timbirkin 0 Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Hello all, Does anyone have any photos or memories of Mount Street bus station. I have a vague recollection of being very young and Grandma and Grandad taking me on shopping trips from Ilkeston to Nottingham on the bus. I can remember having to wait for the bus back to Ilkeston and I've got a really clear memory of being surrounded by high brick walls ... was Mount Street in a 'hole' surrounded by high brick walls or am I imagining it ??? Timbo :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Limey 242 Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 Living in Long Eaton, the bus we caught into Nottingham prior to the construction of Maid Marion Way, terminated at Mount Street. My memory says it was on the side of a hill, and the bus stops were arranged in arcs, each one about two buses wide, and separated by walls with steps/pass throughs to the next "level". This arrangement may have given the impression that the station was in a bowl, but I think it was actually the side of a hill. Almost any "number 5" Bartons bus (5, 5a, 5b or 5c) would take us home. The 5, 5b and 5c went through to Derby. The 5a (rare) went to the "Wilsthorpe" estate in Long Eaton and the closest stop to our house. The Derby buses would drop us at Trent College, on Derby Road and entailed a longer walk down Douglas Road to home. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,464 Posted April 11, 2011 Report Share Posted April 11, 2011 There were at least two versions of Mount Street bus station. The last attempt was on the edge of the failed shopping precinct between Maid Marion Way and Mount Street. Nobody used it because the bus companies didn't want to go there. (it's now been built over with offices - and the casino on Maid Marion Way) The earlier bus station was an almost-prefab version with corrugated roofs, all looking a bit primitive and post war. If you look at Picture the Past and search "Mount Street" there are half a dozen photos of the early version, which may ring a few bells with you I've now just seen Limey's comment about being in a bowl or on a hillside, and THIS demonstrates it pretty well Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barclaycon 569 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Funnily enough I was just talking to a friend about catching the E8 and F5 into Nottingham in the 60's. Both of these buses went to the Mount Street Bus station. I believe the bus company was Notts and Mansfield Traction Co. (dark blue) which later became Midland General. You're right about the first version of this bus station being on the side of a hill. It was most peculiar, and not at all easy to find the right bus! They then completely flattened the hill and built that horrible Car Park / Shopping Centre - with the buses using the lowest level. You are correct there were high walls there. Nobody wanted to rent any of the units in the 'shopping centre' and only the Midland General buses used the bus station bit. Not suprising really that it didn't work. Hence the closure and conversion into a Casino. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,871 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I remember early sixties catching the Midland Red X99 to Birmingham from Mount street. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Limey 242 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Impressive Den! I remember the X99 going through Long Eaton - for some reason it was regarded as very special! After the A52 was completed, Bartons began an express Derby-to-Nottingham non-stop service. I believe it was the X5. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 On the bus all the way to Brum! I wonder what route it would have taken before the motorways? I bet you had to take sarnies and a flask! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Mount st was brilliant....our school bus back to chilwell was originally up near the albert hall then it moved into mount st..we got to play in the lifts while we waited for our bus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,871 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 I cant remember the exact route but remember Breedon on the Hill, Ashby de la Zouch, Measham and Tamworth, arriving in Brum via Aston. Sometimes the driver had to stop and deliver the odd parcel en route. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rob237 89 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Always understood that the X99 route was the furthest north that any regular Midland Red service travelled. Also understood, in that - and earlier - eras, the majority of the Midland Red coach stock was built by themselves, at their own production outlet in Digbeth. Cheers Robt P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 On the bus all the way to Brum! I wonder what route it would have taken before the motorways? I bet you had to take sarnies and a flask! Not 100% sure but I would assume it went all the way down the old A453, (Before it was altered to run through Clifton to junction 24 of the M1 to meet up with it's original course, ) Beeston , Chilwell ,Long Eaton, Sawley, Castle Donnington , Ashby De La Zouch, Measham, Tamworth, Sutton Coldfield. and through to Birmingham via Gravelly Hill (of the notorious "Spaghetti Junction" Fame ) and finally Aston. Go on ask me how I knew that ?? go on, go on, go on , !! When I first drove for my living , my tight fisted gaffer insisted that we always took the shortest route to our destination , regardless of the motorway system reducing journey times by around 2 hours!! Any way, he accused me of speeding when I made it to the infamous "Lozells Road" (Scene of the early 80's riots) area and back to Nott'm in around 4 hours as opposed to the 8 hours that the run was booked out for and normally took the others. So the next time I did the run I went the route he insisted was the quickest, (A453) and yup nearly 8 hours from start to finish!! The time after that I did what I'd finally sussed all the other drivers did , did the run in 4 hours and went home for a 4 hour lunch break , and continued to do it till I left some 3 years later !! (No tachos in them days !!