Bridge Road Depot was acquired from Imperial Tramways (the original central tram depot), but access and parking were poor until in the 1960’s they opened a new bus depot on Portrack Lane. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Worked there in the Private Hire office with Stan Laine after I left school. Didn’t care for much W.C. Wilson but the canteen was excellent. Had quite a few laughs. When we moved depots to Portrack the last thing to be moved was the giant safe in the cash office. It took about 9 of us to lift it onto the back of the bus platform. Half way up Bridge Road we went over a pothole and the safe ended up in the middle of the road opposite Pickford’s office. I couldn’t stop laughing for days.
There’s a great film on the BFI Player that showcases the problems faced trying to transport the public, school and working populations of Stockton, Billingham & Middlesbrough in 1946. Not just for the bus spotters though, as while following a bus route there are a few glimpses of Stockton High Street, Billingham and pupils from Richard Hind School.
http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-just-billingham-no-7-1946/
“Where’s that bus?” starts at 3:00.
Yes, you are right Alan, I should have remembered that from when I used to sit on it with my Dad and share his bait – the driver always had to wind the indicator on.
The number 3 bus, if I recollect correctly, it changed it’s number to 7 at the terminus in Ragpath Lane, then went on via Norton then Stockton High Street to Thornaby.
Does anybody know Brian Hopper? Drove the buses around the 60″s. He was ex Richard Hind. Would be 73 now if still around.
I was on the buses and in the early days Ronnie Murray was my driver but sadly he died, he was a wonderful buddy. Then I passed my test and went o.m.o but I loved it and it was a different world on and off the road. Margaret Dilks was my friend and she was Tony and Richard Scotts sister but I remember when I first started and the older woman would show us the ropes, they were very strict and used to carry shopping bags with sandwiches and flasks of tea for their drivers and would sit on the back seat just ringing the bell while we ran up and downstairs getting in the fares, but we kept fit.
Ronnie from Swale road was my grandad
I don”t remember the parties, but I do remember going to the pantomimes and being given a selection box and, I think, an orange.
My grandfather was named Ronnie Murray and he was from Norton. I wonder if this is the same Ronnie Murray and yes he died some time ago he was Norna Murrays husband
Following on from the Christmas parties that Pat has mentioned, don”t forget that we also went to the pantomime at the Globe. Going back to bus numbers it was the 9 that went clockwise round Hardwick and the 9A that went anticlockwise…I think.
I spoke too soon. The Gazette reports that planning permission for more student flats on the former tram depot site has been refused. Still, it looks like the building could still be in jeopardy if the right kind of development is eventually proposed.
While we are on the subject of “bus kids” does anyone remember going to the Christmas parties at the Jubilee Hall on Leeds Street (new housing on site now). One year they showed the film Bambi on a cine projector, remember I cried buckets when Bambi”s mother died!
I guess we must have met Pat, as I too was often on my Dads bus, especially during the school holidays, and remember very well the stop at the terminus for a drink from his flask of tea and sometimes being allowed to sit in the cab. I”d forgotten about Mary who married Alex, she was my dads last conductress, before the start of the one-man buses. My dad didn”t like that idea at all, much preferring to work as a team, but some called it progress.
My dad, Jimmy Heselwood was a conductor and then driver for Stockton Corporation for many years. I too remember visiting the canteen at Portrack. One of his conductresses was called Tess. She lived in Thornaby. We lived in Brookfield Road at Fairfield (probably the Fairyland). This was the terminus for, I think the no 4. Dad and his clippy would often come home for a cuppa if they had time.
Densham”s Corner is so called because the house right on the corner, with the curved windows, of Yarm Road and Oxbridge Lane was the surgery of Dr. Densham.
I don’t remember Dr Densham but I do remember Dr Gordon Bowes who was the family doctor for many years. There was also a Dr. Bow(e)? and at least two other doctors.
I remember being visited by Dr Bowes at about 11:30 at night when I had chickenpox. How things change!
I too remember Dr Bowes he used to come at all hours if anyone was ill and he was always late for surgery, I recall sitting in the waiting room then moving to a row of chairs outside his door at the surgery.
