Created 16-Mar-13
Modified 8-Mar-24
The 157 Mossley to Diggle service was worked by North Western’s Oldham garage until the SELNEC took over the Greater Manchester operations from 1st January 1972. The separate company that had been formed became SELNEC Cheshire division from 4th March 1972. This did not last long and from 21st May 1973 the Cheshire division was disbanded, the former North Western garage in Oldham was closed and the service was worked from the former Oldham Corporation garage. SELNEC PTE became Greater Manchester PTE from April 1st 1974 and that was the operator until the cessation of the service.
The 157 was renumbered 437 from 2nd December 1973. From 21st July 1974 the 437 was replaced on every day except Sunday by the new Carrcote to Diggle service (431 to 434), but it still ran on Sundays as the only bus link to Diggle, although not via Dobcross. I believe the 437 stopped serving Carrhill Road at the same time as that road would only have had a Sunday service.
The Sunday 437 carried on until 20th July 1980, but was then replaced by the 356. This was essentially the same service, numbered to be associated with the 353 to 355, but Dobcross village was now served by all (three) journeys a day. However, service reductions saw the withdrawal of the 356 by 4th December 1983.
This gallery covers the period of operation of these services from the former Oldham Corporation garage. The full story can be found in the Saddleworth Buses gallery.
As can be seen, the infrequent operation of a service which also ran in something of a backwater means that it was rarely recorded.
© David Beilby
