The Merseyside Transport Trust

What a brilliant site. I used to be a Conductor and then a Driver out of PAR depot on the 73s in the 60s and this brought back a "LOT" of memory,s and I saw pictures of a lot of vehicles that I USED TO DRIVE. Thank the society members for preserving them.

MTT News 51 for February is nearly there, all 32 pages; it's all in shape and ready for a final read-through before the printers work their magic. As ever, all contributors will receive an advance, full colour electronic version as a thank you. Contributors to be thanked are Andrew Pendleton, Mike Cammack, Kevin Rowe, Lee Wolfe, Steve Kelly, Mike Lancaster, Tony Salmon, John Salmon, Mark Shields, Bill Barlow, The Online Transport Archive, Ron Martin, Paul Kelly and Steve Foo.

Wonderful website guys,i recognize more than one or two buses in your fleet that i've used when they were in service around Liverpool and occasionally in St Helens,more by registration than by fleet number,great to see these iconic buses preserved for future generations to see and appreciate.

Keep up the excellent work.

love your site love the work ya do keep it up just joined your group on facebook so good to see a few old busses i rember from when i was a kid

hi yea great to see the recent photos from john salmon and micheal crew provokes lots of memories of the old pier head as a child it was a magical place full of caracters like sandy who when the pier head closed moved to central bus station aand tormented the life out of us on the 26/27 once he was on you coulnt get him of.the identical twins somebody mentiond were the magrelis twins phil and john.john didnt work on the busses but was around a lot ,saddley pased away phil is still driveing today by the way any one remember me.

What a great site, as an owner of a Daimler ( Birmingham City Transport 2847 JOJ 847 ) I would love to see your CVA6 on the road again, I remember them from a couple of visits to the city in 1963. I am part of a group which owns several ex BCT buses, one of which 3001 LOG 301, will really interest you as it spent time in 1952 pre delivery to BCT at Edge Lane Works for tilt testing and weighing. Interestingly it has a Saunders Roe body. Which was the only BCT example, one wonders if that influenced LCPT in anyway?

Keep up the good work, will make the effort to visit your next running day, as I live reasonable close these days in Sandbach.

Robert Hayles

What a great site, as an owner of a Daimler ( Birmingham City Transport 2847 JOJ 847 ) I would love to see your CVA6 on the road again, I remember them from a couple of visits to the city in 1963. I am part of a group which owns several ex BCT buses, one of which 3001 LOG 301, will really interest you as it spent time in 1952 pre delivery to BCT at Edge Lane Works for tilt testing and weighing. Interestingly it has a Saunders Roe body. Which was the only BCT example, one wonders if that influenced LCPT in anyway?

Keep up the good work, will make the effort to visit your next running day, as I live reasonable close these days in Sandbach.

Robert Hayles

I've just received the latest edition of the MTT Autumn news...and what great news....new premises and all of the old girls are safe and secure with lots more space. Take a look at the photos with the bigger surrounding space the buses seem to stand out more and are able to show off their finer points.
Brian Jones.

regular visiter to your website enjoy looking at the old buses provkes memories of standing on the back of a back loader at the age of 18 in the winter with my full length overcoat on frozen stiff.sorry to see l255 not make the last running day with engine trouble any news on its progress.

Hello, from Alan Parker to Alan White. Yes, those were the days when we worked together on the bus collision section at ELW.
I lived in Penketh for 21 years, and now live across the river in Bebington. Cycling to keep fit now, not as a means of getting to work.

Well, a proof read, a visit to the printers and Autumn 2011 MTTNews will be with you very soon. This edition: news of our summer activities, Baboons, our Running Day, a recent addition to the collection, a ticket query and other interesting requests and info, and Burscough movements. It's all there. Contributors:- Andrew Pendleton, Nick Whimpanny, Steve Kelly, Terry Morris, Matthew Dodd (Safari Park), Chris Tunstall, Mark Youdan, Mike Cammack, Andy Rigby, Andy Sherman, Dennis Reeves and Ron Martin. Thanks.

Alan Parker! My word, was only talking about you the other week. I remember you and I 'legging it' from ELW after an all day sunday overtime shift, me on my orange 'eddie Mercx' and you on your red & white very nice I know not what. I couldn't shake you off . . . all the way to Whiston M57 island . . . strong old boy! Hope you are well Alan White - former collision line coachbuilder

attended your recent event in Birkenhead park, EXCELLENT!