Irene Maclean – thank you for saying my Dad was a nice man – he certainly was. Think you are “Little Irene” who used to live in Christchurch Drive opposite my brother in law John Pattison, I also lived there in the late 60s/early 70s, you may remember me. You are right about the no 3A going to Eastbourne/Primrose Hill, then the no 3 ran from Hartburn via Densham”s Corner (why is it called that – anyone?) into the High Street, then on to Roseworth via Durham Road and the Mile House, standing at the terminus at the top of Ragpath Lane, then going down Junction Road – Norton, back to the High Street and then on to the Hartburn terminus at Elmwood. When I was small my Mum would put me on the bus and I would do the round trip with my Dad when he was a conductor! I used to share his “bait” with him. Suppose it gave her a couple of hours break! The no 3 was our transport when I was courting my husband Dave, as he lived at Oxbridge and I lived at Roseworth, so we got to know the timetable pretty well! Paul Butler – nice to know you are Ronnie”s son and glad to have introduced you to this photo ref. When I was driving on the A66 yesterday over the new road bridge, there was an old 50/60s bus driving along – it gave me quite a start at first, thought I had beem time-warped, then realised there are still a few out there maintained by enthusiasts. My son has a keen interest in them, his wife got him a driving experience on one for his last birthday – must be in his roots, as Dad was on the buses from the end of the War until he died, and my Grandad William Storr was a tram driver in Stockton.
I think I know who you mean Linda! Was his name Alfie Brown and his wife worked on the job as well – I think her name was(or is)Freda. They were both on the 4/5 routes, which in those days was called “Fairyland”for some reason. Anyone else remember that?
I remember getting the bus from Newham Grange Estate to Newtown School when I was little. It was the number 5. In the early to mid sixties we used to have a lovely bus conductor – his name was Alfie, I think. He was a short man with a big smile and he was very kind to us kids. He would never let us eat gobstoppers or the like on the bus and I seem to recall that the reason was because a little girl had choked on one on the bus and died – I can”t remember all the details but I do remember that we all loved Alfie. Does anyone know who I mean?
It looks like the old tram depot/bus garage is not long for this world. It has just been announced that planning permission will be granted on Nov 25th for more student flats on the JT Dove site.
I think the 3A only went from the Town to Eastbourne and back. Also, I was talking to Freda [Green]in town yesterday. I worked “on the buses”in the early sixties and my driver was a Thornaby lad called Peter Fallon. I can remember Ronnie Butler as well – I think his mate was called Mary Bell who later married a chap called Alex Simmonds. I can remember your Dad as well Pat – he was a nice man. What happy memories,when I was young and fit!!
Thanks for pointing this site out to me Pat Beard. Gosh what moving memories, especially from Tony Scott. They really were the good guys, Bert and Paddy and my dad (and I”m sure there were others in that “close knit communtity”). I also remember Freda Green another friend and conductress who worked with my dad (he called her Theresa Green…””cos they are” such was his sense of humour!!) Some of my most vivid memories include visiting the bus depot (probably before I started school) and being taken into the canteen where I discovered that a cup of tea cost 1 pence (old money) and coffee was THREE halfpence and I thought that was unfair! Also there was a display indicating to the drivers the position to set their radiator blinds on their bus for each particular day. I also loved to see down into the massive pits under the buses. I guess health and safety wouldn”t allow children into these places today. Can I also add a reminder of the bus numbers especially things like the 3 and 3A to Hartburn and Roseworth going similar but slightly varied routes (didn”t the 3A go anticlockwise on some part of its route compared to the 3 going clockwise?) Ah.. nostalgia. Tony Scott, I have just retired and am certainly enjoying it!
The United buses with the sunken offside gangway and long seats were Bristol “K” types. This unusual arrangement allowed the overall height to be lower than a normal double decker. This enabled the bus to pass under low bridges. They were later replaced by the Bristol Lodekka which had a conventional seating layout. All of the problematic bridges had been removed by the late 70″s so the is no longer a requirement in Stockton for “low bridge” buses.
I do remember those buses that Barry Parkin mentioned. The ones with the seat to one side on the top deck. The conductor/tress stood in the aisle to collect the fares along the seats. Mind you, those passengers on the lower deck by the window under the aisle had to watch their heads when they stood up to get off the bus.
The United bus Company used to use a lot of bus type described by Barry in the 50″s.
Colin Booth, the bus I referred to was operating in the 40s with a conductor to collect the fares. The middle entry was for both getting on and off. The two stairs to the upper deck were positioned opposite entry and curved to the left and to the right respectively. There was only one in Stockton but I gather there were others on Teesside.
CAN ANYONE REMEMBER THE BUSES WHICH, WHEN YOU USED THE TOP DECK, THE SEATING WAS ONLY ON ONE SIDE WITH A SMALL ISLE DOWN THE OTHER. THE SEATS WOULD SIT ABOUT SIX OR MORE PEOPLE. IF YOU SAT NEXT TO THE WINDOW AND THE SEAT WAS FULL IT WAS A TASK TRYING TO GET OUT. I WOULD IMAGINE LOTS OF PEOPLE WOULD HAVE MISSED THEIR STOP BY THE TIME THEY GOT DOWN THE STAIRS.
