Wigan Album

I used to catch that bus from the market square to the Coal Board training centre at Haydock every morning 1974/75.

That picture of a Wigan Corporation 320 must have been taken before 1975 because Wigan Corporation buses did not exist after 1974 because they had been merged with other Greater Manchester bus companies and renamed GM Buses and they were painted in a horrible bright Orange, Brown and White livery.

It took quite a while to repaint Wigan's fleet to the unliked Orange and White livery, only the new fleet numbers were changed in 1974 soon after the bus merger (like this one on the front o/s) I would not dout Tom's year of 1975.

It could well be 1975, you will note the GMT fleet number on the orange transfer under the drivers window, these were applied on corporation buses after the takeover until they were properly re-painted, it took years to re-paint the fleet in orange.

I never minded going to the pool driving one of those, the conductor got all the flack, and flack there was plenty of.

I used to use this service in the mid 60s when I worked in Haydock. At that time it was jointly run between Wigan Corporation, St Helens Corporation, Ribble and LUT. Used to dread the weeks when it was St Helen's Corporation's turn to operate it since it was only an hourly service and they were notorious for unreliability both in timekeeping and just not turning up.

From what I seem to remember about Scholes Crossing. Where the church now is was the Blue Bell pub, on the opposite side of Warrington Lane was a small shop, I seem to recollect that they sold books. On the opposite side from the shop, was a very small park, a public telephone box was also there. On the opposite side from the Blue Bell was the Chinese laundry. Please correct me if I am wrong. All the buses coming from Abram, Platt Bridge, etc, turned left here to go up to Station Road. Do they still do?

Albert - the 320 still goes along the same route in and out of town, but the other Abram and Lower Ince buses now go into town via Darlington Street and King Street - but come out via Library Street, and Millgate, and end up turning right onto Warrington Lane at this junction. King Street is one way into town, and Library Street is one way out. Station Road has disappeared under the new shopping development.

There`s a photo of KEK 740 on :-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63797212@N02/8203023049/in/pool-1252007@N25

As a tribute to Wigan Depot during the countdown to Stagecoach takeover, a few photos of vehicles so associated with Wigan. Shortly after the Corporation was absorbed into GMT and still looking very presentable at this stage, Leyland PD2 Massey 3256 KEK 740 is seen coming down Wallgate past the Victoria Hotel on the way to Stubshaw Cross on the 610 service.

There`s a photo of KEK740 in:-
Album, Work, Wigan Corporation Transport, last on page 4.

anyone remember the 4 new volvos bought to use on the 320 route, when they finaly decided to use the it was found they were too tall to fit under Brittania bridge, so slapped wrists for the buyer and 4 new buses which were then used on the New Skemersdale route

I used to catch this bus every Saturday at the Black Diamond pub in Lower Ince in the early 60s to go for extra ballet tuition at Miss Peet's in St Helens after already attending her morning class in Wigan. I would usually fall asleep on it coming back and invariably would be the only one left on the bus. Happy days.

The 320 route from Wigan to Liverpool via Platt Bridge, Ashton, Haydock, St Helens, and Prescot was jointly operated by Lancashire United, Ribble, St Helens and Wigan Corporations. It is 1975 and Wigan Corporation is now under GMT control, and the bus, a 1963 Massey bodied short Leyland PD2, KEK739-744 has a GMT fleet number. Incidentally the first buses to go were the 1962 and 1963 buses, JJP502-509 and KEK739-750 before older longer 1959-1961 PD3s EJP501-510, GJP8-19. HEK705-707 and HJP1-11.