Historic service query - Elgin town services

[GusB]

I've been browsing through timetableworld.com and there's a 1968 Alexander Northern timetable book available to view:

Timetable World

timetableworld.com

In the Elgin section there's a service 34 labelled "Elgin Town Service". The timing points are:

• Wittet Drive
• High Street
• Kingsmills
• North Street
• Covesea Road
• Deanshaugh
• Myreside Toll
• High Street
• Wittet Drive

I can work out the Wittet Drive to Kingsmills bit, but from there I'm rather confused. How does the bus get from Kingsmills to North Street - does it double back along the A96? I know where Covesea Road is and I can work out roughly where Deanshaugh and Myreside Toll are using current street names, but the route seems to be a bit haphazard!

Can anyone advise on exactly what route this service would have taken? I'm fully aware that Alexandra Road didn't exist and that all A96 traffic went through the High Street at the time.

I also note that the 31 Elgin-Burghead route actually terminated in New Elgin (at the fork - I'm still working that one out) and the railway station was marked as a timing point.

Fast-forward a decade and a bit, I distinctly remember there being three Elgin locals; the 328, the 329 and the 330.

The 328 went to Wittet Drive and I have no knowledge about this service - any information would be appreciated.

The 329 was the Bilbohall Circular which went from the centre of town, Grays Hospital, Hay Street and then headed towards New Elgin, Edgar Road, Glenlossie Drive, Springfield Road and then back into town. I only ever used this route one way when going to band practice (I usually got a lift back home).

The 330 was the Lesmurdie/Thornhill which went around the Bishopmill area and then went to New Elgin via Maisondieu Road. I never had any reason to use this service, but I'm curious to know the exact route it took.

 

[Bedford OB]

I've been browsing through timetableworld.com and there's a 1968 Alexander Northern timetable book available to view:

Timetable World

timetableworld.com

In the Elgin section there's a service 34 labelled "Elgin Town Service". The timing points are:

• Wittet Drive
• High Street
• Kingsmills
• North Street
• Covesea Road
• Deanshaugh
• Myreside Toll
• High Street
• Wittet Drive

I can work out the Wittet Drive to Kingsmills bit, but from there I'm rather confused. How does the bus get from Kingsmills to North Street - does it double back along the A96? I know where Covesea Road is and I can work out roughly where Deanshaugh and Myreside Toll are using current street names, but the route seems to be a bit haphazard!

Can anyone advise on exactly what route this service would have taken? I'm fully aware that Alexandra Road didn't exist and that all A96 traffic went through the High Street at the time.

I also note that the 31 Elgin-Burghead route actually terminated in New Elgin (at the fork - I'm still working that one out) and the railway station was marked as a timing point.

Fast-forward a decade and a bit, I distinctly remember there being three Elgin locals; the 328, the 329 and the 330.

The 328 went to Wittet Drive and I have no knowledge about this service - any information would be appreciated.

The 329 was the Bilbohall Circular which went from the centre of town, Grays Hospital, Hay Street and then headed towards New Elgin, Edgar Road, Glenlossie Drive, Springfield Road and then back into town. I only ever used this route one way when going to band practice (I usually got a lift back home).

The 330 was the Lesmurdie/Thornhill which went around the Bishopmill area and then went to New Elgin via Maisondieu Road. I never had any reason to use this service, but I'm curious to know the exact route it took.

I am afraid I don't have earlier records to hand, but I have attached the story of the services at and immediately after deregulation day, with detailed routeings, if that is of any help/interest - it may perhaps provide some clues as to your questions.

 

[GusB]

I am afraid I don't have earlier records to hand, but I have attached the story of the services at and immediately after deregulation day, with detailed routeings, if that is of any help/interest - it may perhaps provide some clues as to your questions.

That is quite a detailed document and fills in the gap in my knowledge about the 328; it took a slightly longer route than I'd originally thought.

The 329 is largely as I remember it, although when I used it, the service was routed down Hay Street past the railway station and then over the bridge to New Elgin, rather than Maisondieu Road. There will have been numerous tweaks over the years, though.

There have been numerous tweaks to the roads too. South College Street (the section west of the roundabout) was made one way when the Norco superstore was built, so that would explain buses having to use Greyfriars Street and then either Glover Street or Commerce Street to get back on to the High Street. Then there was the pedestrianisation of the High Street, which must have thrown a fairly big spanner in the works!

As for the 1968 route, I'll have to do a bit more research. However, the document you've provided is most helpful - many thanks!