Geograph - photograph every grid square

PTF 861G, a GMT Leyland Atlantean with Northern Counties bodywork, waiting at the original Ashton-Under-Lyne bus station.

Ashton’s first bus station was built 1963 in the midst of the huge slum clearance and redevelopment of the town which took place during the 1960s. Officially opened 6 November 1963, it replaced a variety of termini throughout the town centre.

The new facility had vehicular access available from Katherine Street and Warrington Street. There were six loading bays, all 170 feet each with two services loading from each side of the shelter. The whole area of the bus station took up 86661 square feet, the equivalent of a present-day superstore car park. All shelters were prefabricated to Queensbury Shelters’ standard designs, which would later be seen throughout Greater Manchester. There were no facilities for trolleybuses; the trolleybus services operated by Ashton-under-Lyne Corporation and Manchester Corporation continued to us the terminus at Bow Street and Old Square, by Yates’ Wine Lodge until they were withdrawn at the end of 1966.

By the time this photograph was taken, in 1981, Ashton Bus Station was starting to look its age and shortly afterwards, it was refurbished (notably by rotation the bus stands by 90 degrees) and Warrington Street was pedestrianised.

In the 1990s, the bus station was moved to its current location as the site shown here became part of the Arcades Shopping Centre.

Link The History of Ashton-under-Lyne Bus Station for more detailed information.

The bus in the photograph had originally been ordered in 1969 by Ashton-Under-Lyne Corporation and was originally delivered in Ashton's blue and cream livery and carrying their fleet number 61 even though it was then part of SELNEC (Link (Archive Link ) shows it in Ashton Colours).

By the time this photograph was taken, in 1981, PTF 861G was carrying the GMT (Greater Manchester Transport) logo and nearing the end of its working life. It was withdrawn from service the following year.