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,464 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Digging around to find a couple of photos of the later version of the Bus Station There's THIS and THIS showing the concrete slab version, when it was connected to the shopping precinct which never had any shops in it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Limey 242 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Correct Beefy, the X99 followed the old route of the A453. The stretch from Long Eaton through to Ashby at least is still driveable, and in good condition. The bit through Castle Donnington and Breedon-on-the-Hill to Ashby is a very pleasant drive with very little traffic! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Yep Clifton thats the place i remember Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StephenFord 866 Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 Funny thing is, the old Mount Street had three platforms, and they were numbered 4, 5 and 6. No, don't ask me - I haven't a clue what happened to 1, 2 and 3. No.4 was for Midland General/Notts & Derby (blue buses). 5 was for Bartons, plus the Trent no.8 so that all Derby buses went from the same platform, and also the Midland General F9. No.6 was for Trent plus the Midland Red X99. Bartons no.s 10, 11, 32 and 33 used Granby Street, just a few yards away, instead. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 In 1970 I used to take a girlfriend to catch her bus at Mount Street. She lived at Nuthal, and would catch a big old blue bus. What company and bus number would it be? Was it Notts & Derby? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 Midland General? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 There's an X99 thread over at MidlandRed.net Midland Red Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WAB 1 Posted December 10, 2011 Report Share Posted December 10, 2011 The Mount Street bus station was introduced during the war, I think it was opened to relieve the traffic going down Parliament Street to Huntingdon street Bus station. I remember using it to catch a bus to Ilkeston. My memory is that the buses entered from one side (Mount Street) and left the other end (Park Row). It was surrounded by factory buildings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Christo200 2 Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 I remember Mount Street Bus Station well as I lived in Wollaton in the late fifties and early 60s. Midland General and Notts and Derby Traction Co used to run buses to Wollaton, Strelley Lane, Ilkeston, Heanor, Ripley, and Alfreton. They also ran to Mansfield and Chesterfield from Huntingdon Street Bus Station. Midland General and Notts & Derby buses were painted blue and cream. Mansfield & District (buses green and cream) was also part of the same group which was actually government owned. Buses going to Mount Street Bus Station would drop you off at the Derby Road end of Mount Street before proceeding to the actual bus station to lay over or pick up passengers. Midland General being nationalised had to buy state owned Bristol chassis and Eastern Coach Works bus bodies for their vehicles in the 50s and 60s. Following the creation of the National Bus Company (late 60s early 70s) Midland General was taken over by Trent. Most Trent buses by then were semi automatic, so it must have been fun for the Trent drivers having to drive the Midland General buses, most of which still had manual "crash" gear boxes. Sadly the old Trent and Midland General liveries were lost when the National Bus Company was created. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
piggy and babs 544 Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 i too can remmember the bus station on mout st but not one i used much my great grandfather hunter lived at 1 mount st when he first came from scotland to nottingham in 1865 i think that would have been were the bus station was built. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,464 Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 my great grandfather hunter lived at 1 mount st when he first came from scotland to nottingham in 1865 i think that would have been were the bus station was built. Babs, I guess No 1 would have been at the Angel Row/Chapel Bar end of Mount Street, whereas the bus station was at the other end. Back then it was a longer road than you'd guess from the remains today, and it's difficult to envisage what it must've been like when it was a pokey little road with alleys leading off everywhere. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisB 150 Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 I have very vague and distant memories of the old Mount Street bus station because I was only a lad towards the end of it's existance but we used to get a Midland General bus home, some were on the stand and some used to be parked on a bit of ground next to a big hoarding.You were never sure if you were allowed to get on the ones which were parked there. Can anyone remember Churchill's Cafeteria which used to be just below the platforms? As for the new Mount Street bus station, well it was a bit of a disaster! Wasn't just one of the shop units occupied for a time? I seem to remember a newagent/tobacconist or something. The worst thing about it was the fact that the official approach for passengers was via the subway under Maid Marion Way but more often than not it was a last minute rush and you would run across the road and jump over the railings on the central reservation. The bus station entrance was then through the boarded up concrete units and didn't feel a safe place after dark. It actually still exists today. If you walk down Cumberland Place and look over the edge of the wall, you can still see the platform although some buildings have been added now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 It was a casino last time I went past? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,464 Posted January 23, 2013 Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 Yes Mick, the entrance to the Casino is roughly where the entrance to the shopping arcade was. You walked through the arcade (which never had any shops in it) to get to the bus station. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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