The Bristol Railway Archive

Robin Summerhill wrote:Am I the only sad case around here with a collection of old bus and railway timetables?

By the way, I bought a May 1964 WR timetable on Ebay yesterday - info on services immediately before closure to Portishead, Henbury loop, Severn Beach to Pilning, Gloucester stoppers, Chalford auto trains, Berkeley Road to Sharpness etc should be available next week

Whatever you do don't throw out old bus timetables, see here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... EF:GB:1123

I'd rather have liked this - but ú282 for 44 pages???

Philip M. Hicks wrote:Quote by Jules today:- "The associated 22 started from "the dip" at Stoke Bishop and took the current route of the No 40 round the houses on Julian Road. It then crossed The Downs but turned right at the top of Blackboy and served Pembroke Road. From The Centre, it ran along Victoria Street to Temple Meads and then along "The Cut", past Redcliffe and across Bedminster Bridge, along Coronation Road, before going through Southville and along Luckwell Road. From Parson Street, it ran on to terminate at Headley Park, presumably at the top of St Peters Rise. "
Jules I lived in Sea Mills in 1958 and used the #22 bus many times and I'm sure it's terminus was on Sea Mills Square. Previously the #22 route terminated at the top of Blackboy Hill at the small triangle to the West of the school there. Also when it ran to Sea Mills I'm pretty sure it went straight up Stoke Bishop Hill onto the Downs and didn't follow the route around the houses as did the #2 bus did by turning right two thirds of the way up Stoke Hill [ Sorry my recall of the exact street names is hazy. Regards, Phil H. Leura. Oz.

I think I can shed a little light on this matter as I used the 2/22 to go to school (QEH) during this time. Up until 1956 or 57 the 22 did terminate at the top of Whiteladies Road outside Giles sports shop (still there today!).
When the number 2 bus was extended from Sea Mills Square to Lawrence Weston its route was changed in Stoke Bishop to use Stoke Road. At the same time the 22 route was extended from its old terminus and followed the previous no 2 route via Julien Road and terminated at Stoke Bishop Fountain.

I believe that with the 2 service now commencing from Lawrence Weston the morning rush-hour loadings saw many buses full before reaching Sea Mills. To overcome this problem the 22 was extended again after a couple of years to terminate at the old 2 terminus in Sea Mills Square.

I believe the toilets at this location are to be converted to a cafe!!

Concerning the #132 / 232 routes I don't now think that there was a destination of ' Broomhill ' but there is a suburb called Filwood Broadway in the right place. I'm almost certain there was another destination connected with these two bus routes but I cannot recall it.

I was at school in Knowle West 1954/1960 and we used the 132/232 routes from time to time. The routes were identical to Melvin Square when the 132 shot along Leinster Avenue, while the 232 made it around the back past Filwood Broadway. The 132 terminated at Inns Court Avenue, while the 232 used Inns Court Green as its terminus.

I can remember old vehicles (which we schoolboys always called "crates") on the 99 as well, but only today find out that it needed to keep using the old 7'6" wide vehicles. How was this overcome when they were fnally gone?

I think that I am correct in saying, Bill, that when all the 7'6" vehicles had gone, the 99 was re-routed along Deanery Road rather than Prince Street Bridge, which meant that the eight-footers could be used.

Robin Summerhill wrote: A company called Bence Motor Services was taken over by the Bristol company in 1934, and this company ran services to the east and north east of the city north of the River Avon. In the 60s they were all numbered in the range 300-319 and were all operated from Hanham depot. .

Bence was based in Hanham and Longwell Green

Philip M. Hicks wrote: Incidently I lived in Sea Mills and caught a #28 Avonmouth to the Centre bus to catch the #33. The #28 used to start and finish at the bottom of Colston St. .

