Crosville

Two main routes ran through Keele from Newcastle. Apart from the C84 to Crewe and Chester, already mentioned, the K52 provided a local service to Madeley. In addition, occasional services ran beyond into Shropshire, including the K65 to Whitchurch via Audlem, and the K66 to Knighton via Woore. The C84 was worked mainly by FSs, although Crewe did also have a batch of FLFs, DFG255-7 (SFM255F, etc.). In 1971 a batch of new REs was allocated to Crewe (SRG210-3, HFM210J, etc.), and they also became regular vehicles, particularly on the K52. The final change occurred with the advent of the Leyland National, Crosville taking many of the early ones. I well remember my first sight, in 1972, of SNL815 (WFM815L) running along Keele Road on the other side of the University boundary wall and being amazed by the size of the forced-air heating pod on the rear of the roof. When I had a chance to ride on one working the C84, I marvelled at their power, but found their ride was soft, and the way in which they banked and rolled when turning was a bit disconcerting initially.

Bristol RE SRG211 HFM211J picks up passengers outside the Sneyd Arms in Keele village on a K52 working from Madeley to Newcastle on a Spring day in 1971

In 1970 the Crosville fleet contained 1086 buses. Amongst the more unusual buses were a batch of 100 Seddon RUs, purchased mainly because they promised a quick delivery whilst Bristol and Leyland were struggling to meet demand for single-deckers. Some Seddons were used on the Runcorn Expressway, a bus-only network that connected the residential areas of Runcorn to the new town’s Shopping City.

One of a batch of 100 Seddon RUs ordered by Crosville in 1971, SPG780 OFM780K, provided for the Runcorn Busway serving the new town loads up at Runcorn Shopping City on route T3 in 1972. 

In my final year at Keele, after sitting finals, I took a seven-day North and Central Wales rover ticket valid for use on all Crosville services and rail. Details of the week’s travels are provided in the log tabulated below. By this time a rationalisation of operating areas of the constituent operators of NBC had taken place, affecting services in West Wales and Cheshire. Crosville had taken over Western Welsh operations at Newquay and Newcastle Emlyn, and took some of the fleet on board, including Leyland Tiger Cubs. What is noticeable, compared to today, is the continued provision of evening services, often by Crosville, in many rural parts of Wales.

* Crosville depots: AE Aberaeron; AY Aberystwth; BF Blaenau Ffestiniog; BR Bangor: CN Caernavon; CO Corwen; CR Chester; CR Crewe; DO Dolgellau; HD Holyhead; LG Llangefni; LJ Llandudno Junction; NE Newcastle Emlyn; NH Northwich; NQ Newquay; OS Oswestry;  PW Pwllheli; RH Rhyl: WR Warrington ; WX Wrexham.