X24 Llandudno

I have recently purchased a black and white photo of VDB 962, North Western Leyland coach leaving Moseley Street, Manchester for Llandudno, service X24 on a wet day. I wondered if anybody has any details on this route please. Was this a regular route and which route did it take, I'm not sure when the photo was taken, I don't have the copyright or I would have posted it on the website but it looks as the late 1960's. And any details on the coach too if possible. Many thanks.

Paul Warnock

07/07/13 - 13:54

North Western operated a summer timetable that ran, broadly, from mid-May to mid-September. The X24 was the most frequent of the routes to N Wales with, I believe, a daily frequency and probably duplicates for somewhere as popular as Llandudno. There was also an X34 that went by a different route. I can't tell you the details of the routes in those pre M56 and A55 Expressway days but I'd hazard a guess that one went via Queensferry, a notorious delay point then and that the other went via Mold or Ruthin. Other N Western routes to N and Mid-Wales from Manchester included the X4 to Aberystwyth, X3 to Barmouth, X44 to Bangor and X74 to Pwllheli. All these would have run on a lesser frequency than the X24/34. I can't recall ever seeing a Crosville bus/coach in Lower Mosley Street on these routes but equally I can't imagine the routes operating without some arrangement in that company's territory.

Orla Nutting

08/07/13 - 16:14

Paul Warnock makes mention of the photograph I sold him recently of NWRCC VDB 962 on Service X24 to Llandudno.
Also Orla makes mention of the other routes operating to Llandudno from Manchester namely the X34 and X44.
I have dug out a copy of the Summer 1973 Timetable I was issued with when I drove (many times) on the service for NWRCC. Rather than go through the different variations I have attached a copy

I seem to remember that we (yes it was crew operated) got a meal allowance for a meal in Llandudno. One of the regular Conductors had a 'Contact' in a Cafe where we got a discounted meal, so we were in profit.

Stephen Howarth

09/07/13 - 07:27

A lot has changed in the 40 years since 1973: local Woolworth's (Chorlton) have long gone - there used to be one in Kirkstall in Leeds - well, Woolworth's have now gone; and try catching a scheduled coach from Chorlton (or any inner city suburb) to the coast now . . . and don't even think about a choice of timings or destinations. But then although 1973 is within my memory, its as close to 1933 as it is to today.

Philip Rushworth

09/07/13 - 07:28

VDB 962 (Fleet No. 962), was one of 2 Leyland Leopards delivered to North Western Road Car Co Ltd in 1963, unusually for North Western with Plaxton bodies.
It was a Leyland Leopard PSU/3RT - Chassis No 623193, and had a C49F body.
It was transferred to Crosville Motor Services with the breakup of NWRCC in 1/1972 and given their Fleet No. CLL918.
It was withdrawn by 1975.
Attached is a picture of it with Crosville.

Stephen Howarth

10/07/13 - 08:07

Interesting the way the different trim and paint application subtly change the look 962.
I first saw the coach running on trade plates on the day of delivery. When new, North Western was emblazoned on the large lower red area under the forward bays in large chrome letters.

Phil Blinkhorn

11/07/13 - 12:18

Further to Phil Blinkhorns comments on VDB 962 and the chrome letters applied on delivery. I have attached 3 pictures showing this Chrome Fleet name.

1). Having just arrived at Victoria Coach Station on a X5D service - the Chrome fleet name is clearly visible.

2). Colour photograph showing destination 'Glossop' Service X5P and not in the best condition, but the Chrome lettering is still intact.

3). In as withdrawn condition - anybody have any idea as to location.

To complete the set I have added a picture of its sister vehicle VDB 963 outside Charles Street Head Office.

Stephen Howarth

11/07/13 - 16:19

Having passed to Crosville in January 1972 and received the cream and black (?) livery as number CLL918, VDB 963 became CLL318 in the NBC leaf green and white DP livery.
It was sold in August 1975 to Martin (dealer) of Middlewich, and to Walton Construction of Bolton by October 1975. It then passed to Leonard Farclough Ltd of Adlington (not Coronation Street), then to North (dealer) of Sherburn-in-Elmet in August 1981 and finally to Wigley (dealer) of Carlton for scrap in December 1981.
I would guess that the photo in grey and white was taken at North's premises.

Dave Farrier

12/07/13 - 07:49

I, of course, meant to say that VDB 962 was CLL318.
Twin VDB 963 was Crosville CLL919, then CLL319, passing to Fairclough of Radcliffe, aka Tatlock's, and received a new Plaxton C53F body in April 1976 becoming LCB 924P.
It was sold to Fletcher of Hazel Grove then to Sweetin of Crosshouse in January 1985, finally to Dunsmore (dealer) of Larkhall in January 1994 (for scrap?).

Dave Farrier

13/07/13 - 12:26

Gentlemen. Thank you very much for the Information, timetable and photos which has been very useful I really do like the look of this coach. I was born and brought up in Old Trafford, Manchester 58 years ago, we used to holiday in Towyn, North Wales between Rhyl and Abergele. I never went on the coach to Wales but remember seeing all the coaches arriving on a Saturday at Rhyl from all over the Country so that was why I was after some information. I also used to pass the North Western depot down Hulme Hall Road, I always used to have a look round the buses and coaches outside and inside the garage, happy days. What a pity I didn't have a camera. Its a shame this lovely coach didn't survive into preservation. Thanks again, it never ceases to amaze me the amount of knowledge you Gents have. Cheers.

Paul Warnock

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