Trivia: Bus routes that have been downgraded from Double Deck to Single Deck operation

[adrock1976]

In the West Midlands, I can recall the West Midlands Travel 247/248 (Stourbridge - Wynall - Brierley Hill - Dudley - A459 - Halesowen - Hasbury - Wynall - Stourbridge circular) operated by double deckers (either Leyland Atlantic or MCW Metrobus) until 1989/90 when the Leyland Lynx single decks appeared as the mainstay of those routes.

It is noted that alternate journeys Mon-Sat daytime were numbered 247A/248A, which ran via Old Hill Station and Lodgefield Road. Although on odd occasions on the normal 247/248, there would have been one double decker that may have appeared, but this was rare. The A suffix were always single deck due to the low bridge along Station Road at Old Hill Station.

Furthermore, there was a further downgrade of vehicle size on Sundays for a short while around 1993, when both the garages at Dudley and Harts Hill closed. The Sunday (and holiday Monday) journeys were transferred to Midland Red West, being run from the garage in Kidderminster. Kidderminster had a lot of minibuses, which were used on the 247/248 at the time.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

In the West Midlands, I can recall the West Midlands Travel 247/248 (Stourbridge - Wynall - Brierley Hill - Dudley - A459 - Halesowen - Hasbury - Wynall - Stourbridge circular) operated by double deckers (either Leyland Atlantic or MCW Metrobus) until 1989/90 when the Leyland Lynx single decks appeared as the mainstay of those routes.

They will have been Daimler Fleetlines rather than Leyland Atlanteans

If I recall correctly, didn't the 112 also convert to single deckers a few years ago? Awful decision anyhow to have single deckers running on that route. Every time I've used it - at least between Ealing Broadway and Brent Cross - it has been absolutely rammed and half the journey is spent skipping stops because it's physically impossible to squeeze any more passengers on. Then there's the mad scrum to board at Ealing Broadway is among the worst I've experienced anywhere in London.

Think you may be mistaken. I certainly remember the 112 being Leyland Lynxes a few years ago and it has regularly been single deckers.

 

[bussnapperwm]

In the West Midlands, I can recall the West Midlands Travel 247/248 (Stourbridge - Wynall - Brierley Hill - Dudley - A459 - Halesowen - Hasbury - Wynall - Stourbridge circular) operated by double deckers (either Leyland Atlantic or MCW Metrobus) until 1989/90 when the Leyland Lynx single decks appeared as the mainstay of those routes.

It is noted that alternate journeys Mon-Sat daytime were numbered 247A/248A, which ran via Old Hill Station and Lodgefield Road. Although on odd occasions on the normal 247/248, there would have been one double decker that may have appeared, but this was rare. The A suffix were always single deck due to the low bridge along Station Road at Old Hill Station.

Furthermore, there was a further downgrade of vehicle size on Sundays for a short while around 1993, when both the garages at Dudley and Harts Hill closed. The Sunday (and holiday Monday) journeys were transferred to Midland Red West, being run from the garage in Kidderminster. Kidderminster had a lot of minibuses, which were used on the 247/248 at the time.

The Wolverhampton operated 264/5 and 243 suffered a similar fate when they transfered to Merry Hill, resulting in the Lynxes being allocated, then later B6LEs. Metros would return to the 264/5 in 2000 on Merry Hill - Kingswinford shorts until the shorts got scrapped.

 

[adrock1976]

The Wolverhampton operated 264/5 and 243 suffered a similar fate when they transfered to Merry Hill, resulting in the Lynxes being allocated, then later B6LEs. Metros would return to the 264/5 in 2000 on Merry Hill - Kingswinford shorts until the shorts got scrapped.

Regarding the garage at Merry Hill, was that around the time Merry Hill Minibus became part of WMT/National Express?

I do recall that the 264/5 was Harts Hill and the 243 was Dudley. The 243 started out as the 558 and would change to the 243 at Dudley for a run to Cradley Heath/Timbertree and back before changing back to the 558 to Wolverhampton.

The Stourbridge locals (289-299) were initially operated by minibuses from Harts Hill, which had the "Mini Buzz" branding on the side. Eventually, they were upgraded in size to the Leyland National single deck. Upon closure of Harts Hill, I think these may have transferred to Metrowest (which started in 1989 working the D25/125 Dudley - Wolverhampton shorts to complement the 126, and ceased trading in 1994).

The 9 and the 137 at Harts Hill were transferred to Quinton, with the rest going to Wolverhampton back then.

 

[bussnapperwm]

Regarding the garage at Merry Hill, was that around the time Merry Hill Minibus became part of WMT/National Express?

I do recall that the 264/5 was Harts Hill and the 243 was Dudley. The 243 started out as the 558 and would change to the 243 at Dudley for a run to Cradley Heath/Timbertree and back before changing back to the 558 to Wolverhampton.

The Stourbridge locals (289-299) were initially operated by minibuses from Harts Hill, which had the "Mini Buzz" branding on the side. Eventually, they were upgraded in size to the Leyland National single deck. Upon closure of Harts Hill, I think these may have transferred to Metrowest (which started in 1989 working the D25/125 Dudley - Wolverhampton shorts to complement the 126, and ceased trading in 1994).

The 9 and the 137 at Harts Hill were transferred to Quinton, with the rest going to Wolverhampton back then.

Yeah, Merry Hill Minis (using the depot - if you call the back of B&Q and a car park a depot) was in National Express ownership before the move to Pensnett.

I know at one stage (I think it was when the Overend Road (Cradley) works were being done in the late 90s) the 264/5 and 243 interworked on some trips - my dad was a driver then and I sometimes used to go on the bus with him on Saturdays (as a kid). Gosh how I miss the days of the 270/741/817 between Dudley and Merry Hill and the 83 Merry Hill to Dudley.

It's also funny as I was looking at my old timetables the other day and I found one which referred to changes to the 242 and 296 with the 296 going to a Brockmoor - Stourbridge routing and the 242 to a Cradley Heath - Kinver routing)

 

[GusB]

Let's get back on-topic, please; the subject of the thread is routes which have been downgraded from double- to single-deck operation.

Thanks

 

[TUC]

Is it always a case of downgrading? There are a number of operators and routes where it seems entirely random whether a single or double decker is being used at a given time of day.