NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 97
The Cumbrian Coast
Workington Bus Station & the Leyland National Bus
Michael L. Roach
One of my great grandfathers was born in Maryport, Cumbria in 1842 but spent his whole adult life proclaiming in various census that he was born in Whitehaven some 14 miles down the coast of Cumberland as it was then. Between the two towns is Workington. All three towns are ports and have railway stations on the same line – the only one left in the area. In 2009 I fell off a step-ladder and couldn't move so commenced investigating my family history. The reason for not telling the truth was of course that he was illegitimate. When his mother later married, he took his step-fathers surname and moved to St. Bees which is a coastal village five miles south of Whitehaven. The birth of WJT was extremely difficult to find because I was looking for his adopted surname. WJT had eight children by two wives and lived in the slums of Looe Street, Plymouth. Five of the eight children died in infancy. The only way that I found him and his original birth surname was that he used what was obviously a surname as the middle name of one of his eight children and I might never have found him but for that. WJT was a seaman and that was what brought him from Cumberland to Plymouth where he settled and married.
In 2012 we travelled to Maryport for a week's holiday to get a taste of the area staying in a block of flats overlooking the inner basin of the harbour and built on the site of former railway sidings once used to store wagons exporting coal by sea. We opted to travel to Cumbria by train and travel around by train and bus. We had already travelled the WCML some ten years earlier by loco-hauled through train from Cornwall to Glasgow so instead chose to travel to Cumbria via London and Newcastle so that I could sample the delights of the ECML. I have to say that the Mark 4 coaches then in use were quite the best around at the time. I was pleased to read on Saturday 14 March 2026 that LNER are going to use one set of Mark 4s and a Class 91 engine for one return journey between Kings Cross and Newcastle every day of the week.
By breaking our journey overnight at Reading and travelling at quieter times of day we obtained first class seats at very competitive prices. This route also enabled us to enjoy the trip from Newcastle to Carlisle along the Tyne Valley; and the trip from Carlisle to Maryport and later onto Workington, Whitehaven and St. Bees. All these routes were very interesting, and even though we had relatively cheap fares First class was full in both directions but was still very enjoyable travelling in the 2 plus 1 seating.
On Sunday 8 July we opted to travel down the coast by bus to Workington and I am glad we did because otherwise I might have missed the historic bus station at Workington. It is a simple box-like structure but with a roof which is now quite rare. Covered bus stations are few and far between in Britain and I think that the number that survive can probably be counted on the fingers of one hand. You are welcome to quote the survivors. There are bus and pedestrian entrances in Vulcan's Lane and Murray Road. The similar entrances are both built mostly in red brickwork in a pleasing style with pedestrian entrances on both sides of the large bus opening in 2012.
Workington bus station in Murray Road was opened on 19 March 1926 by Cumberland Motor Services and it was the very first purpose-built covered bus station in Great Britain. CMS was founded in 1921 just down the road at Whitehaven and went through various owners before becoming a National Bus Company. As a result of the break-up of the National Bus Company CMS was sold to Stagecoach in July 1987. At the time CMS were operating 230 buses from 7 depots. A request to “List” the bus station was refused on the basis that there had been too many alterations since construction in 1926. In the last year the bus station has been refurbished in time for its centenary. Readers will see that at the time of my visit in 2012 the passengers were boarding buses on both sides of the station. That was amended during the recent refurbishment so that all bus stands are on one side of the building to obviate the need to cross within the building. I could say that it is a beautiful building but that would be stretching a point, but I do think that the two facades are very finely detailed mostly in red brick and that the whole external appearance is first class and has remained so. It is also worthy of note that there are very few covered bus stations in Great Britain.
CMS were the first bus company to purchase a Leyland National bus. The LN was developed jointly by The National Bus Company and British Leyland as a replacement for all the rear engined single deckers then being offered by other manufacturers. It was integrally constructed at a new specially constructed factory in Workington. The LN was offered with a choice of three lengths and five different engine options, including later a Gardner engine. Thousands of Leyland Nationals were built, and hundreds were exported to countries all over the world. In a nice twist for this article, it is pleasing to record that about 100 LNs have been preserved. The early ones (1972-1978) all have a pod on the roof for housing the heating equipment, while the Mark 2s (1979-1985) do not. The last LN was taken out of service in 2007. The successor to the LN was the Leyland Lynx (1985-1992). The factory was closed in 1992 after a working life of just 20 years. The Leyland National could be seen all over Great Britain from 1972 to 2007 and the attached photos show examples in just a couple of towns and cities.
