The centenary of a legendary North West operator is being marked with a unique major event, writes Nick Larkin
The North Western Road Car Company, set up in 1923, served a major area and became renowned for the quality of service and loyalty of staff. Many regretted the decision to dismantle the company and divide its constituents between neighbouring operators in 1972.
A century later, ‘North Western 100’ is being organised by the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester on 22 and 23 April. Fifteen of the operator’s former vehicles are booked in and no less than four post-restoration debuts are expected.
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Said Museum spokesman Paul Williams: “We are being coy on what these are except for confirming that one of them will be 299, a 1968 Bristol RESL with Marshall body. Modern operators will also mark the occasion – the Museum is in touch with more than one operator that’s interested in putting a modern bus on the road in North Western livery. This is set to be a brilliant event.”
Hulley’s of Baslow has already painted Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MK63 XAU in the renowned 1960s ‘black top’ livery, and this is set to be at North Western 100. Two other suitably painted vehicles from other operators’ area are expected to be present but again details haven’t been revealed as yet.
The focus will be on seeing and riding on the buses. There’ll be a free heritage bus service on both days of the event every 20 minutes connecting the museum with Manchester city centre and an hourly ‘photo opp’ special to a turning circle at Heaton Park Grand Lodge, some three miles away, where photography can be pursued in a relatively safe environment. Sunday will be employees’ day, when former ‘Nor’ Western,’ as the company was colloquially known, staff can meet up with old friends.
Besides the North Western event, the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester has a busy schedule of events throughout 2023, including a Coronation running day on 8 May and a Twilight Buses and Trams event on 21 October. Based at Boyle Street alongside Go North West’s Queens Road depot, the museum is open on Wednesdays and weekends, giving people the chance to view vehicles from an 1890s horse bus to a prototype Metrolink tram.
Details via motgm.co.uk or 0161 205 2122.
North Western history
The Macclesfield-based North Western Road Car Company covered a vast operating area in the southern and eastern parts of Greater Manchester, the eastern half of Cheshire and the northern half of Derbyshire. With nearly 600 buses at its peak, it was a jewel in the crown for parent company BET.
Incorporated on 23 April 1923, North Western took over the green and cream buses of the British Automobile Traction Company (BAT), a BET subsidiary. Initially the company was jointly owned by BAT and Tilling before a 50% share passed to railway companies.
Huge expansion, aided by taking over many other operators, happened during the 1930s. Long distance coaching became a feature of the company from its earliest days. In 1929 North Western became a member of the Limited Stop Pool, operating jointly with Northern General between Newcastle and Liverpool.
Vehicles of Bristol manufacture became favoured, and when these were only available to nationalised operators post-war, North Western had many chassis rebodied. Bristol substitutes included Atkinsons and Dennis Lolines along with more standard Leylands. Express services expanded to everywhere from London to Eastbourne.
North Western became part of the National Bus Company from 1 January 1969, and in 1971 it was agreed that SELNEC (South East Lancashire North East Cheshire) PTE would take over North Western’s services operating in its area, which happened on 1 January 1972. This left the remaining North Western unviable so its operations were split between sister NBC companies Crosville and Trent. Coaching operations became National Travel (North West) in 1974.
Hulley’s tribute
Derbyshire independent Hulley’s of Baslow has painted this Alexander Dennis Enviro200 in North Western’s 1960s ‘black top‘ livery. Hulley’s Managing Director Alf Crofts explained: “While we are always looking forward as a company and to continually improve and innovate wherever possible, I feel that it is equally as important to recognise where we have come from.
“Painting a bus to commemorate what would have been the centenary of the North Western Road Car Company is a tribute to that company and its workforce, who helped to build some of the services we continue to operate today such as the 173 between Bakewell and Castleton and the 272 between Sheffield and Castleton.”
Concluded Alf: “We’re very proud of our heritage, and we continue to proudly serve the Peak District as NWRCC once did.”
