Buses in Carlisle - 1970s to 21st Century
12th December 2006

***UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2009*** I began taking bus photos in the 1970s using a Coronet Flashmaster 120 roll film camera, then progressed via 126 to 35mm using a Fed 3 (clunky but reliable). My first SLR was a Zenit 3m, before I was given a Petri (Dixons' answer to the Pentax ME Super). I have now progressed to digital via numerous other Pentax SLRs. The early shots are a bit rough, but I had no way of telling if the exposure was correct, or if the subject had been stopped by the very slow shutter of the Flashmaster. There are shots of Ribble, Cumberland, United, Western SMT, Eastern Scottish and many more. Later photos show the influence of Stagecoach and the aftermath of the January 2005 floods.

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Cumberland National 2 377 in West Tower Street
Cumberland National 2 377 in West Tower Street
 Ribble VRT/SL/6G 1989 on a Carlisle town service.
Ribble VRT/SL/6G 1989 on a Carlisle town service.
 This AEC Reliance NDK168G was new to Yelloway of Rochdale, but by the mid 1980s was acting as an
This AEC Reliance NDK168G was new to Yelloway of Rochdale, but by the mid 1980s was acting as an "extra car" on National Express duties
Passengers on National Holidays tour to Perthshire & Royal Deeside wait for late joiners. This National Holdays coach is in fact an Alexanders (Midland) Leopard
Passengers on National Holidays tour to Perthshire & Royal Deeside wait for late joiners. This National Holdays coach is in fact an Alexanders (Midland) Leopard
Atlantean 1479 extolled the virtues of JVC at County Store.
Atlantean 1479 extolled the virtues of JVC at County Store.
 Palmers ex-Glasgow Atlantean JGA198N on the station forecourt
Palmers ex-Glasgow Atlantean JGA198N on the station forecourt
 A typical early-70s small coach, seen n the late-80s
A typical early-70s small coach, seen n the late-80s
LUP744J was an AEC Reliance operated by Blair & Palmer.
LUP744J was an AEC Reliance operated by Blair & Palmer.
LTC731K was an AEC Reliance originally with Woodward of Shaw
LTC731K was an AEC Reliance originally with Woodward of Shaw
 Palmers, by then trading as Borderbus, ran this ex-LCBS Bristol LHS for a short time
Palmers, by then trading as Borderbus, ran this ex-LCBS Bristol LHS for a short time
 An AEC Reliance with Blar & Palmer, inside the tiny depot on West Tower Street
An AEC Reliance with Blar & Palmer, inside the tiny depot on West Tower Street
 Borderbus EWW223T was an ex-Wallace Arnold Volvo B58, seen in Botchergate
Borderbus EWW223T was an ex-Wallace Arnold Volvo B58, seen in Botchergate
AEC Reliance KBU789E passed into the Bowden fleet.
AEC Reliance KBU789E passed into the Bowden fleet.
 I don't know why Bristol Country coach LEU273P managed to find its way to Carlisle
I don't know why Bristol Country coach LEU273P managed to find its way to Carlisle
The 135mm lens seems to shorten Atlantean 1480 to midibus proportions
The 135mm lens seems to shorten Atlantean 1480 to midibus proportions
 Before the arrival of the DMS & RMs, Atlanteans & VRTs were the staple diet on town services.
Before the arrival of the DMS & RMs, Atlanteans & VRTs were the staple diet on town services.
DMS 1924 gained Ayres Red CMS livery in the short time it operated in Carlisle
DMS 1924 gained Ayres Red CMS livery in the short time it operated in Carlisle
 A little bit of London in Carlisle RM WLT706 & DMS ODJ245R
A little bit of London in Carlisle RM WLT706 & DMS ODJ245R
 Leopard/Dominant 1109 still carries NBC logos, but is branded as
Leopard/Dominant 1109 still carries NBC logos, but is branded as "Carlislebus" one of the less-imaginative new fleetnames adopted in the death-throes of the NBC
CMS Carlislebus Leopard GLS275S started life with Alexander (Midland)
CMS Carlislebus Leopard GLS275S started life with Alexander (Midland)
A better shot of the prototype B-Type National GCW461S alongside a production version
A better shot of the prototype B-Type National GCW461S alongside a production version
 Some of Ribble's earlier Leyland Nationals gravitated north to Carlisle when Cumberland took over the local services in Carlisle. This is 756.