Great website and even greater work on the restoration of these vehicles ..... These buses represent the history of Liverpool, which is all too often forgotten
Keep up the great work

I remember you Dave Rogers as I was doing the belt out of Edge Lane in 1972/73 moved over to Toronto in 1975 and I am now working for the Toronto Transit Commission,and have been for the past 27 years. not long to go until I retire,will be looking forward to that day.I am now living in Richmond Hill north of Toronto, you say that you worked at greyhound for 10 years I guess you got down to their Lakeshore location a few times on your travels,I was wandering if you where still working for them when they took over the Grey Coach operations from that evil Stagecoach who destoyed the operation as it actually made money when it was a subsiduary of the T.T.C I remember I always looked forward to going into the Castle Street mobile as the atmosefear was good, but if it was empty and you where doing the belt had to get out and go fast or get hammered on the way round,if you where at Edge Lane you probably knew harry lindsey would always work the 6/40 route and nothing else unless it was the 68,he never liked it on the 26/27, there was also a set of identical twins realy messed my head up one day as I had just left one on my bus and the other one was sitting in the drivers room at Edge Lane when I got back. It was the first I had seen them.

Can we have you on the LIvepool roads
more times not Just yearly

Dave Rodgers. Now retired and living in Windsor, Ontario. used to be at Speke in the late 60's then Edge Lane for 3 more years.
I passed my PSV test on the Silver Bullit A40 with Inspector Riley (I think was his name) I drove mainly AEC buses at Speke then Leyland at Edge Lane also the mobile canteen at Castle Street.
Many may remember me as Bernie Gillespie's (RIP) Brother in Law
One bus to another I drove Greyhound buses in Canada for 10 years.
Happy days a Speke and the mobile will always be in my mind.

A36 developed a wiring fault just before the MOT - there was no time left to get it fixed and tested. The more buses we have on the road, the harder the volunteers have to work to keep them there. You wouldn't believe the blood, sweat & tears at Burscough the week before the event.....

Sorry to hear A36 didn't make the Open day recently. I was looking forward to seeing some photos of this splendidly restored bus. Can anyone tell me what the problem was?

Great site, but is there any news on the Gardiner Bristol VR that I understand you have as a work in progress?

Look forward to seeing you all in Birkenhead.

I would like to thank all involved for putting on such a good bus running day event at Liverpool South Parkway Interchange.
I was a fitter at Edge Lane Works, Garston and Speke repair depots from 1969 to final closure of Edge Lane Works. Twelve of the 19 years working for MPTE was at E.L.W. as a Collision repair fitter, working with many other trades to make our wonderful Liverpool Buses as new, even when the Insurance Company wrote them off.
When typing this message, I hope someone can tell me the type of Liverpool bus that I worked on at E.L.W. that had a hydraulic braking system, with a hydrogen gas emergency brake ?

With regard to Brian Harrison's post

Charlie Lennard, I remember the name and the picture I have of him in my head, did he have a moustache, a bit on the red side and after Merseybus went to work in the tunnels as a toll collector

Chris

Well done to all who made Sunday a success,I managed a trip on two buses,1111 from the Pier head and A267 (I think it was) from South Parkway Station.It was great to get a feel of these buses on the road,instead of just a shuttle bus at the Woodvale shows.
Can't wait for the next running day,have to plan the day better to enjoy more trips.

Great day as usual lads, buses well turned out as well but nothing new there, it seemed to be busier than previous years as more people seem to want a trip of nostalgia and good to see some younger people as well. Fantastic.

Correction to my earlier comment, A36 and A801 were of course Crossley bodied buses.

A big thank you to all those who gave up their time to man the buses on Sunday, they didn't just man them, all I came into contact with were cheery and helpful. The buses themselves are a credit to you all, they're beautifully turned out and all I travelled on were spotlessly clean.
Just a thought, having seen the numbers of obvious dyed in the wool supporters, are there enough to commission models of the older LCPT buses. I believe resin models are a lot easier to make than diecast, and easier to change. A recent new name on the model scene has made superb models of cars selling at less than £65 with a run of 300. An obvious candidate would be A36 and A801 the only difference feing the radiator as would be the Leyland weymann bodied buses of the same era, would anyone else think this to be a realistic proposition. I for one would by more than one of anything produced for the trust.

