It was the mid 1920’s that Crosville Motor Services made it it’s home. During the last 50 years the main type of open top bus associated with the town has been of the Bristol/E.C.W. combination. From 1956 right through to the early 1980’s it was the Bristol Lodekka in both convertible and permanent open top form. These in turn were replaced by second-hand Daimler Fleetlines. In latter years the Bristol VRT has been the representative.

This video celebrates the types, starting with footage taken in 2003 of the VRs’ in service. We then go to 1st May 2004 when Arriva, the company that absorbed the final incarnation of the once mighty Crosville empire – Crosville Wales, ran their final Bristol VR bought by Crosville, OVG 512 (YMB 512W) for the day.

We follow the bus during the day, travelling on both decks and filming many parts of the route between Rhyl and Pensarn with some spectacular results. Just for good measure there are also a few interesting visitors, as this was the day before the Llandudno Festival of Transport!

For the second part we are in for a rare treat! We have some 35 minutes of cine footage taken in the late 1970’s and early ’80’s from the camera of Graham Thorogood. This features many Crosville vehicles in service throughout the territory as well as the open-toppers on the North Wales coast.

To compliment this film we finish with a ‘Photo Gallery’ of Lodekka open-toppers from our own archive. Taken between 1971 and 1982 this will surely bring back many happy memories.

Availability: AVAILABLE
Filmed by/when: Dennis Strange (video), Graham Thorogood (1970s/80s cine-film)
First published on DVD: 2003/2004
Screen aspect ratio: 4:3 SD
Classification: Exempt
Number of discs: 1 DVD-R

Running Time: 84-mins (1hr 24min) , Colour
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