A 1974 guide to getting about Walsall, Cannock, Lichfield and Sutton by bus and rail. Click for a larger version
I’m hoping some of the bus and rail enthusiasts can help with this one – a few weeks ago I picked up a 40 year old bus route map for Walsall, Aldridge Lichfield, Brownhills and Cannock, and it’s an interesting little time capsule all of it’s own.
This is the leaflet that was handed out just after Midland Read services were pulled into the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive – WMPTE – which was controlled and run by West Midlands Council Council and the individual boroughs (I Think).
Wallow in this, it’s great.
Four quid for a month’s free travel on busses? It’s a lot more than that now. Note there’s a reference to Birmingham ‘All Night’ services. All night? Really?
Also note the little rail map. Some interesting things to note there. No station at Telford, but one labeled ‘New Hadley’ between Oakengates and Wellington. Smethwick West served that grim estate, but Galton Bridge Station didn’t exist, and neither did Snow Hill and the Jewellery Line. Halstead was called Great Bar. No services north of Walsall yet, and some odd conjoined names; ‘Grimes Hill & Withall; Birches & Bilbrook; Vauxhall & Duddeston.
I welcome comment on this, and I know one regular used to drive at least some of these routes.
One thing that will surprise you – this flimsy, worn sheet cost more – by several orders – that the 6 foot long mining plan featured earlier. It’s an odd world.
Comments, clarifications? Leave them here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
This is worthy of study; some interesting snippets mentioned here. Click for a larger version.