North Western Road Car Company (1923)
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transport |
| Predecessor | British Automobile Traction |
| Founded | 1923 |
| Defunct | 1974 |
| Fate | Absorbed into National Bus Company; operations transferred to SELNEC PTE, Crosville, Trent Motor Traction, and National Travel (North West) Limited |
| Headquarters | Stockport , England |
Area served | Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, West Riding of Yorkshire |
| Products | Bus services, Express coach routes |
The North Western Road Car Company operated buses from its base in Stockport, England, providing transportation services across Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, and the West Riding of Yorkshire between 1923 and 1974.
History
Established in 1923, the company originated from the bus operations of British Automobile Traction, itself a branch of British Electric Traction. Its network grew notably after acquiring the Mid-Cheshire Motor Bus Company Limited in 1924, which extended its reach to areas including Northwich and Flixton. Additionally, it ran express coach routes connecting London, North Wales, and Yorkshire.
Subsequently absorbed into the National Bus Company, several depots located in Stockport, Oldham, Glossop, Altrincham, and Urmston were transferred to the control of the SELNEC PTE in 1972. The remaining facilities and services within Cheshire were handed over to Crosville. Routes operating between Warrington and Altrincham (routes 37 and 38), as well as to Urmston (route 42), held joint licenses with Warrington Corporation, though Warrington only co-operated on route 37 alongside Crosville.
Routes 38 and 42 were run exclusively by Crosville, which utilized specially modified single-deck vehicles to pass under a low canal bridge at Dunham Massey on route 38. These buses had been transferred from Selnec Cheshire Bus Company to Crosville’s Warrington depot. The depots at Buxton and Matlock were assigned to Trent Motor Traction. North Western maintained its Manchester depot for express coach operations but was rebranded as National Travel (North West) Limited in 1974.
Depots
North Western maintained garages at the following locations:
- Altrincham: Oakfield Street
- Biddulph: Whalley Street
- Buxton: Bridge Street
- Castleton: Back Street (operational until at least 1967)
- Glossop: York Street
- Macclesfield: Sunderland Street
- Manchester: Hulme Hall Road
- Matlock: Bakewell Road
- Northwich: Chester Way
- Oldham: Clegg Street
- Stockport: Charles Street
- Urmston: Higher Road
- Wilmslow: Church Street
See also
References
- Ogden, Eric. (1980) North Western: V. 1, The Transport Publishing Company.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Former bus operators in Cheshire
- Former bus operators in Derbyshire
- Former bus operators in Greater Manchester
- Former bus operators in Lancashire
- Former bus operators in Staffordshire
- Former bus operators in West Yorkshire
- National Bus Company (UK)
- Transport companies established in 1923
- Transport companies disestablished in 1974
- 1923 establishments in England
- 1974 disestablishments in England