Barton Transport PLC

Barton Transport’s Blackpool-Manchester-Nottingham service X61 used two Yelloway locations as departure points. Starting from Bloomfield Road coach station in Blackpool it called at Central Station Forecourt, Manchester where 1205 (LAL 307K), a Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied Leyland Leopard new in April 1972, is seen. Just visible on the left of the picture is part of the former air raid shelters which Yelloway converted into a booking office, waiting room and inspector’s office. One of the departure barriers, of the type also found at Weir Street Coach Station in Rochdale, can be seen. ‘Please wait here for coach departure to’ and then there was a slide in slot into which destination boards would go. Regarding the Barton Nottingham-Blackpool service, this had originally been operated by Robin Hood (Coaches) Limited, a company Barton acquired in 1961. The summer service for 1968 had daily departures from Nottingham at 0815 and 1500 plus a 1715 departure on Fridays. From Blackpool there were daily departures at 0815 and 1435 plus a Sunday evening service at 1805. The timetable may be seen here: www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/37286308/in/album/729781 The winter service was a curious one in that it operated from Nottingham at 0930 on Monday, Thursday and Saturday and from Blackpool at 0930 on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. The arrival time was 1600. A copy of the Robin Hood timetable for the winter period 1959-1960 may be seen at: www.ipernity.com/doc/davidslater-spoddendale/37286302/in/album/729781 The Barton winter 1967-1968 service X61 had the same departure times on the same days as when licenced to Robin Hood although the journey time by now was 63 minutes less (arriving 1457). This was achieved by a reduced refreshment break and tightening up of some point to point running times. One of the X61 drivers lived in Blackpool. He (Ken, featured in this photograph) and his wife (Marjorie, who was employed by Yelloway in the ticket office at their Blackpool coach station) were originally from the Nottingham area. In summer Ken worked the 0815 Blackpool-Nottingham and 1500 Nottingham-Blackpool journeys (although I don’t know how his rest day was covered). As may be seen from the winter service, the format was a fitting operation when using a driver based at Nottingham (One coach and one driver driving northbound Thursday/southbound Friday; northbound Saturday/southbound Sunday; and northbound Monday/southbound Tuesday with no service Wednesday). That would mean drivers staying overnight in Blackpool on Thursday, Saturday and Monday evenings. However, since Ken was a resident of Blackpool it made for a strange working week for him. He would be at home on Thursday night then drive south Friday staying overnight in Nottingham. On Saturday he would drive north and be at home Saturday night. On Sunday he would drive south and stay overnight in Nottingham. On Monday he would drive north and be at home Monday night. He would then drive south on Tuesday and stay overnight on two successive nights (Tuesday and Wednesday) taking his day off in Nottingham on the Wednesday. Finally he would return north on Thursday to be at home Thursday night. One day off and four nights out per week - comparable I suppose with the life tour drivers might have. He was however able to stay with family on the nights out.

Barton Transport’s Blackpool-Manchester-Nottingham service X61 used two Yelloway locations as departure points. Starting from Bloomfield Road coach station in Blackpool it called at Central Station Forecourt, Manchester where 1205 (LAL 307K), a Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied Leyland Leopard new in April 1972, is seen.. The Midland Hotel is visible through the exit gate, a tubular lift up barrier to prevent wayward vehicles (usually private cars) from entering. Just visible on right left of the picture is part of the former air raid shelters which Yelloway converted into a booking office, waiting room and inspectors office - Lower Mosley Street and the Metrolink tram tracks now run past the spot. Note the illuminated ‘Yelloway Coach Terminal’ sign. When this site came into use the authorities (council or police I can’t now recall) imposed a rule that coaches had to turn left on leaving the exit gate and travel around the Midland Hotel and then round St. Peter’s Square to then travel along Lower Mosley Street passing the property a good few minutes later. This was because they didn’t want coaches blocking the street or causing other problems should they have turned right out of the gate and then immediately turn right into Lower Mosley Street (in effect making a U turn). Needless to say there were some coach drivers who chanced their arm with the manoeuvre.

The business of Robin Hood (Coaches) Limited was acquired by Barton Transport in the early 1960s and the Robin Hood Nottingham-Blackpool coach service became Barton's service X61. The winter schedule only operated on three days each week in each direction and this format continued under Barton.

