Buses in Nottingham

[mick2me 3,033]

Map in #19 says See inset for City centre?

[Merthyr Imp 729]

wasent the building behind the 63 bus a cafealso one on opposit side of huntingdon st

The black building on the corner was Trent's booking office. Just to the right of that was a cafe - was it a branch of Capocci's? Can't remember. Went in it occasionally, but preferred the one at the top of the bus station.

[Trevor S 2,003]

Merthyr Imp,

Which was the cafe that had its windows painted half way up so that you could not see out if sitting down, except for the sky and those outside could not see in unless standing right outside?

Think the paint might have been yellow? and there was an entrance next door to the cafe that the bus crews used to go in - possibly for rest rooms, directions for the next trip etc?

[Commo 1,292]

I think that the 40/47 trackless went from Wells Rd down to King edward St, onto Paliament St then up George St onto Carlton st, down Victoria St and into the Square. I am a bit hazy from there but both went down to the Fountain and the 47 went on to terminate at the Embankment next to Town Arms, the 40 going down Wilford Road or Queens Drive (can't remember!) to Wilford Bridge.

Someone can no doubt refine the route to get it right!

[Cliff Ton 10,468]

Map in #19 says See inset for City centre?

Ah yes...... I missed a bit when I scanned the original full-size map. Here's the city centre inset which was slightly missed off.

Using a combination of the above map, plus the one I linked to in post #313, you can see the whole route of the 40.

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Merthyr Imp,

Which was the cafe that had its windows painted half way up so that you could not see out if sitting down, except for the sky and those outside could not see in unless standing right outside?

Think the paint might have been yellow? and there was an entrance next door to the cafe that the bus crews used to go in - possibly for rest rooms, directions for the next trip etc?

I'm afraid that doesn't mean anything to me. The only cafes I can remember (this is 1962 onwards) were 'Hughie's'(?) at the top of the bus station - where you could sit on stools and look out of the window, which was why we bus spotters favoured it - and Capocci's(?) the other side of Huntingdon Street. Actually, for all i know it could be that place you're referring to as I have only vague memories of it.

I don't know if there was a cafe - which might have been used by bus crews in the area in the bottom corner (where Gash's buses used to leave from), where there was a sort of waiting room and toilets (I think).

[Trevor S 2,003]

Thanks MI....It was the late 50s and the cafe was half way up Huntingdon Street, across the road from the bus station. Thanks for your reply.

[denshaw 2,872]

That would be Station cafe known later as Greasy Lils, open 24 hours. It was opposite Hughs.

[.... 23]

The only cafes I can remember (this is 1962 onwards) were 'Hughie's'(?) at the top of the bus station - where you could sit on stools and look out of the window, which was why we bus spotters favoured it - and Capocci's(?) the other side of Huntingdon Street.

Wonder if that Capocci name had anything to do with the current Capocci restaurant on Upper Parliament Street?

[Cliff Ton 10,468]

Wonder if that Capocci name had anything to do with the current Capocci restaurant on Upper Parliament Street?

I think the answer, Stu, is "Yes". It comes up a lot in this thread and the connection is mentioned http://nottstalgia.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7501&st=0

[.... 23]

Cheers, Kev. Interesting that Capocci's website states that they're 'now in our twelfth year'. Maybe it was Maxine's before that for a while.

[denshaw 2,872]

Think there used to be a Capocci's on Chapel bar just above ABC cinema.

[mick2me 3,033]

Didn't Capocci's Parliament St. used to be vegitarion?

or Maxines may have been?

[StephenFord 866]

I'm afraid the route map has a couple of bits of green line missing. One is the section of King Edward Street from Huntingdon Street to Lower Parliament Street, which was used by the 38/39 and 44 as well as the 40/47. The other is the George Street, Victoria Street section, where the streets are shown, but not the green line. I have seen a published photo as early as 1930 showing a 40 trolleybus turning from Lower Parliament Street into George Street (a sharp bend that had to be taken gently if you didn't want trolley poles waving about in mid-air!)

The route of the 40 began at Wells Road/Kildare Road, then via St Anns Well Road (the 47 began at Ransom Road), King Edward Street, Lower Parliament Street, George Street, Victoria Street, The Poultry, South Parade, Wheeler Gate, Albert Street, Lister Gate, Greyfriar Gate, Canal Street, Wilford Street, Wilford Road to Wilford Bridge. In the opposite direction, the route through the city centre was Long Row Central, Queen Street, Lower Parliament Street.

[mick2me 3,033]

Thanks Stephen

I seem to remember travelling into town on the 40 from Wilford Road getting off outside Debenhams.

Would that be correct?

