Buses in Nottingham

[Deepdene Boy 642]

Yes it was, the only one of the batch that wasn't exported to Hong Kong. It was the subject of an unsuccessful preservation attempt.

[notty ash 371]

I tthink we agreed in another post that this is a Makemson bus, hence MB where the route number should go. They owned 2 double deckers, also used for the Bulwell to Bestwood route according to Internet searches.

[NewBasfordlad 3,599]

Someone put the 'boot' in the head lamp Ian?

[catfan 14,793]

In my early days at NCT (Piccadilly) just up the road from Mekemson it was a normal & regular thing to climb out of a Corpo bus at Piccadilly & then walk across the road & climb in a "Macko's" bus & do a bit more. It was quite usual until NCT put the blocks on that & forbade any employee from doing any work for the opposition, even working while on holiday from NCT. A lot of drivers did a lot of work for Pat Camm of Camm's Coaches.

Never affected me, I went wagon driving on my days off etc.

Makemson also had a couple of coaches.

 

Macko's old garage today.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.9944366,-1.1901369,3a,75y,28.1h,87.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sR8NXTk1p2wo5iyv69HImvQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

 

[notty ash 371]

IIRC Makemsons also did a service from Hucknall to Bestwood Pit at one time. I kind of remember going on it with my grandfather once, probably in the early 1960s. It was pay day and he was on holiday so he had to go to the pit just to pick up the money. That was a half-cab single decker with a conductor, who was totally bemused by the fact that a youngster was travelling on the service.

[PeverilPeril 3,283]

I used to use that bus to go fishing at Farndon. Happy days.

[catfan 14,793]

On 4/29/2018 at 11:26 AM, Willow wilson said:

Round about 1960-ish on a Saturday we would get on one of these in town, after we'd been to the Gaumont and had lunch in Woolies cafe and waiting for the coffee bar crowd to gather in the evening, and ride out to Daybrook/Valley road. It cost 2d. We'd sit on the bus at the terminus then ride back, another 2d. We'd do the same on the trolley routes as well. It was a sightseeing education.

A relative of mine did it often and regularly for a couple of years on every route in town and was on first name terms with the conductors and inspectors. Which is just as well really, the said relative was only 11 or 12 at the time.

What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to ride on a bus and stare. (Apologies to Eng. Lit. Fans)

This bus or one similar was parked in the Market Square for bus crews to use as a mobile canteen at one time.

[Deepdene Boy 642]

Mick, the one used as a canteen was a pre-war AEC Regal, the one in Willow's picture is one of the four postwar AEC Regal IIIs

 

[Deepdene Boy 642]

I am not certain, but I think that there was just the one, it could also be found at times at Trent Bridge/Victoria Embankment.

[catfan 14,793]

27 minutes ago, Deepdene Boy said:

Mick, the one used as a canteen was a pre-war AEC Regal, the one in Willow's picture is one of the four postwar AEC Regal IIIs

 

To me a bus is a bus is a bus ! Just a device to earn a weekly wage. I never really took much interest in em, more like an older version of plug'n'play ! 

[Deepdene Boy 642]

Having donned my anorak, Phil Groves excellent 1978 history of NCT shows that two of the pre-war AEC Regals wre converted to mobile canteens and were numbered 801 & 812 in the ancillary fleet. As only NCT service 25 used Huntingdon Street, I wouldn't have thought that there was any great call for one of the canteens to have spent much time there.Slab Square and Trent Bridge/Victoria Embankment would certainly have provided rich pickings for the mobile canteens

[catfan 14,793]

Before Newcstle Chambers.

[denshaw 2,872]

Canteens in the City, I remember Newcastle chambers, it then moved to downstairs in the old Kardoma on King st. Now it's somewhere on Angel row.

[catfan 14,793]

Newcastle Chambers was a grimy, smelly greasy place, awful. After nipping in there for a cup of tea & leaving 15 minutes later you smelt like a chip pan !

[Deepdene Boy 642]

Ian, yes it is the Autofare sticker.

[roger peatman 337]

First vehicles to have "Spring brake actuators" - I remember having to overhaul them . - first time we saw them on the bench we said - blimey (or words to that effect) - how does that tiny circlip hold the two halves of the chamber together when it took 1 ton of pressure to relieve the tension on it !!

[catfan 14,793]

On my HGV test the examiner asked what "Spring Brakes" were ? I was tempted to say May, Easter etc but thought otherwise & gave the correct answer !

[Brew 5,419]

Saw a safety video showing what happens if you don't wind the spring before taking the circlip off. It was a bit spectacular/

[Deepdene Boy 642]

Brakes were absolutely shocking on this batch 501-522, why on earth NCT sent them to Sherwood Depot, to cope with the hills up and down Mansfield Road  I shall never know. They would have been more suited running the flatter routes to Clifton. It is rumoured that they were going to be put into Trent Bridge when it re-opened in 1973, but somebody very close to me, who had a brake related accident in 516 at the junction of Derby Road and Middleton Boulevard, put a stop to that.

[NewBasfordlad 3,599]

Strange Ian I decided to have a google and the first page of this thread came up and yes it was the rattler.

[Deepdene Boy 642]

I see that NCT have named one of the recent gas buses, (fleet number 426) Albert Ball VC. Well done NCT, Albert is a true hero that all Nottinghamians should be proud of.

[FLY2 10,108]

Exactly DB. We don't do nearly enough to promote our great and the good ! 

[catfan 14,793]

On 5/10/2018 at 8:44 PM, Deepdene Boy said:

I see that NCT have named one of the recent gas buses, (fleet number 426) Albert Ball VC. Well done NCT, Albert is a true hero that all Nottinghamians should be proud of.

NCT are a bit slow with this, the bus is 11 months old !!

[roger peatman 337]

Looks like a "National" petrol station in the background ? - always liked their colours and logo/sign.

[catfan 14,793]

Shepherds Race service station, bottom of the Wells Road corner of Ransom Road Roger !