The 28 actually ran through to Withywood (Sherrin Way) although some journeys terminated at Colston Street (they were suffixed 28c - a common practice on other routes too) There was also the 28B from Avonmouth to Withywood but it took a different route somewhere which I've forgotten. This route later became the 29. Some morning and evening services ran through Avonmouth to "Smelting Works" These might have been suffixed x but I'm not sure..... I used to catch the 28/29 into town from Cranbrook Road (bottom of Harcourt Hill) There was another service on this route, the 12 which ran through to Highridge but I can't remember where it started..... In the Cranbrook Rd area the buses going away from the Centre went up Cranbrook Road and Linden Road but coming the other way from >>North View they took a different route via Howard Road and Upper Cranbrook Road. One day, a 28 came straight down Cranbrook Road; the crew were unfamiliar with the route and asked me if they'd come the right way as people had been giving them funny looks!

Andrew wrote:

Philip M. Hicks wrote: Incidently I lived in Sea Mills and caught a #28 Avonmouth to the Centre bus to catch the #33. The #28 used to start and finish at the bottom of Colston St. .

The 28 actually ran through to Withywood (Sherrin Way) although some journeys terminated at Colston Street (they were suffixed 28c - a common practice on other routes too)

There was a "code" in those suffixes that the Bus Company publicised in the 60s.

A and B denoted a normal and timetabled variation on the route. For example, the no.4 went from Blackhorse or Station Road to Inns Court, the 4A went to Filwood Broadway.

C denoted a service that wold terminate in the central area (C = "central")

D was used for regular short runs not terminating in the central area. When Staple Hill depot was open, for example, buses that were just going that far ran as 4D. I don't think that "D" stood for "depot" but I'm happy to be corrected.

E was used when the route already had a regular "D" run. An example was the 2E that went to Clay Hill

L was used to denote a "local" service (ie one not terminating in the central area or not being run often enough to warrant C, D or E. So for example on route 3, Filton to Whitchurch, if they happened to run one out of Muller Road depot as far as Knowle Red Lion it would be showing 3L.

Extensions from Avonmouth and Filton to the various factories close by but beyond the usual terminus were suffixed H (I think) J and K, depending on which factory they were actually serving. I'll have to leave it to others to clarify this bit because my 1962 City Services timetable dates from before this system was introduced.

Come to think of it, we've got at least two ex-Bristol Omnibus employees on here, so one of them ought to know (in theory at least!)

I Think the No 12 ran from Filton Church, Via Southmead rd, Henleaze, Cranbrook Rd

Andrew wrote:

Philip M. Hicks wrote: Incidently I lived in Sea Mills and caught a #28 Avonmouth to the Centre bus to catch the #33. The #28 used to start and finish at the bottom of Colston St. .

The 28 actually ran through to Withywood (Sherrin Way) although some journeys terminated at Colston Street (they were suffixed 28c - a common practice on other routes too) There was also the 28B from Avonmouth to Withywood but it took a different route somewhere which I've forgotten. This route later became the 29. Some morning and evening services ran through Avonmouth to "Smelting Works" These might have been suffixed x but I'm not sure..... I used to catch the 28/29 into town from Cranbrook Road (bottom of Harcourt Hill) There was another service on this route, the 12 which ran through to Highridge but I can't remember where it started..... In the Cranbrook Rd area the buses going away from the Centre went up Cranbrook Road and Linden Road but coming the other way from >>North View they took a different route via Howard Road and Upper Cranbrook Road. One day, a 28 came straight down Cranbrook Road; the crew were unfamiliar with the route and asked me if they'd come the right way as people had been giving them funny looks!

