256 is seen here working the X28 Limited Stop service, which worked at the time just from Colne to Burnley. It was extended to Earby in June 1979 and became joint with Ribble and as a result of a Market Analysis Project study it ran to Barnoldswick instead of Earby from August 1982. This bus later briefly joined the Creamline fleet before moving to Lloyd’s at Bagillt.
The Red Lion on the left had been a Samuel Smith’s house until shortly before this photograph and the signs were still in the Smith’s style. However, it was at the time a Taylor’s tied house and was the reason for being in Colne as in my last year at Leeds University a group of us visited every Taylor’s tied house (all 29 of them). This was the furthest away and also turned out to be closed at unexpected times, necessitating a repeat visit.