Gerry

Congratulations to everyone involved with another highly sucessfull running day. I managed to ride some different vehicles again and I now almost feel as if I know my way round Liverpool.

This was my third visit to a running day and only fifth visit in total.

Hope to be back next year
Keep up the good work

Paul
Wakefield]
West Yorkshire

I had a really good day today going on the buses with my dad, brother and uncle. This was my second time going on them and it was a great experience to ride on the old buses.

Congratulations to everyone for another great running day. I was so glad to see other companies buses i.e. Ribble and Crosville participating, I have not seen those buses since they were in service. Also thanks to the 2 lads on 2025 for allowing me to be Cecil B Demille for the day, it was greatly appeciated.

Brian Jones-Rhyl.

I remember Charlie Lennard when he was an Inspector with Merseybus. I worked for Liverpool City Transport from September 1966 (can you believe it all of 45 years ago!!) then MPTE and then Merseybus. I, subsequently, returned to MPTE (in its re-incarnation as Merseytravel) after a period of redundancy.

Hope Charlie is thriving in Aberdeeen - oh and I also remeber Tony Salmon when he was Schedules Officer!

Hope this Sunday's Running Day goes well.

Brian

I have found your webb site interesting and imformative. As an ex MPTE Driver from Penny Lane and Speke then Crossville at Runcorn I think I have driven a large portion of your busses and I am saddend by the state of some of them. It is unfortunate that you do not have the resources to get more vehicles on the road. Before you ask not I do not have the time as I am with other groups that need my attention and time.

See you Sunday and good luck for the future.

David Taylor

I am enjoying the new website,its been a while since my last visit(sorry),The Toppings Coach you now have brings back fond memories as my late Father had a spell working for them and I remember travelling on them when he used to take it back to the garage.
The picture of the 'Jackwagon' lifting a deliberately-overturned Atlantean at the Big Bus Show in 1979 at Edge Lane,is showing my age as I witnessed this as a young nine year old,quite a sight to behold at that age.My Father worked for,MPTE and Crosville amongst others and love looking at the old Buses you have.I am looking forward to the 11 September so I can tavel on them again and bring back all them happy memories.

Today, I will be looking for new printers for the Newsletter. I had worked up a good working relationship with our usual printers, who would let me go behind the scenes and do some last minute editting. But still the quality of the print was hit and miss. This last one (No.49) was very poor as they had new staff. I had showed them a recent good one (No.47) as an example of what they could achieve. So I apologise for the poor quality of the latest edition - after some 24 hours (yes, this was a tough one) of editing - I felt badly let down.

I noticed on face book someone looking for an old bus book about Liverpool Transport I did see this one in a small book shop just around the corner from the Transport Museum in Leyland Town Centre towards the supermarket . They wanted about £49. Anyone wanting more information can contact me via Facebook.

Just seen an electronic preview of the newsletter, it gets better each time!

The latest MTTNews is at the printers (pick-up on Tuesday (!)), so should be hitting doormats around the Bank Holiday weekend. This quarter’s 28-page edition includes a view from t’other side of the Pennines, the development of joint services in Bootle and 6, yes six, pages about something new we want to share with you.
MTTNews 49 is brought to you by Steve Kelly, Mark Youdan, Tony Salmon, Colin McCormick, Brian Jones, Mark Shields, Chris Tunstall, Kevin Rowe, Brian Moore, Andy Pendleton Neil Hilton and Matt. Thanks, The Editor.

Hi, Just been taken back in time, although now living in Cape Town, used to remember the 79c and 79d, backloaders, trying to get up Childwall Valley Road in the ice and snow!!! listening to the engines, took me back 40 odd years, keep up the good work.

Bernard Parr.

Hi, looked at the website, very impressed. As a previous fitter at PAR for several years, recognise a few of the numbers. progressed to Tech Office at Edge Lane until 1986, then joined VOSA. Organised the transfer of the Titan to Burscough last month, hope to meet up with people soon as have sent off membership forms.

Well, the deadline for submissions to the Newsletter would be today. I have a book review, some in service shots of 2160, a shot of 2148 (already here in fb though), and a long overdue Mark Shields article on old routes. It would be August's edition so it could wait to include some news of Woodvale. So, so far 9 pages!!! As boringly as ever, contributions sought please. Many tars.