On 18/19 November 2009 some 300mm rainfall was recorded in parts of Cumbria. The surge of flood water coming down the River Derwent through Workington washed away or severely damaged a couple of bridges effectively cutting the town off from Maryport and places to the north of the town. Network Rail constructed a temporary station on the north side of the river and enhanced the train service. Meanwhile a temporary Bailey Bridge was erected while a permanent bridge was being constructed. The permanent bridge was opened in October 2012 three months after our visit, so we travelled across the temporary bridge in a Stagecoach double-decker, and the first photograph shows a view of that temporary bridge from the top deck. The structural engineer responsible for designing the new bridge is to be congratulated for producing an elegant structure.
In 2012 we travelled to Maryport for a week's holiday to get a taste of the area staying in a block of flats overlooking the inner basin of the harbour and built on the site of former railway sidings once used to store wagons exporting coal by sea. We opted to travel to Cumbria by train and travel around by train and bus. We had already travelled the WCML some ten years earlier by loco-hauled through train from Cornwall to Glasgow so instead chose to travel to Cumbria via London and Newcastle so that I could sample the delights of the ECML. I have to say that the Mark 4 coaches then in use were quite the best around at the time. I was pleased to read on Saturday 14 March 2026 that LNER are going to use one set of Mark 4s and a Class 91 engine for one return journey between Kings Cross and Newcastle every day of the week.
By breaking our journey overnight at Reading and travelling at quieter times of day we obtained first class seats at very competitive prices. This route also enabled us to enjoy the trip from Newcastle to Carlisle along the Tyne Valley; and the trip from Carlisle to Maryport and later onto Workington, Whitehaven and St. Bees. All these routes were very interesting, and even though we had relatively cheap fares First class was full in both directions but was still very enjoyable travelling in the 2 plus 1 seating.
On Sunday 8 July we opted to travel down the coast by bus to Workington and I am glad we did because otherwise I might have missed the historic bus station at Workington. It is a simple box-like structure but with a roof which is now quite rare. Covered bus stations are few and far between in Britain and I think that the number that survive can probably be counted on the fingers of one hand. You are welcome to quote the survivors. There are bus and pedestrian entrances in Vulcan's Lane and Murray Road. The similar entrances are both built mostly in red brickwork in a pleasing style with pedestrian entrances on both sides of the large bus opening in 2012.
Workington bus station in Murray Road was opened on 19 March 1926 by Cumberland Motor Services and it was the very first purpose-built covered bus station in Great Britain. CMS was founded in 1921 just down the road at Whitehaven and went through various owners before becoming a National Bus Company. As a result of the break-up of the National Bus Company CMS was sold to Stagecoach in July 1987. At the time CMS were operating 230 buses from 7 depots. A request to “List” the bus station was refused on the basis that there had been too many alterations since construction in 1926. In the last year the bus station has been refurbished in time for its centenary. Readers will see that at the time of my visit in 2012 the passengers were boarding buses on both sides of the station. That was amended during the recent refurbishment so that all bus stands are on one side of the building to obviate the need to cross within the building. I could say that it is a beautiful building but that would be stretching a point, but I do think that the two facades are very finely detailed mostly in red brick and that the whole external appearance is first class and has remained so. It is also worthy of note that there are very few covered bus stations in Great Britain.
CMS were the first bus company to purchase a Leyland National bus. The LN was developed jointly by The National Bus Company and British Leyland as a replacement for all the rear engined single deckers then being offered by other manufacturers. It was integrally constructed at a new specially constructed factory in Workington. The LN was offered with a choice of three lengths and five different engine options, including later a Gardner engine. Thousands of Leyland Nationals were built, and hundreds were exported to countries all over the world. In a nice twist for this article, it is pleasing to record that about 100 LNs have been preserved. The early ones (1972-1978) all have a pod on the roof for housing the heating equipment, while the Mark 2s (1979-1985) do not. The last LN was taken out of service in 2007. The successor to the LN was the Leyland Lynx (1985-1992). The factory was closed in 1992 after a working life of just 20 years. The Leyland National could be seen all over Great Britain from 1972 to 2007 and the attached photos show examples in just a couple of towns and cities.
On 18/19 November 2009 some 300mm rainfall was recorded in parts of Cumbria. The surge of flood water coming down the River Derwent through Workington washed away or severely damaged a couple of bridges effectively cutting the town off from Maryport and places to the north of the town. Network Rail constructed a temporary station on the north side of the river and enhanced the train service. Meanwhile a temporary Bailey Bridge was erected while a permanent bridge was being constructed. The permanent bridge was opened in October 2012 three months after our visit, so we travelled across the temporary bridge in a Stagecoach double-decker, and the first photograph shows a view of that temporary bridge from the top deck. The structural engineer responsible for designing the new bridge is to be congratulated for producing an elegant structure.