Some of Ribble's earlier Leyland Nationals gravitated north to Carlisle when Cumberland took over the local services in Carlisle. This is 756.
 Carlislebus Leyland National 810 at rest in the redeveloped bus station
Carlislebus Leyland National 810 at rest in the redeveloped bus station
Ayres Red & Sandstone did not grace many of Carlisle's highbridge VRTs as they were transferred to Hampshire Bus in exchange for much older DMS Fleetlines. Here is 1450 when freshly painted
Ayres Red & Sandstone did not grace many of Carlisle's highbridge VRTs as they were transferred to Hampshire Bus in exchange for much older DMS Fleetlines. Here is 1450 when freshly painted
Central SMT Leopard T385 overtakes cars on the M6 motorway. During the Glasgow Fairs Week, anything with seats & wheels would be pressed into action to take holiday makers to the Lancashire resorts
Central SMT Leopard T385 overtakes cars on the M6 motorway. During the Glasgow Fairs Week, anything with seats & wheels would be pressed into action to take holiday makers to the Lancashire resorts
 Transferred from Western to Clydeside Scottish, Volvo B10M NCS119W.
Transferred from Western to Clydeside Scottish, Volvo B10M NCS119W.
 Caught in a shaft of sunlight next to the Market Halls is Cumberland RE 298
Caught in a shaft of sunlight next to the Market Halls is Cumberland RE 298
 Routemaster 902 and Atlantean 1468 show off two variations of the Ayres Red livery.
Routemaster 902 and Atlantean 1468 show off two variations of the Ayres Red livery.
Three Ex-Hampshire Bus, Ex-SYPTE Van Hool bodied Ailsas were very short-lived members of the Carlislebus fleet. This is 1930 LWP383P.
Three Ex-Hampshire Bus, Ex-SYPTE Van Hool bodied Ailsas were very short-lived members of the Carlislebus fleet. This is 1930 LWP383P.
 Atlantean 1415 had been transferred north from the ex-Ribble fleet to join similar vehicles in Carlisle
Atlantean 1415 had been transferred north from the ex-Ribble fleet to join similar vehicles in Carlisle
 Atlantean 1424 was another fugitive from Ribble
Atlantean 1424 was another fugitive from Ribble
 Cumberland Atlantean 1467 in full Stagecoach stripes. See this bus in later life working for Lincolnshire RCC in my
Cumberland Atlantean 1467 in full Stagecoach stripes. See this bus in later life working for Lincolnshire RCC in my "Lincolnshire Buses" gallery
Ribble Atlantean 1475 wears another ornate advertising livery
Ribble Atlantean 1475 wears another ornate advertising livery
 Atlantean 1478 runs past the Midland Bank which is now a
Atlantean 1478 runs past the Midland Bank which is now a "trendy wine bar"
 Atlantean 1479 on route 61 to Harraby East in ayres red livery
Atlantean 1479 on route 61 to Harraby East in ayres red livery
Ribble introduced full-height Atlantean AN68s with ECW bodies to Carlisle. 1484 survived long enough to be painted in Stagecoach stripes
Ribble introduced full-height Atlantean AN68s with ECW bodies to Carlisle. 1484 survived long enough to be painted in Stagecoach stripes
Cumberland Bristol REs came with flat and BET-style curved windscreens. 290 demonstrates the latter
Cumberland Bristol REs came with flat and BET-style curved windscreens. 290 demonstrates the latter
 The Routemasters were not only used on the 61 route. Here 903 (ALD983B) heads up Botchergate towards the town centre.