Good Evening Rob Nixon,

My dad was a driver as well. The Busmans parties every year was spent on one before getting to Frifth Beach, back when they put sawdust on the bus for those of us who threw up (me included - still the same :) ) We may have met on one of those trips. Dad's nickname was Gibbo, called Vinny. Miss him like mad. Dad worked from Penny Lane before D-Day in 1986. He is on this site somewhere, just cannot seem to find him Great site MB.

Thanks for my viewing

hi there. my dad drove these busses in the 70's and 80's. and i have traveled a fair few miles on them too(when i was a lad!).
dad used to work from edge lane and green lane depots. just found your site and you cant imagine the memorys these photos are bringing back. thanks

got my newsletter today, excellant as always thanks Graham

Hi Just been on you site good site well infomed and well worth a visit. Keep up the good work!

May's 'Spring' Newsletter will be out shortly for Friends and Members - one promised article about Buses to Page Moss is awaited - due at the end of next weekend Could use some more articles though!

hıçbeıng a new nartm member ı was serchıng the websıte to see who else ıs on board.ıve always loved lıverpool and ıts buses.ı dıdnt realıse they were green tıll ı saw the lıver bırds ın the sıxtıes.also the vıdeo for penny lane of course!.love at fırst sıght!.my frıends and ı have been up for a couple of runnıng days whıch were amazıng!.your buses are a credıt to yourselves and the cıty of lıverpool!.beıng of a certaın age.the beatles were my tıme so to be ın theır home town and see the buses ıs cloud 9.especıally goıng down penny lane and menlove ave.ı hope to see your vısıtıng menbers when you come to see us ın may.

GREAT DAY OUT BY THE LOOKS OF THE PICTURES SORRY COULDNT MAKE IT COULD YOU PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED ABOUT ANY FORTHCOMING EVENTS THAN K YOU MY DAD WAS A BUS DRIVER FOR 40 YEARS HE WORKED OUT OF EDGE LA GARAGE DRIVING THE BACK LOADERS ON THE 6AND 40 ROUTE FROM HUYTON TO CITY CENTER THANKS ONCE AGAIN

Congratulations to everyone involved with organising Buses to Page Moss. I had not travelled to Knowsley village before and I had not been on 255 since I was a kid growing up in the Pool and I had not been to Page Moss for a very long time...the flats at Woolfall heath have gone.
Brian Jones-Rhyl.

Brilliant site.I've driven some of the buses which have been restored.Took me back to the good old days of the 60's - 70's in P.A.R.

Well done and congratulations to all of you.

Hi all your collection is great
drove many of them from 1966 St helens 1969 Green lane 1971 Edge Lane now retired
good luck for the future
Regards Charlie

Saw an advert for a running day in Buses mag and checked out the website - lived in New Brighton till 1985 (aged 14) and was often around the garaged and Edge Lane works collecting numbers. Seeing this site has certainly brought back some good memories - I think you've just got yourself a new member :-)

As an ex conductor on St Helen's corpy I am very intrested in how it come to being they were taken over? and what happened to all the buses/drivers/conductors,I emigrated to Rockingham Western Australia dec 1970 but wouldn't let us on to Australian soil for 12 month's ( weird Rainhill sense of humor can anybody work it out????) every since I can remember I have a fasination for buses doesn't matter wether it's ST Helen's, or LCPT or MTT ( transperth wa),
The next part to ex pat's will make your heart feel warm & homesick, Around 15 years ago we had an old AEC LCPT ** still in it's orginal 60's color travelling around Perth/Fremantle as a travelling mobile home, well when I saw it it was at our caravan/boating show, The husband & wife had decided to visit the show, but were mistaken for an exibit and were giuided to Park the bus ( talking to the Wfe& husband later) he tried to protest, look sorry mate your holding the rest of the exhibits up he looked behind there's all these converted buses which had seen him so though ahh and all joined the convoy so he parked, and went to visit the show when he came back they was taken back with people around the bus peering into the windows, an official approached him mate get you sign's out and open up people want to see inside TYPICALL SCOUSE SENSE OF HUMOR, We have just realised we forgot to pack them ok then open up and i'll get you an exhibit board AND YOUR PASSES FOR LUNCH/TEA for the two day's? not bad for a mistaken exhibit have more on this story if you want? Mike Doran

I am now seeking articles for the Trust's Newsletter - MTTNews. All newsworthy articles and photos considered - virtually everything offered gets published, so get writing, Thanks.