The business of Robin Hood (Coaches) Limited was acquired by Barton Transport in 1961 and the Robin Hood Nottingham-Blackpool coach service became Barton's service X61. The summer schedule had two departures from each end each day. Stockport was the last licenced pick-up point for services heading north (for setting down at Preston and beyond) and likewise the first setting down point from same heading south. In addition to the two daily services there was a northbound service on Friday evening and a southbound service on Sunday evening. In the columns for these there is an asterisk at Bolton indicating that Bolton was the first setting down point going north and the last picking up point going south. Since Barton didn't pick up at Manchester travelling north nor set down at Manchester going south the Manchester timings on these two trips are superfluous! Like many express service timetables, the Barton summer service began on the Sunday prior to Easter (Palm Sunday). Easter Sunday was on April 14 in 1972. (Digressing, if you have ever wondered why Easter is never on the same date each year like Christmas etc, this is because Easter is determined as the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, which is the first full moon after the Spring Equinox (March 21). This can range between March 21 and April 18. The Paschal Full Moon does not correspond directly to an astronomical event but is determined from tables. It may differ from the date of the actual full moon by up to two days so the use of tables instead of actual observations is necessary because the full moon may occur on different dates depending on where one is in the world. So the date of Easter can range from anywhere between March 22 to April 25. Apparently it will be 2038 the next time Easter falls as late as it possibly can when Easter Sunday will be April 25!)

Showbus, Sunday 21 September 2014 - The Barton and Robin Hood logos carried on RVO 657L, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new in February 1973 as Barton Transport 1235. Barton took over the business of Robin Hood Coaches in the 1960s and thereafter included the Robin Hood logo with their flag logo.

Saturday 28 May 1994 – For a time Richard W Chenery of Dickleburgh, Norfolk also operated from a base in Finchingfield which I believe was acquired with the business of Wiffen’s Coaches. C555 PPM, a Kässbohrer-Setra S215HD, was seen in the coach parking area attending the then annual Air Fete at RAF Mildenhall. Alongside is Barton Transport 1634 (D634 WNU) which is a Plaxton bodied DAF MB230.

Sunday 25 September 2016 - A plaque on Barton House in Chilwell to the memory of Thomas Henry Barton, OBE. A fleet review was held today to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Barton Transport.

The Barton Fleet Review celebrated the 150th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Barton Transport, Thomas Henry Barton, OBE. It also coincides with the announcement of a major development of the former Barton headquarters and garage at Chilwell. Plans are in place to redevelop the site and build a sustainable community which will be known as the Barton Quarter. It is thought that the gathering at Chilwell would be the last time that Barton vehicles would be seen in their original home. Following the Review at Chilwell a cavalcade of vehicles made the trip to Donington Park to participate at the Showbus Rally.

Sunday 25 September 2016 – A view of the former Barton Transport head office building (on left) and garage entrance at Chilwell. In the foreground are the tram tracks for the Nottingham Express Transit Toton Lane Park and Ride service and the platforms of the 'High Road Central College' westbound tram stop.

Sunday 25 September 2016 – A view facing towards Beeston on High Road, Chilwell. Barton House, the old head office building of Barton Transport. In the foreground are the tram tracks for the Nottingham Express Transit Toton Lane Park and Ride service.

Sunday 25 September 2016 – A view facing towards Long Eaton on High Road, Chilwell. Barton House, the old head office building of Barton Transport is the building with the flag flying near to the traffic lights.

Sunday 25 September 2016 – A side view of Barton House, High Road, Chilwell. The property stands along the roadside in front of what was the garage site of Barton Transport. The registration number on the Land Rover Discovery seems to indicate some connection with the Barton family. Note the different mail boxes on the wall suggesting the building is home to a number of businesses, perhaps tenants. That on the extreme right carries the names of ‘Bartons PLC’ and ‘Barton Transport Ltd’.

Sunday 25 September 2016 - Signs painted on a wall at the former Barton Transport garage at Chilwell. There is a proposal for a major development of the site and to build a sustainable community which will be known as the Barton Quarter.

Sunday 25 September 2016 - Barton fleetname style lettering painted on a wall inside the former Barton Transport garage at Chilwell. There is a proposal for a major development of the site and to build a sustainable community which will be known as the Barton Quarter.

Sunday 25 September 2016 – A view looking out towards the main road (High Road) from the door of the former Barton Transport garage entrance at Chilwell. Barton House, the head office building, is that above the traffic cone.The coach inside the building on the right was new to Barton as their 648 (E648 DAU), a Plaxton Paramount bodied DAF new in April 1988. It carries the livery of Copelands Tours of Stoke-on-Trent (with the addition of the original Barton fleet number).

Sunday 25 September 2016 – A view at the western end of Barton House, the old Barton Transport head office. The painted street name sign hints towards the proposal for a major development of the site and the building of a sustainable community which will be known as the Barton Quarter.

Sunday 25 September 2016 – Preserved former Barton Transport 284 (CRR 819), a Leyland Cub, seen at Chilwell as part of the Barton Fleet Review event celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Barton Transport, Thomas Henry Barton, OBE.

Sunday 25 September 2016 – Former Barton Transport 467 (JNN 384), one of Barton's trademark Duple front entrance lowbridge bodied Leyland Titan PD1s which was new in December 1947. It was seen during the Barton Fleet Review at Chilwell to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Barton Transport, Thomas Henry Barton, OBE. Following the Review at Chilwell it ran in a cavalcade of vehicles to Donington Park to participate at the Showbus Rally.