Category Archives: Uncategorized

Chapter 2: First Time in Mold Crosville had been formed in 1906 by the coming together of a British entrepreneur, George Crosland Taylor, and a French designer and engineer, Georges Ville. They planned to build marine engines and high quality motor cars at Crane Wharf in Chester. This was not a major success (only fiveContinue reading “Bus Memoirs of David Blainey Chapter 2”

These memoirs are based on my personal recollections of the last 65 years.While I have tried to ensure their accuracy, they are not intended to be a formal historic record. Chapter One: Introduction and Early Years When I was a small boy there seemed to be a standard question which I was always asked:“What areContinue reading “Bus Memoirs of David Blainey Chapter 1”

“I can’t use the bus, we don’t have buses where I live.” There is an assumption that if there isn’t a bus stop close to your front door, with a frequent service, then you can’t use the bus for any part of your journey. But that needn’t be the case. ”Park and ride” is aContinue reading “BusBlog 6 – Choices for Mr. Commuter”

Outside London, two door double deck buses had limited success. When I used to cover late duties as a bus conductor in Walsall, if we were allocated a two door double decker, everyone knew that only the front door was used – apart from one driver! I was upstairs busy collecting fares when I realisedContinue reading “BusBlog 5 – Happy customers”

One of the benefits of living in North Wales is that the Welsh Concessionary Travel Scheme still provides free bus travel at the age of sixty, at all times of the day. It is possible to enjoy the beautiful Welsh countryside free of charge, using a bus network that is still fairly comprehensive, despite recentContinue reading “BusBlog 4 – Mrs. Williams goes shopping”

  Cart horses and thoroughbreds Back in my university days I recall having a conversation with my old friend David Armstrong. We were both looking forward to a career in the bus industry but David had serious concerns about whether the bus industry would survive until our retirements. He could see buses only appealing toContinue reading “BusBlog 1 – Cart horses and thoroughbreds”

Doing what we’re told! Headline – Car usage down by 70% in 4 weeks. What has happened? Has oil run out or the price of petrol gone through the roof? Or perhaps trouble in the Gulf has disrupted supplies and petrol is rationed? Maybe we have finally taken seriously the dangers we face from globalContinue reading “BusBlog 2 – Doing what we’re told”

Is regulation irrelevant? One thing you notice as you get older is that your memories pre-date those of most of your work colleagues. Why is the security code for the office front door 1986? Is that number significant?   If I really search my memory bank, I can remember when Crosville Motor Services were ableContinue reading “BusBlog 3 – Is regulation irrelevant?”