Andrew, hello - Your comments in the quote above may well be correct but they apply to a later date than I was commenting on. In the period I was talking about the #28 started in a corner of the road by the intersection of Pipe Lane and Colston St. right outside a gas company office and within 50-60 yards of the entrance to the Colston Hall.
There is a red brick face sandwich bar there now according to Google Earth. I'm sure that the Bristol Tramways Office was in this building or the one next door. I'm not familiar with a #29 route but I believe the #28B terminated somewhere in Lawrence Weston. I'm not sure now whether it went under the Iron Bridge on Kings Weston Rd, turning down Kings Weston Lane or continued on the original route through Shirehampton and turned into Kings Weston Avenue.
You mentioned a route #12 to Highridge. Are you confusing this with a #142 route. The #142 route in the 1950's ran from the same terminus mentioned above in Colston St. and went to Filton initially following the same route as the #28 but separating at the intersection of North View and Northumbria Drive.
When all the routes were extended to cross city routes the #142 did go to Highridge as the #28 went to Withywood. I believe both routes still ran as #28 and #142 up until I left the UK in August 1973. My father lived in King Georges Rd. Bishopsworth, I resided there for my last month in the UK So both routes were very familiar to me as one ran at each end of that street! I used them several times during that month as I'd sold my car! Regards from Phil H. Leura. Australia.

Philip M. Hicks wrote:

Andrew wrote:

Philip M. Hicks wrote: Incidently I lived in Sea Mills and caught a #28 Avonmouth to the Centre bus to catch the #33. The #28 used to start and finish at the bottom of Colston St. .

The 28 actually ran through to Withywood (Sherrin Way) although some journeys terminated at Colston Street (they were suffixed 28c - a common practice on other routes too) There was also the 28B from Avonmouth to Withywood but it took a different route somewhere which I've forgotten. This route later became the 29. Some morning and evening services ran through Avonmouth to "Smelting Works" These might have been suffixed x but I'm not sure..... I used to catch the 28/29 into town from Cranbrook Road (bottom of Harcourt Hill) There was another service on this route, the 12 which ran through to Highridge but I can't remember where it started..... In the Cranbrook Rd area the buses going away from the Centre went up Cranbrook Road and Linden Road but coming the other way from >>North View they took a different route via Howard Road and Upper Cranbrook Road. One day, a 28 came straight down Cranbrook Road; the crew were unfamiliar with the route and asked me if they'd come the right way as people had been giving them funny looks!

Andrew, hello - Your comments in the quote above may well be correct but they apply to a later date than I was commenting on. In the period I was talking about the #28 started in a corner of the road by the intersection of Pipe Lane and Colston St. right outside a gas company office and within 50-60 yards of the entrance to the Colston Hall.
There is a red brick face sandwich bar there now according to Google Earth. I'm sure that the Bristol Tramways Office was in this building or the one next door. I'm not familiar with a #29 route but I believe the #28B terminated somewhere in Lawrence Weston. I'm not sure now whether it went under the Iron Bridge on Kings Weston Rd, turning down Kings Weston Lane or continued on the original route through Shirehampton and turned into Kings Weston Avenue.
You mentioned a route #12 to Highridge. Are you confusing this with a #142 route. The #142 route in the 1950's ran from the same terminus mentioned above in Colston St. and went to Filton initially following the same route as the #28 but separating at the intersection of North View and Northumbria Drive.
When all the routes were extended to cross city routes the #142 did go to Highridge as the #28 went to Withywood. I believe both routes still ran as #28 and #142 up until I left the UK in August 1973. My father lived in King Georges Rd. Bishopsworth, I resided there for my last month in the UK So both routes were very familiar to me as one ran at each end of that street! I used them several times during that month as I'd sold my car! Regards from Phil H. Leura. Australia.

Hello Philip. I was thinking of 1966-73 when I used the routes mentioned regularly. The stop in Colston Street was indeed by the Pipe Lane junction, and yes, I think there was a gas showroom there. I am 100% certain that I am not mistaken about the 12 though....

You mentioned a route #12 to Highridge. Are you confusing this with a #142 route. The #142 route in the 1950's ran from the same terminus mentioned above in Colston St. and went to Filton initially following the same route as the #28 but separating at the intersection of North View and Northumbria Drive

Certainly, the 142 ran to Filton Church via Jamaica St, Cheltenham Road, Zetland Road, Cranbrook Road, Henleaze Road, and Southmead Road. From memory, I recall that in 1958 the 142 was combined with the 138/238, and was renumbered 12 - Highridge to Filton Church.

