Difference between revisions of "Bridgnorth steam bus service"

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The GWR began a bus service between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Wolverhampton]] on 7 November 1904 using three Clarkson steam omnibuses<ref>[http://www.nrm.org.uk/ourcollection/photo?group=Sellick%20collection&objid=1997-7219_RJS_OWW_27 NRM archive]</ref>.
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[[File:Steam_Bus_1904.jpg | thumb|300px|right|A steam bus at Bridgnorth in November 1904. ([[Sellick Collection]])]]
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The GWR began a '''steam bus service''' between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Wolverhampton]] on 7 November 1904 using three Clarkson steam omnibuses.<ref>[http://www.nrm.org.uk/ourcollection/photo?group=Sellick%20collection&objid=1997-7219_RJS_OWW_27 NRM archive]</ref> The service was introduced in response to number of failed proposals by other railway companies to build a direct [[Wolverhampton#Proposed Railways between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth | railway between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth]].
  
The journey took 1&frac12; hours, with the buses travelling at around 8mph.  The steam buses gave considerable trouble from the beginning of operation, in particular on Hermitage Hill out of Bridgnorth, which involved climbing 260 feet (80m) in little over half a mile in order to leave the river valley. At the end of March 1905, after less than 5 months service, they were transferred to Somerset for use between Cheddar and Burnham. On 1 April 1905 they were replaced by Milnes-Daimler petrol buses. These saw service until January 1920, at which time they were in turn replaced by AEC buses<ref Name = "Marshall">[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p118-119</ref>.
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==Operations==
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The journey took 1&frac12; hours, with the buses travelling at around 8mph.  The steam buses gave considerable trouble from the beginning of operation, in particular on Hermitage Hill out of Bridgnorth, which involved climbing 260 feet (80m) in little over half a mile in order to leave the river valley, and this led to several minor accidents. At the end of March 1905, after less than 5 months service, they were transferred to Somerset for use between Cheddar and Burnham. On 1 April 1905 they were replaced by Milnes-Daimler petrol buses. These saw service until January 1920, at which time they were in turn replaced by AEC buses<ref Name = "Marshall">[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p118-119</ref>.
  
When the bus service was introduced in 1904, the GWR were in the process of making plans for a [[Wolverhampton#Proposed Railways between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth | railway between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth]], which was later made possible by an Act of Parliament, the GWR Additional Powers Act (July 1905).  However having already introduced the bus service, the GWR then took no steps to build this railway.  They continued to operate the bus service until 2 June 1923, when it was taken over by Wolverhampton Corporation<ref name = "Marshall" />.
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When the bus service was introduced in 1904, the GWR were in the process of making plans for their own [[Wolverhampton#Proposed Railways between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth | railway between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth]], which was later made possible by an Act of Parliament, the GWR Additional Powers Act (July 1905).  However having already introduced the bus service, the GWR then took no steps to build this railway.  They continued to operate the bus service until 2 June 1923, when it was taken over by Wolverhampton Corporation<ref name = "Marshall" />.
  
One of the buses was housed in a small garage next to the station building.  The garage, with its arched roof and black corrugated iron cladding, can be seen behind the pannier tank in the Sellick photograph and behind 46443 in David Cooke’s photograph.  It has since been [[GWR Bus Garage (Ex Bridgnorth) | restored at Kidderminster]].  
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==Bridgnorth bus garage==
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One of the buses was housed in a small garage next to the station building.  The garage, with its arched roof and black corrugated iron cladding, can be seen behind the pannier tank in the Sellick photograph below and behind 46443 in David Cooke’s 1968 photograph.  It has since been taken down and [[GWR Bus Garage (Ex Bridgnorth) | restored at Kidderminster]]. The site of the former bus garage is now part of the [[Bridgnorth#Bridgnorth Development Project|new refreshment room opened in January 2019]].  
  
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
 
<Gallery>
 
<Gallery>
File:Steam_Bus_1904.jpg | A steam bus at Bridgnorth in November 1904. (Sellick Collection)
 
 
File:Clarkson Omnibus 1.jpg | A similar omnibus with technical specifications
 
File:Clarkson Omnibus 1.jpg | A similar omnibus with technical specifications
 
File:Clarkson Omnibus 2.jpg | Details of the Clarkson steam omnibus
 
File:Clarkson Omnibus 2.jpg | Details of the Clarkson steam omnibus
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File:Bridgnorth-Pannier-RR-1963-01-26.jpg | View of Bridgnorth showing the bus garage (Sellick Collection)
 
File:Bridgnorth-Pannier-RR-1963-01-26.jpg | View of Bridgnorth showing the bus garage (Sellick Collection)
 
File:S6632_Bridgnorth_1968.jpg | View of Bridgnorth circa 1968 (David Cooke)
 
File:S6632_Bridgnorth_1968.jpg | View of Bridgnorth circa 1968 (David Cooke)
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File:Bus Garage 20160305.jpg | The restored GWR bus garage at Kidderminster
  
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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==See also==
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*[[The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership#Great Western Railway: 1872-1947|The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership]]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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[[Category: Featured articles]]

Revision as of 15:03, 22 July 2019

A steam bus at Bridgnorth in November 1904. (Sellick Collection)

The GWRGreat Western Railway began a steam bus service between Bridgnorth and Wolverhampton on 7 November 1904 using three Clarkson steam omnibuses.[1] The service was introduced in response to number of failed proposals by other railway companies to build a direct railway between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth.

Operations

The journey took 1½ hours, with the buses travelling at around 8mph. The steam buses gave considerable trouble from the beginning of operation, in particular on Hermitage Hill out of Bridgnorth, which involved climbing 260 feet (80m) in little over half a mile in order to leave the river valley, and this led to several minor accidents. At the end of March 1905, after less than 5 months service, they were transferred to Somerset for use between Cheddar and Burnham. On 1 April 1905 they were replaced by Milnes-Daimler petrol buses. These saw service until January 1920, at which time they were in turn replaced by AEC buses[2].

When the bus service was introduced in 1904, the GWRGreat Western Railway were in the process of making plans for their own railway between Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth, which was later made possible by an Act of Parliament, the GWRGreat Western Railway Additional Powers Act (July 1905). However having already introduced the bus service, the GWRGreat Western Railway then took no steps to build this railway. They continued to operate the bus service until 2 June 1923, when it was taken over by Wolverhampton Corporation[2].

Bridgnorth bus garage

One of the buses was housed in a small garage next to the station building. The garage, with its arched roof and black corrugated iron cladding, can be seen behind the pannier tank in the Sellick photograph below and behind 46443 in David Cooke’s 1968 photograph. It has since been taken down and restored at Kidderminster. The site of the former bus garage is now part of the new refreshment room opened in January 2019.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. NRM archive
  2. 2.0 2.1 Marshall (1989) p118-119