Wooler bus depot

[mb88]

I used to take regular caravan holidays in the small town of Wooler in Northumberland. I have vague memories of there being a bus depot here, not the bus station in the middle of the town which I believe was used as an outstation into Arriva days, but down at the bottom end near where the A697 crosses the Wooler Water.

This would have been the mid to late 80s. Am I misremembering or was there in fact a depot here? Can’t seem to find any information online and would love to know more about it, opening and closing dates, vehicles operated, routes etc.

 

[Gloster]

Try Googling united bus wooler , there are a few bits to be found.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I used to take regular caravan holidays in the small town of Wooler in Northumberland. I have vague memories of there being a bus depot here, not the bus station in the middle of the town which I believe was used as an outstation into Arriva days, but down at the bottom end near where the A697 crosses the Wooler Water.

This would have been the mid to late 80s. Am I misremembering or was there in fact a depot here? Can’t seem to find any information online and would love to know more about it, opening and closing dates, vehicles operated, routes etc.

Wooler depot was on South Road https://www.google.com/maps/@55.547...4!1sfnNYZLeab1DMT-Bg7Y4cWA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 In United days, it had its own allocation comprising 2 VRs, 5 LHs, and an RE, though it relied on Alnwick as its parent depot. It even had a travel office!

It transferred to Northumbria but there was a fire (arson) in which some vehicles were burnt - @DunsBus knows the story better than me. The allocation was reduced to four vehicles (LHs and Metroriders) and moved to the bus station and which did indeed last into Arriva days.

 

[DunsBus]

Wooler depot was on South Road https://www.google.com/maps/@55.547...4!1sfnNYZLeab1DMT-Bg7Y4cWA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 In United days, it had its own allocation comprising 2 VRs, 5 LHs, and an RE, though it relied on Alnwick as its parent depot. It even had a travel office!

It transferred to Northumbria but there was a fire (arson) in which some vehicles were burnt - @DunsBus knows the story better than me. The allocation was reduced to four vehicles (LHs and Metroriders) and moved to the bus station and which did indeed last into Arriva days.

The Wooler depot fire was in June 1989 and claimed four buses - VRs 532 and 545 (BPT926S, DUP752S), LH 628 (SNU385R) and Metrorider 808 (E808BTN). The Metrorider had not long returned from Kentish Bus, where it had been on loan, and was the second one to be lost in the space of a few months as sister 828 had already fallen victim to accident damage whilst with Kentish Bus.

As I understand it the fire was started in the one of the VRs, which were parked in the depot yard, and spread to the other. The force of the blaze then blew a hole in the depot door and set fire to the LH and the Metrorider which were parked behind it. The casualty list would definitely have been much bigger had it not been for the depot manager and staff arriving to move buses away from the scene.
.

 

[mb88]

Thanks for the information guys, very interesting. Glad I hadn’t imagined it, although I was slightly off on the location but not by too far!

 

[Simon75]

Wooler depot was on South Road https://www.google.com/maps/@55.547...4!1sfnNYZLeab1DMT-Bg7Y4cWA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 In United days, it had its own allocation comprising 2 VRs, 5 LHs, and an RE, though it relied on Alnwick as its parent depot. It even had a travel office!

It transferred to Northumbria but there was a fire (arson) in which some vehicles were burnt - @DunsBus knows the story better than me. The allocation was reduced to four vehicles (LHs and Metroriders) and moved to the bus station and which did indeed last into Arriva days.

When did it move to the bus station?
Also any idea when the outstation closed with Arriva?

 

[Andy Pacer]

I used to take regular caravan holidays in the small town of Wooler in Northumberland. I have vague memories of there being a bus depot here, not the bus station in the middle of the town which I believe was used as an outstation into Arriva days, but down at the bottom end near where the A697 crosses the Wooler Water.

This would have been the mid to late 80s. Am I misremembering or was there in fact a depot here? Can’t seem to find any information online and would love to know more about it, opening and closing dates, vehicles operated, routes etc.

I recall this too, and would have been around the same time (or possibly very early 1990's).
I remember one of those stubby short single deckers Northumbria had that was parked up.

 

[mb88]

I recall this too, and would have been around the same time (or possibly very early 1990's).
I remember one of those stubby short single deckers Northumbria had that was parked up.

Sounds like a Bristol LH you’re referring to.

 

[Geordie driver]

Sounds like a Bristol LH you’re referring to.

Indeed. I was a driver for Northumbria at the time although I wouldn't have been able to find Wooler depot on a map,.

I do recall it happening, iirc a youth or youths were caught for this and did time.

I pass through the area a lot on the way to the Scottish borders, local buses all seem to be Glendale travel now.

 

[mb88]

Indeed. I was a driver for Northumbria at the time although I wouldn't have been able to find Wooler depot on a map,.

I do recall it happening, iirc a youth or youths were caught for this and did time.

I pass through the area a lot on the way to the Scottish borders, local buses all seem to be Glendale travel now.

Borders Buses (to Berwick) and Glen Valley Tours (to Alnwick) are the two operators serving Wooler these days with just a hand full of departures each. A far cry from days gone by. The 1981 timetable shows no fewer than 12 departures to Alnwick, 10 to Berwick, 4 each to Edinburgh and Newcastle, plus the Wooler local service.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Sounds like a Bristol LH you’re referring to.

That's the one. I can still remember the scene all these years on.