Andrew wrote:

Robin Summerhill wrote: A company called Bence Motor Services was taken over by the Bristol company in 1934, and this company ran services to the east and north east of the city north of the River Avon. In the 60s they were all numbered in the range 300-319 and were all operated from Hanham depot. .

Bence was based in Hanham and Longwell Green

I have had time to look into and enlarge upon this:-

W J Bence was a wagon builder in Hanham, and later started building buses and operating services in surrounding villages. After WWI they became one of the first Ford agents in the country. Bristol Tramways acquired the company in 1930. The building side of the company eventually became Longwell Green Coachworks which was active until 1983

Hello, I post this as a point of interest. Today I was looking through a mass of photos about Bristol on Flicker and came across the list of Bristol Tramways [ I do mean TRAMS! ] routes below. We have often discussed the bus routes around Bristol but here is a list of the TRAM routes as in the 1920/30's. It really is quite interesting. My Regards, Phil H. Leura. Oz.

Bristol Tramways & Carriage Company
A Bristol Tram at Brislington works 1930s.
The electric tram routes were not numbered until November 1913 as follows:
1. Tramways Centre - Whiteladies Road - Durdham Downs
2. Tramways Centre - Whiteladies Road - Durdham Downs - Westbury
3. Eastville - Old Market - Whiteladies Road - Durdham Downs
4. Tramways Centre - Zetland Road - Durdham Downs
5. Tramways Centre - Ashley Down Road - Horfield Barracks
6. Tramways Centre - Ashley Down Road - Horfield Barracks - Filton Park - Filton
7. Tramways Centre - Warwick Road - Eastville - Fishponds
8. Tramways Centre - Temple Meads Station
9. Hotwells - Tramways Centre - Temple Meads Station - Arno's Vale - Depot - Brislington
10. Bristol Bridge - Knowle
11. Bristol Bridge - Ashton Road
12. Bristol Bridge - Bedminster Depot - Bedminster Down
13. Tramways Centre - Old Market - St. George - Whiteway Rd - Kingswood
14. Zetland Road - Old Market - Eastville - Fishponds - Staple Hill
15. Knowle - Bushy Park - Old Market - St. George - Marling Road - Nags Head Hill - Hanham
16. Old Market - St George
17. Hotwells - Tramways Centre - Temple Meads Station

Hello - Following my last post on the Bristol Tram routes in the 1920's / 1930's. How many of you have noticed that there is still a very small bit of tram track still visible in Bristol. At least it was still there when Google Earth took their Street View camera car past the location in the last few years.
Obviously, I can't check up on it physically - other than to look at GE but if one of you looks over the wall on the left side at the bottom of the ramp up to Temle Meads you will see about 20 - 30 metres of tram track set into the cobbles.
When I looked at Google Earth a couple of days ago there were cafe tables set out over the area. However one can clearly see the rails. An interesting relic? Did the number 8 route terminate on this bit of track, out of the way of other trams going over Bath Bridge?
My regards, Phil H. Leura. Oz.

Philip M. Hicks wrote:Hello - Following my last post on the Bristol Tram routes in the 1920's / 1930's. How many of you have noticed that there is still a very small bit of tram track still visible in Bristol. At least it was still there when Google Earth took their Street View camera car past the location in the last few years.
Obviously, I can't check up on it physically - other than to look at GE but if one of you looks over the wall on the left side at the bottom of the ramp up to Temle Meads you will see about 20 - 30 metres of tram track set into the cobbles.
When I looked at Google Earth a couple of days ago there were cafe tables set out over the area. However one can clearly see the rails. An interesting relic? Did the number 8 route terminate on this bit of track, out of the way of other trams going over Bath Bridge?
My regards, Phil H. Leura. Oz.

I believe this track was used for terminating some services. At one time it was a proper "tram station" and had a roof built over it.

There is a another remaining bit of tram track quite nearby: In St Mary Redcliffe churchyard a length of tram rail can be seen sticking out of the ground where it was flung by a bomb blast during the Blitz.