Great to see so many buses I well remember from years gone by. In fact there are one or two I have actually driven. I think you have Atlantean 1054 or 1055 in the collection? I drove these at Speke!!

Great to see so many buses I well remember from years gone by. In fact there are one or two I have actually driven. I think you have Atlantean 1054 or 1055 in the collection? I drove these at Speke!!

As a current traffic supervisor at Arriva bootle and having grown up with the generations of vehicles that the MTT have amassed i am very keen to get an opportunity to get to drive some of the vehicles that ferried me around during my youth, when i first arrived at arriva we had 3122 as a semi automatic and 3142 which still remain my favourite vehicles to this day.Please point me in the right direction chaps

I am looking forward to the Page Moss event on 24 April. An ex-pat member of the MTT living in Vancouver, British Columbia, I will be on holiday in Liverpool in late April. Have been a keen observer of Liverpool buses since the 1960s.

I use to drive passed E2 on Longview Lane Huyton because it was parked there being used as a mobile holiday home until one year it got set on fire by vandals

Nice to hear that A36 has been fully restored. I was a Apprentice Electrician at Edge Lane Works around 1960. I helped to rewire this bus when it cami in for a major overhaul. If anybody remembers me then please contact me

Got mine today as well - put my day on hold while I read it all - superb!

Recieved mine today, excellant read as always thanks Graham

Our Newsletter - more like a little booklet - MTTNews (47) to you lucky Members and Friends, to be in the post Monday. Renewal Reminders or Membership cards too. Production process thanks to Chris Tunstall, Liam McCarthy and Rob Wilson. Thanks to contributors Paul Kelly, Terry Morris, Andy Rigbu, John Salmon, Tony Salmon, Mike Cammack, Karl Wilton, Mark Youdan and Brain Moore.

Congratulations on the new website! Some great memories.

Good to see A36 finally restored. I worked on many of this class in Speke Garage in 1966-67.

I would hope there may be some drivers out there who might remeber me i started as a learner driver in 19 77 i went to pass my test with the AEC i was then attached to Green Lane till 1980 then became a Road Inspector till 1986 when we became Merseybus and i became a Mobile inspector till i was made redundant I went back to the MPTE on the Tunnels then i moved to N Wales and i joined Arriva and guess what so did Merseybus so i was back in the fold but now i am in Aberdeen driving for First but would like to keep in touch with anybody who remembers me

I drove E1 and E3 but not the yo-yo E2 plus of corse many others.

I remember Harry Lindsay! I was Schedules Officer in Hatton Garden and he was a road steward for the 6C/40. This guy's brain was faster than a computer; after negotiating duty rotas with him I was always exhausted. He always got a good deal for the lads he represented, a great bloke. I still have his address, but he may have moved since I last saw him in 1987.......

I used to go into the Castle Street mobile for tea and bacon buttie when doing the 26 /27 good soup as well when I tell my co workers over here in toronto they cannot believe it when I tell them that we had a few of them around the City. never see that here not even a canteen in the division bring your own or stop a cooffee truck. if my memory serves me right the Dave Rodgers I used to see was kind of short had dark hair and always wore a white coat . the Pier Head canteen was not bad just too many people going in and out I cannot remember all the guys i worked with at PAR / Edge Lane but one name stands out and it is Harry Lindsey does anybody know him?

As an ex Speke and Edge Lane driver I really do enjoy these MTT pages. I also worked a swing shift on the mobile canteen at Castle Street back in the late 60s to early 70s.
The belt was two man in those days and really enjoyable to work including 6/40 route too.

Just waiting for updated details on 1300. Hopefully it'll be back soon, but there's plenty of others to keep you going......

New website much better than the original. What has happened to MPTE 1300 as that was on the original website but not this one. Thanks

check this site often used to work out of p.a.r.then edge lane keep up those restorations drove some regents on supplementry work and atlanteans on the belt 26/27 panthers on the 68 and scanias on the 99/46 always checking the site would like to be back for running days but cannot fit it in with my vacation time which i take in october

Fantastic website keep up the goodwork

Glad you're back. I tried to access this site around Christmastime but nothing was coming up. I thought your organisation was too large for the website to disappear so I'm glad to see it up and running again, not only that but improved as well. Well done.

The new website is terrific, and the helicopter view photo gives a great new perspective to Burscough. Keep up the good work with the restoration work.

Love the new website! Just spent over an hour playing the destination game!