The temporary bridge across the River Derwent from the top deck of a bus. It can be seen that although the sections are double-height and treble-width ? there is a deflection in the middle. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The blue plaque recording that the Workington Bus Station was opened on 19 March 1926. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
This view shows the roof structure to advantage with the steel trusses having a curved lower chord. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A bus exits onto Murray Road but is actually going straight across that road. The blue plaque is on the wall to the left of the concrete lamp post. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The Vulcan's Lane entrance to the bus station. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The inside of the Murray Road entrance showing the resident owl. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A United Leyland National in the colours of Tyne and Wear PTE at Whitley Bay bus station on 19.08.1982. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A Northern LN crosses the River Wear in the middle of Durham on 26 August 1982. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A Crosville LN is picking up in St. Werburgh Street Chester opposite the Town Hall on 28 August 1982. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A Merseybus LN picks up passengers in London Square, Southport on 2 August 1989. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
A Ribble LN reg. PTF764L passes the former Russell & Bromley Store in Lord Street, Southport on 02.08.1989. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks as always Mike, the bus station is an impressive structure indeed.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
For more of Michaels work, please click here.
Day Return : Ivybridge to Looe
Clive Smith
With a good weather forecast for Wednesday the 18th I thought I'd head off for a much delayed trip to Looe after the branch line was subject to three months of closure due to two floods and a fortnight of engineering works. The last trip I made was in 2021 and it was disheartening to see a wall of trees from Coombe Junction to Terras Crossing. With much tree clearance taking place recently the line has opened up views I hadn't seen for ages. It was great to see the upper reaches of the East Looe River in the sunshine.
175002 heads east at Ivybridge with the 2E06 07.45 Penzance - Exeter St Davids with Western Beacon in the background. 18.03.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
On a glorious afternoon 150221 heads up the Looe Valley with the 13.29 Looe - Liskeard. 18.03.2026, copyright Clive Smith.
Many thanks Clive - lovely photos in the sun.
Barry Scrapyard
Michael Adams
Michael Adams paid a visit to the legendary yard on 3 November 1984 . Here are 45163,4115 and 5553. The Black 5 has yet to be restored at Sharpness but you will know that the small Prairie is alive and well. I cannot find any record of 4115 in preservation. Copyright Michael Adams.
A fascinating photo - many thanks to Michael Forward for sending it over.
Peak Relief
Paul Barlow
Continuing the box head code theme, here a shot from 1981. 45027 leaves Taunton on the 1120 Sheffield to Paignton relief, Good Friday 17th April 1981. This loco was withdrawn 6 weeks later and was sent to Swindon for storage. It was eventually scrapped in September 1983. Copyright Paul Barlow.
Many thanks as always, Paul
Re: 25202 at BTM
Clive Smith
Following on from Guy Vincent's mention of 25205 working a passenger train at Bristol the same day as 37066, here is the 'rat' having arrived on load 9 with the 09.12 Birmingham New St - Paignton relief . 45003 did the take the train forward as mentioned with me on it. Copyright Clive Smith.
Nice one Clive - many thanks.
EWS Split Boxes
Michael Forward
We certainly started something with these locos! I might have sent this picture before of my visit to Didcot on 6 January 2000, but it may be worth including again as there was a mention of how few survived to wear the EWS livery. Here are 37042 and 057. Copyright Michael Forward.
Two for the price of one, many thanks Michael
Castles to Legend Land
Bill Elston
As a footnote to the passing of the short-formed Castle class HST sets, back in 2019, GWR published a booklet entitled 'Castles to Legend Land'.
This illustrated the original 23 powercar nameplates and those of the 4 class 57 Night Riviera locos. Also given is a short history of each castle.
I dont think it was updated to include the additional PCs. It was available free of charge from larger railway stations ( I got mine from Taunton).
There was also a Welsh language version, recently seen on ebay.
This illustrated the original 23 powercar nameplates and those of the 4 class 57 Night Riviera locos. Also given is a short history of each castle.
I dont think it was updated to include the additional PCs. It was available free of charge from larger railway stations ( I got mine from Taunton).
There was also a Welsh language version, recently seen on ebay.
GWR 'Castles to Legend Land' booklet. Copyright Bill Elston.
GWR 'Castles to Legend Land' booklet. Copyright Bill Elston.
GWR 'Castles to Legend Land' booklet. Copyright Bill Elston.
GWR 'Castles to Legend Land' booklet. Copyright Bill Elston.
Many thanks Bill, a nice momento for you to hang onto.