22 - The 170 again
Another view at the same location and probably the same vehicle which is Selnec 2065 LNA 265G, a Park Royal bodied Fleetline Mancunian originally delivered to Manchester. The mill and containers from the Geoffrey Reyners yard have now gone and replaced with a large new housing estate.
Before the bypass was built a young 8860Brian went to Littlemoss Secondary School which was fairly close to this location. In early years it would be by bike but in later years the journey inward would be via the Maynes to St Stephens and a walk along the canal, but the return journey would be a brisk walk to catch the 170 at the old terminus then onwards on a trolleybus along Ashton New Road from Market Street to Edge Lane. A brisk walk was required for the 170 as there was one timed to leave very shortly after school finished, many pupils electing to dawdle and get the next bus which would be absolutely packed, we however wanted to get the early one which would only contain 10-15 of us school boys. The crew were well aware that departure was time critical as hoards of Littlemoss rebels were on their way, I won’t say the bus ever left early, I think there was a time clock there so they couldn’t, but certainly they didn’t leave late. One particular night an elderly PD was the chosen chariot, it would be early 1966 so one of the batch due for imminent withdrawal at Hyde Road, the driver had negotiated the reverse and was standing at the stop awaiting departure time. The crowd of rebels was getting ever closer, the sweat was dripping from the crew, then two bells rang and the driver stalled, disaster as the bus wouldn't re-start the batteries were flat. Quick as a flash the conductor asked the boys to give the bus a push, off we piled, push, bump start and the bus was off, those of us quick enough dived onto the platform and waved to those left behind, the driver had no intention of stopping for them, time had run out the herd was almost at the stop. Great days, a national headline today, "Bus crew leave school boys behind" a simple lesson in life then.
22 - The 170 again
Another view at the same location and probably the same vehicle which is Selnec 2065 LNA 265G, a Park Royal bodied Fleetline Mancunian originally delivered to Manchester. The mill and containers from the Geoffrey Reyners yard have now gone and replaced with a large new housing estate.
Before the bypass was built a young 8860Brian went to Littlemoss Secondary School which was fairly close to this location. In early years it would be by bike but in later years the journey inward would be via the Maynes to St Stephens and a walk along the canal, but the return journey would be a brisk walk to catch the 170 at the old terminus then onwards on a trolleybus along Ashton New Road from Market Street to Edge Lane. A brisk walk was required for the 170 as there was one timed to leave very shortly after school finished, many pupils electing to dawdle and get the next bus which would be absolutely packed, we however wanted to get the early one which would only contain 10-15 of us school boys. The crew were well aware that departure was time critical as hoards of Littlemoss rebels were on their way, I won’t say the bus ever left early, I think there was a time clock there so they couldn’t, but certainly they didn’t leave late. One particular night an elderly PD was the chosen chariot, it would be early 1966 so one of the batch due for imminent withdrawal at Hyde Road, the driver had negotiated the reverse and was standing at the stop awaiting departure time. The crowd of rebels was getting ever closer, the sweat was dripping from the crew, then two bells rang and the driver stalled, disaster as the bus wouldn't re-start the batteries were flat. Quick as a flash the conductor asked the boys to give the bus a push, off we piled, push, bump start and the bus was off, those of us quick enough dived onto the platform and waved to those left behind, the driver had no intention of stopping for them, time had run out the herd was almost at the stop. Great days, a national headline today, "Bus crew leave school boys behind" a simple lesson in life then.