The Routemasters were not only used on the 61 route. Here 903 (ALD983B) heads up Botchergate towards the town centre.
 When Ribble took delivery of some new Leyland Nationals, a few older Leopards were transferred to Cumberland MS.
When Ribble took delivery of some new Leyland Nationals, a few older Leopards were transferred to Cumberland MS.
 Heading down Botchergate DMS 1918 is still advertising
Heading down Botchergate DMS 1918 is still advertising "The Desert Song" at the Mayflower Theatre, having just been transferred north from Hampshire Bus in exchange for a considerably newer highbidge Bristol VRT
Two fugitives from Hampshire Bus, DMS 1924 and Leyland National 358, now working for Cumberland
Two fugitives from Hampshire Bus, DMS 1924 and Leyland National 358, now working for Cumberland
Cumberland Ford/Duple ERM807K waits for its return journey to Wigton on route 66
Cumberland Ford/Duple ERM807K waits for its return journey to Wigton on route 66
 Cumberland acquired this Leyland National, number 790, when Barrow Corporation sold-out to Stagecoach.
Cumberland acquired this Leyland National, number 790, when Barrow Corporation sold-out to Stagecoach.
 Cumberland Lodekka 522 in the bus station
Cumberland Lodekka 522 in the bus station
Cumberland Lodekka DAO201C in Lowther Street, just about to turn into the bus station.
Cumberland Lodekka DAO201C in Lowther Street, just about to turn into the bus station.
 Cumberland LD 550 sits in the bus station next to Ribble National 2 896
Cumberland LD 550 sits in the bus station next to Ribble National 2 896
Stagecoach Cumberland used fully-manual Leyland Leopards like 3003 to train its drivers
Stagecoach Cumberland used fully-manual Leyland Leopards like 3003 to train its drivers
 Cumberland Leopard 614. No two members of this batch of vehicles seemed to wear identical liveries
Cumberland Leopard 614. No two members of this batch of vehicles seemed to wear identical liveries
I believe Cumberland acquired 609 and some similar PSU4 Leopards from Trent to pass beneath a low bridge that was not designed for the square profile of a Leyland National
I believe Cumberland acquired 609 and some similar PSU4 Leopards from Trent to pass beneath a low bridge that was not designed for the square profile of a Leyland National
 Cumberland Leopard 615
Cumberland Leopard 615
 The sign above Willowholme depot proclaims that Carlislebus is now in residence as an ex-Ribble Leopard waits to go over one of the pits.
The sign above Willowholme depot proclaims that Carlislebus is now in residence as an ex-Ribble Leopard waits to go over one of the pits.
 Stagecoach Cumberland National 367 picks up in Carlisle town centre.
Stagecoach Cumberland National 367 picks up in Carlisle town centre.
Cumberland National 2 374
Cumberland National 2 374
 Cumberland National 2 399 runs along Castle Way on route 30 to Whitehaven
Cumberland National 2 399 runs along Castle Way on route 30 to Whitehaven
Cumberland National 2 814
Cumberland National 2 814
 After Stagecoach took over Ribble, some of that fleet's Leyland Nationals migrated to Cumberland. 856 is still in Ribble livery.
After Stagecoach took over Ribble, some of that fleet's Leyland Nationals migrated to Cumberland. 856 is still in Ribble livery.
The small batch of National 2s transferred to Cumberland by Ribble gained a multitude of liveries. 898 is in Ayres Red & Sandstone with Carlislebus fleetnames
The small batch of National 2s transferred to Cumberland by Ribble gained a multitude of liveries. 898 is in Ayres Red & Sandstone with Carlislebus fleetnames
 In Caldewgate, Cumberland Nationa-B 205.
In Caldewgate, Cumberland Nationa-B 205.
 Cumberland Lodekka 535
Cumberland Lodekka 535
 Cumberland Bristol Lodekka training bus TV1
Cumberland Bristol Lodekka training bus TV1
© 1998-2009 Mark Bowerbank - All copyrights rest with the Author
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