Northern General Transport Company
Encyclopedia
The Northern General Transport Company was the original founding company of what is now Go-Ahead Group
.
It originated in the early 1900s when Gateshead
and District Tramways asked Parliament's permission to extend their Tramway, which finished at Low Fell
, to Chester-le-Street
. Parliament denied the Act so the directors decided to set up a motor bus operation instead. Hence the Northern General Transport Company was formed and its first depot was built at Picktree Lane, Chester le Street in 1912. Gateshead Tramways being a BET (British Electric Traction
) Company meant that "Northern" was too.
The first motor bus service was from Chester le Street to Low Fell, via Birtley
where a connection to the Gateshead trams occurred; the service, however, was quickly extended to Gateshead and within a few years crossed the Tyne to finish in Newcastle
.
Other motor bus routes quickly developed from "Chester", its central location being ideal for other towns and colliery villages nearby. Northern even built the bus station in Durham
(as a terminus) before Tilling
's United
arrived there. After the First World War services really got going. In Newcastle
two bus stations were opened, Marlborough Crescent and Worswick Street. Depots were built in Stanley
and Gateshead
which was to become the workshops and in 1933 the head office.
Throughout the 1930s smaller independents were bought up and BET Tramways in the North East began to convert to motor bus so Northern expanded into Sunderland and North Tyneside
taking over the declining tramway routes and expanding the bus routes further. By now Northern even built their own buses to accommodate the high passenger numbers with the very low bridges in the area (meaning three-axle single deckers). There were by now excursion services, parcel deliveries and long distance services to other cities including London
(Victoria Coach Station
).
After 1945 Northern and United started more co-operation on routes and further expansion in the Chester le Street and Stanley areas. As for vehicles, Guy
, Leyland and Crossley
were quite common. In the 1950s Northern bought up more smaller bus operators and with expanding industry at the time rebodied quite a few of their prewar buses. However by the late 1950s these were showing their age, so in 1959 Northern General placed one of the first big orders for the new Leyland Atlantean
.
By now the friendly rivalry between Northern and United was at its peak, and United being a Tilling Group company had the Bristol Lodekka
and somehow the Atlanteans with their rear-engined underpowered units just couldn't cut the mustard with the Bristols. Northern quickly had to find a solution, and it came from the 1961 Commercial Motor Show: the RMF demonstrator Routemaster
. So in 1963 out of the blue, Park Royal received an order for 15 with the option of a further 35 front-entrance Routemasters with Leyland engines and long distance fuel tanks.
By 1969 the National Bus Company was formed and standardisation beckoned. By 1982 Leyland National
s and Bristol VR
s ruled. Northern's individualism had a final fling just before privatisation when the MCW Metrobus
Mk2 arrived in 1983. But the Transport Act 1985
was on its way, and formation of Go-Ahead Northern, which would eventually become Go-Ahead Group
.
Go-Ahead Group
The Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UK's train and bus industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-Early history:...
.
It originated in the early 1900s when Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
and District Tramways asked Parliament's permission to extend their Tramway, which finished at Low Fell
Low Fell
Low Fell is a fell in the English Lake District. It overlooks the lake of Loweswater to the south and to the north is bordered by its neighbour Fellbarrow. It is usually climbed from the villages of Loweswater or Thackthwaite. The fell is largely occupied by grassed enclosures, although there are...
, to Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
. Parliament denied the Act so the directors decided to set up a motor bus operation instead. Hence the Northern General Transport Company was formed and its first depot was built at Picktree Lane, Chester le Street in 1912. Gateshead Tramways being a BET (British Electric Traction
British Electric Traction
British Electric Traction Company Limited, renamed BET plc in 1985, was a large British industrial conglomerate. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but was acquired by Rentokil in 1996, and the merged company is now known as Rentokil Initial.- Early history :The company was founded as...
) Company meant that "Northern" was too.
The first motor bus service was from Chester le Street to Low Fell, via Birtley
Birtley
Birtley can refer to several villages in England:*Birtley, Herefordshire*Birtley, Northumberland*Birtley, Shropshire*Birtley, Tyne and Wear*Birtley, Surrey...
where a connection to the Gateshead trams occurred; the service, however, was quickly extended to Gateshead and within a few years crossed the Tyne to finish in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
Other motor bus routes quickly developed from "Chester", its central location being ideal for other towns and colliery villages nearby. Northern even built the bus station in Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
(as a terminus) before Tilling
Thomas Tilling
Thomas Tilling Ltd, later known with its subsidiary companies as the Tilling Group, was one of the two huge groups which controlled almost all the major bus operators in the United Kingdom between the wars and until nationalisation in 1948....