[StephenFord 866]

Yes - absolutely right Mick - I think it was the first stop near the bottom of Market Street, after which there were the Arnold stops. But of course, you really meant to say "outside Griffin and Spaldings"

[Merthyr Imp 729]

I'm afraid the route map has a couple of bits of green line missing. One is the section of King Edward Street from Huntingdon Street to Lower Parliament Street, which was used by the 38/39 and 44 as well as the 40/47. The other is the George Street, Victoria Street section, where the streets are shown, but not the green line. I have seen a published photo as early as 1930 showing a 40 trolleybus turning from Lower Parliament Street into George Street (a sharp bend that had to be taken gently if you didn't want trolley poles waving about in mid-air!)

The route of the 40 began at Wells Road/Kildare Road, then via St Anns Well Road (the 47 began at Ransom Road), King Edward Street, Lower Parliament Street, George Street, Victoria Street, The Poultry, South Parade, Wheeler Gate, Albert Street, Lister Gate, Greyfriar Gate, Canal Street, Wilford Street, Wilford Road to Wilford Bridge. In the opposite direction, the route through the city centre was Long Row Central, Queen Street, Lower Parliament Street.

Regarding the bend into George Street from Parliament Street, it was always said that it was the reason why the 40 could only be worked by the 4-wheel trolleybuses - the 6-wheelers couldn't make the turn due to their extra length.

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Further to my earlier posting, here's a photo of a Trent Daimler Fleetline on route 62 on Mansfield Road, Sherwood in the late 1960s. Note the lamp post in the centre of the photo supporting the street light over the centre of the road - what we used to call a 'traction pole', left over from the tramway days. They were all the way along there at that time (I don't suppose they still are) used for street lights instead of trolley wires as originally.

[Trevor S 2,003]

You're right.....no centre street lights and traction poles are now just ordinary light poles

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Mansfield+road+sherwood+notts+uk&hl=en&ll=52.98162,-1.146054&spn=0.009521,0.033023&sll=-37.860283,145.079616&sspn=1.598166,4.22699&t=h&hnear=Things+to+do+in+Nottinghamshire,+Mansfield+Rd,+Sherwood,+Nottinghamshire+NG5+2GA,+United+Kingdom&z=16&layer=c&cbll=52.981469,-1.146264&panoid=WeSU38zxnsyGkoiYO9Edyg&cbp=12,61.17,,0,-12.4

[Merthyr Imp 729]

I've dug out this photo which shows the cafe on Huntingdon Street I mentioned was in fact called 'The Journeys End', not Capocci's after all.

The coach is Makemson's of Bulwell AEC Reliance, registration XNL107. The sticker in the windscreen says 'On Hire to Lincolnshire' so it's probably just arrived from Mablethorpe or somewhere. The photo must have been taken in 1970 or 1971.

[Commo 1,292]

MI, the cafe was Capoccis originally, but would appear to have changed hands by the time of your photo'. I knew it in the 50's as one of the few places open on a Sunday morning, and apart from having the coffee bar at the rear of the shop, also sold sweets and chocolates at the front. Used to very occassionally, when funds allowed, buy a bar of Toblerone to take back to Mum for Sunday afternoon after having cycled down on a Sunday morning from Ruddington to visit relatives.

[Trevor S 2,003]

Thanks for the pic at #333, MI. That will be the one that I remembered from back in the 50s. Windows painted halfway up and yellow from memory.

With the writing on the windows suggesting catering connoisseurs (?) it must have really gone up in the world from the simple transport cafe that I remember. What do you reckon Commo?

In the picture below courtesy of PTP, the cafe would have been in the building to the left, probably just out of picture and a short distance up from the Central Market.

[ChrisB 150]

I had a wander round last week and it seems the only part of the old bus station which is still recognisable is the area where they used to park spare buses at the top right, to the right of the present Staples office store.

It's nice that Huntingdon House survives (don't think a cafe would do much business today though!)

The old art-deco Barton garage is boarded up again, having been a Rapid Fit Auto Centre and the old Robin Hood garage is a Halfords Auto Centre, so I don't suppose there was enough business for two auto centres side by side!

[Trevor S 2,003]

Talking about buses and Bartons, anybody remember the main road leading away from Nottingham CBD, semi rural and with a long chain link fence alongside the road, large fir trees and at regular intervals, the destinations in England and abroad that Bartons used to travel to back in the late 50s?

The signs used to be red, gold and black or similar and one sign that always sticks in my mind was the Black Forest destination. These signs were on the top of the steel fence posts, about 6-7 foot off the ground and the signs would be about 2 x 3 feet in size.

Not sure if it was Derby Road, Trowell or some other one but I have a feeling that it was out that way.

Anybody??????????

[denshaw 2,872]

That would have been the A6005 Queens road Chilwell at the back of their depot.