Hyndburn Transport

[Paul Savage]

Hi

Looking for help again I'm afraid! I'm at the moment considering putting together a history of Hyndburn Transport- following on from the excellent Peter Gould's Accrington Corporation publication.

Questions are -

Does anyone know if this is already being done? No point duplicating effort!

And does anyone have access to information about the operations which would help with the basic research? Employees and their experiences; management and their strategies; fleet listings; operations; the later hire operations; what led to the sale to stagecoach ..... etc etc.

My own objective is to provide brain food since enforced early retirement and to try to keep a part of local 'history' alive - too much has been lost from East Lancashire in recent years!

Any input welcome! Thanks

Paul Savage

[Royboy39]

Originally Posted by Paul Savage

Hi

Looking for help again I'm afraid! I'm at the moment considering putting together a history of Hyndburn Transport- following on from the excellent Peter Gould's Accrington Corporation publication.

Questions are -

Does anyone know if this is already being done? No point duplicating effort!

And does anyone have access to information about the operations which would help with the basic research? Employees and their experiences; management and their strategies; fleet listings; operations; the later hire operations; what led to the sale to stagecoach ..... etc etc.

My own objective is to provide brain food since enforced early retirement and to try to keep a part of local 'history' alive - too much has been lost from East Lancashire in recent years!

Any input welcome! Thanks

Paul Savage

Try this:

Operator Fleet Histories: A-F

[entwisi]

The old lady next for was a clipper in the war, she even has her old ticket machine..

If you want me to ask her if she would be happy to chat let me know.

[Paul Savage]

Thanks for the reply. I'm actually looking for information for a later period - from around 1974 when Accrington Corporation Transport became Hyndburn Transport and clippies were long gone!

But I do appreciate you taking the time to reply, thanks.

[maxthecollie]

What sort of info are you after. I have a friend who drove for Accrington Corporation.

[Bob Dobson]

I'm not aware of Peter Gould's book. published 'Accrington's Public Transport' by Robert Rush but cannot find any copies. Please give details of Gould's book.

[Paul Savage]

Sorry, I'm getting my names mixed up! Peter has detailed info on the fleets with a brief history and I meant to refer to Robert's book. Senior moment I'm afraid.

[Paul Savage]

I have this possibly crazy idea of picking up where Robert Rush left off with his history of Accrington Transport and putting together an account of the last years of operation of 'Accrington's Buses' under the Hyndburn Transport brand.

The local transport industry has been an interest for many years with involvement with both manufacturers and operators and I find the demise of the local identities across the whole sector a little 'sad'. My idea is to do some little bit to keep the history alive.

The information I'm looking for is to build the story of what happened in the final years from 1974 to the sale to Stagecoach - how the operation was affected by things like deregulation and competition; what were the strategies developed to try to counter this and maintain the business; what was it like to work for the company and the story of the these years from the employee perspective - the vehicles, the working atmospheres etc; the management view. All supported by photos where possible.

Also information on the hire fleet and operations and the Just The Ticket wing of the business - all things I remember, but have no real concept of.

I'm at the very early stage at the moment so any information on what it was like to manage, work for or be involved with the business would be welcome. I am currently waiting for answers from the Council, the vehicle manufacturers, fleet list compilers etc for the facts, so the personal experiences from within the business would be very welcome.

It's important that information relates to the Hyndburn transport operation after 1974 and not for the previous Accrington Corporation operation, already covered by Robert Rush whose name I've already mixed up!

Thanks for your reply - hope the above ramble clarifies things?

[Paul Savage]

Whoops! Sorry, I'm just getting used to this site again and should have used 'Quote' to reply to posts above. Last one is for maxthecollie and the one before is for Bob Dobson. I'll get it right before long. Promise!!!

[Bob Dobson]

You know much more about the scene than I, but I suggest ( thoughts of grandmothers sucking eggs) talking to the Pilkingtons who have the guest house on Blackbnurn Rd and (I think) the garage in Paxton St.

[Paul Savage]

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

You know much more about the scene than I, but I suggest ( thoughts of grandmothers sucking eggs) talking to the Pilkingtons who have the guest house on Blackbnurn Rd and (I think) the garage in Paxton St.

Thanks Bob, I'll get that into my list of actions, which is now starting to look meaningful.

[Paul Savage]

Initial research is under way for the Hyndburn Transport story detailed above ..... does anyone know the whereabouts of Andrew Gill, who I understand was the MD of the company at the end?

I would very much like to talk to him if this is at all possible about the HT story - I would respect any request for privacy, would be happy to make introduction through a third party, or put questions in writing rather than face to face; I just believe the gentleman could provide a wealth of information about the key final years of the operation.

The 'story' will be a factual one reflecting on the demise and loss of Accrington's own buses, and will not set out to be controversial or judgemental.

So, if anyone can help put me in touch with Mr Gill, I would love to hear from you.

Many thanks

Paul

[maxthecollie]

Originally Posted by Paul Savage

Initial research is under way for the Hyndburn Transport story detailed above ..... does anyone know the whereabouts of Andrew Gill, who I understand was the MD of the company at the end?

I would very much like to talk to him if this is at all possible about the HT story - I would respect any request for privacy, would be happy to make introduction through a third party, or put questions in writing rather than face to face; I just believe the gentleman could provide a wealth of information about the key final years of the operation.

The 'story' will be a factual one reflecting on the demise and loss of Accrington's own buses, and will not set out to be controversial or judgemental.

So, if anyone can help put me in touch with Mr Gill, I would love to hear from you.

Many thanks

Paul

Did he not set up Rigbys Coaches.?

[shillelagh]

i know some of the drivers who worked for hyndburn transport still drive for transdev or whatever theyre called ...cos they still say hiya to me when i get on ...

[Paul Savage]

Originally Posted by maxthecollie

Did he not set up Rigbys Coaches.?

I'll take a look at that one - I know Rigby's were a part of Hyndburn Transport at one point, so it's a logical move for Andrew to 'take that with him'.

Thanks.