£39,999 pounds seems a staggering amount to pay for a “vanity plate” as they are known in the US. They are quite common here and only cost $20 per year. I have had “Blighty” and “Jorvik” (York) I have seen “EbyGum” and “Blimey” plus other clever concoctions. Nice little earner for the government and not a tax because people choose to buy them. To Bill Davies, I thought the Stockton sideloader was a one off.Thanks for the info.
With reference to middle entry buses. Do you think that you are referring to Leyland Atlantean They were produced in many versions. ie with an entry at the front & exit in the middle. The idea was to have a 1 man crew, the driver collected the fare & alighting passengers would exit from the middle, thus improving the flow & saving the cost of a conductor. This method is used in many countries including USA & Australia (who had some running in Sydney) I don”t think they were very successful & went out of service quickly being a bit unreliable.
I worked on the buses from 1972 till 1987, and knew paddy macallister well he was a real gentleman and would help anyone, As for ronnie butler he was a good man to and before he was due to retire, he came out of his house one morning and dropped dead in the street it was such a shock to us all at that time,and to this day i still remember him and how he worked all his life and never got to enjoy his retirement and yes we were a close knit community..
I believe Hartlepool used the buses with the middle entrance and two sets of stairs.If I remember right they ran from the transporter M`bro to Seaton Carew.
Searching on the internet for personalised number plates I have made a copy of the 1 XG plate that is up for sale at the moment. “1 XG – £39,999”
My late father, Bert Beard, worked here in the 60s, in the Cash Office. He started as a Conductor when he was demobbed after the War, and his Driver was Paddy McAllister, who went on to become Chief Inspector, then his new Driver was Ronnie Butler. Remember Dad moving to the new offices in Church Road just before he died in 1969, aged only 52. The funeral cortege went down Stockton High Street, and Paddy McAllister organised that every bus stopped and the crew stood by the cab as we passed. At the church there was a guard of honour of busmen, all in uniform (they wore caps then) The bus crews were a close knit community at the time.
XG was the registration letters for Middlesbrough although not restricted to buses. My family had an Austin 10 reg. XG4983 first registered in 1937.
BOB IRWIN – I THINK YOU WILL FIND THAT XG WAS THE STOCKTON REGISTRATION AREA, THE PLATE 1XG DOES I”M LEAD TO BELIEVE BELONG TO KEN DEVEREUX, I”M SURE I WILL BE CORRECTED IF THIS IS NOT SO.
Do any of the bus buffs know of or remember a prototype bus with entry along the middle of the side and a double set of stairs to the upper deck on the opposite side to the entrance? It was reputed to having been designed and ordered by a manager with Stockton Corperation Transport. As far as I recall only this one went into production. I thought it was quite neat but I suppose it reduced the passenger capacity without any particular benefits.
If I remember rightly Stockton was never a Registration area. The XG was always on the old blue M”bro buses and this reg No was issued during and shortly after the WW2. Also the M”bro Mayors car was XG 1 or I XG DC was used after this. Durham was UP and not PT and the North Riding was AJ
The one thing I remember about United buses is that all their registrations were HN, a sad thing to say when we were younger we knew where the cars etc came from by the registration plate, HN was Darlington – EF was Hartlepool – DC was Middlesbrough – XG was Stockton – PT was County Durham –
Those who take an intrest in these kind of buses should take note that there are a lot of these kind of buses transit , M”boro coporation , United etc actually preserved ! JDC599 A Dennis Loline has made it into preservation along with many other vehicles.
To Ronald W. Haslock. From memory of my time with Stockton Corporation Transport I think the lady you are looking for would be Mrs. Broadbent. She and her husband George were together as conductress and driver on the buses. I seem to recall that her father, Alderman Lilleystone was elected Mayor of Stockton and as he was a widower she took on the role of Mayoress. As you say, a very pleasant lady.
These wonderful pictures of old buses bring back memories of working in the general office of the bus depot. At one of the staff Christmas parties in the early sixties I was a very shy 16 year old and a boy who worked at the depot asked me to dance! (He was keen on my friend really) his name was Frankie Thomas – he plucked up courage and asked my friend out after that – where are you now Frankie Thomas ? Do you remember Audrey, Jackie or me ?
Does anyone recall the name of a conductress who, so deservingly because of her bright disposition, and because her father was a widower, served a term as Lady Mayoress? She so brightened the day of anyone who boarded “her” bus.