Wigan Album

Route no. 21 was the Kitt Green service, which I think was the only Wigan Corporation service which left from the Market square bus station.

Hi Derek, Other routes operating from the bus station on Hope Street were 333 and 343 to Dangerous Corner and Wrightington Hospital, Joint Service with Ribble, and 320
to Liverpool, jointly with Ribble and Lancashire United.

Yes, Ray, my little model buses are just like that. Thankyou for posting these lovely photos. x.

Ray. Would this bus have the long bench seats upstairs?.

Yes Jack, Upstairs were bench seats, and the aisle was on the offside of the bus, in the lower saloon the ceiling was
lower on the offside because of the upstairs aisle.
Most double deck buses were 14ft 6ins in height, The design
of this bus, Known as a "Lowbridge" was approx 13ft 6ins, in
order for it to pass under low bridges. Rectory lane in Standish was a local example of a railway bridge, where most Wigan Corporation buses could not pass under. Another
railway bridge locally is at Gathurst Station, where only
single deck buses can pass through. Ray.

Thanks Ray.

Thanks for the info, Ray. I seem to remember that St.Helens corporation also were part of the joint 320 service. In the mid 60s I worked in Haydock and used this service. Everyone used to dread when it was operated by St, Helens as it was so unreliable

Hi DerekB, The 320 Wigan to Liverpool route was a joint service between Ribble (Wigan & Liverpool) Depots, L.U.T.,
Wigan Corporation, and St Helens Corporation. I believe that
St Helens Corporation did some "Peaktime" extras on the 320
route between St Helens,Victoria Square, and Wigan. The 317
route from St Helens to Liverpool was shared full time with
Ribble. During my 2 years on Ribble, the 320 route was just
Ribble and L.U.T., Shortly after I left, Wigan Corporation
re-commenced doing the Liverpool 320 route. Another shared
route with Ribble was 352 St Helens to Wigan, I think they
did peaktime extras, 8am and 4pm to cope with large numbers
of school children journeys. Ray.

Wigan Corporation bus 34, JP6032, one of 75 Leyland PD1 double deckers with lowbridge (ie low height with side gangway on top deck) Leyland body, JP5500-5537 and JP6000-6036 new in 1946/47. Withdrawals started in 1959, and this one was the very last to go in 1967. Wigan Corporation had a smart well turned out fleet, but not as immaculate and well maintained as Salford's green buses that never went to Wigan, the nearest places being Bolton, Leigh and Warrington.