's United
United Automobile Services
United Automobile Services or United, as it was commonly known, was a major provider of bus services across the North East and North Yorkshire for 80 years or more...
arrived there. After the First World War services really got going. In Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
two bus stations were opened, Marlborough Crescent and Worswick Street. Depots were built in Stanley
Stanley, County Durham
Stanley is a former colliery town and civil parish in County Durham, England. Centred on a hilltop between Chester-le-Street and Consett, the town lies south west of Gateshead....
and Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
which was to become the workshops and in 1933 the head office.
Throughout the 1930s smaller independents were bought up and BET Tramways in the North East began to convert to motor bus so Northern expanded into Sunderland and North Tyneside
North Tyneside
The Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England and is part of the Tyneside conurbation. Its seat is Wallsend Town Hall....
taking over the declining tramway routes and expanding the bus routes further. By now Northern even built their own buses to accommodate the high passenger numbers with the very low bridges in the area (meaning three-axle single deckers). There were by now excursion services, parcel deliveries and long distance services to other cities including London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(Victoria Coach Station
Victoria Coach Station
Victoria Coach Station is the largest and most significant coach station in London. It serves long distance coach services and is also the departure point for many countryside coach tours originating from London. It should not be confused with the nearby Green Line Coach Station serving Green Line...
).
After 1945 Northern and United started more co-operation on routes and further expansion in the Chester le Street and Stanley areas. As for vehicles, Guy
Guy Motors
Guy Motors was a British company based in Fallings Park, Wolverhampton that made cars, lorries, buses, and trolleybuses.-History:Guy Motors Ltd was founded in 1914 by Sydney Guy who had been the Works Manager of nearby Sunbeam. A factory was built on the site at Fallings Park, Wolverhampton...
, Leyland and Crossley
Crossley Motors
Crossley Motors was a British motor vehicle manufacturer based in Manchester, England. They produced approximately 19,000 high quality cars from 1904 until 1938, 5,500 buses from 1926 until 1958 and 21,000 goods and military vehicles from 1914 to 1945.Crossley Brothers, originally...
were quite common. In the 1950s Northern bought up more smaller bus operators and with expanding industry at the time rebodied quite a few of their prewar buses. However by the late 1950s these were showing their age, so in 1959 Northern General placed one of the first big orders for the new Leyland Atlantean
Leyland Atlantean
The Leyland Atlantean is a model of double-decker bus built by Leyland in the United Kingdom from 1958 to 1986....
.
By now the friendly rivalry between Northern and United was at its peak, and United being a Tilling Group company had the Bristol Lodekka
Bristol Lodekka
The Bristol Lodekka was a low-height double-decker bus built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles in England.Bristol manufactured over 5,200 Lodekkas from 1949 to 1968, as a standard double-deck vehicle for the UK state-owned bus sector. With all examples bodied by Eastern Coach Works in Lowestoft, they...
and somehow the Atlanteans with their rear-engined underpowered units just couldn't cut the mustard with the Bristols. Northern quickly had to find a solution, and it came from the 1961 Commercial Motor Show: the RMF demonstrator Routemaster
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
. So in 1963 out of the blue, Park Royal received an order for 15 with the option of a further 35 front-entrance Routemasters with Leyland engines and long distance fuel tanks.
By 1969 the National Bus Company was formed and standardisation beckoned. By 1982 Leyland National
Leyland National
The Leyland National is a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall...
s and Bristol VR
Bristol VR
The Bristol VR was Bristol's rear-engined bus chassis, designed as a competitor to the Leyland Atlantean and Daimler Fleetline.-Development:...
s ruled. Northern's individualism had a final fling just before privatisation when the MCW Metrobus
MCW Metrobus
The MCW Metrobus is a double decker bus model manufactured by MCW from 1977 until 1989, with over 4,000 examples built. The original MkI model was superseded by the MkII model in 1981/1982, although production of the original MkI continued for London Transport until 1985...
Mk2 arrived in 1983. But the Transport Act 1985
Transport Act 1985
The Transport Act 1985 was a Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It introduced deregulation of bus services throughout Great Britain, although a different system of franchised routes was applied in Greater London. It was introduced by the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher.Bus...
was on its way, and formation of Go-Ahead Northern, which would eventually become Go-Ahead Group
Go-Ahead Group
The Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UK's train and bus industries. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-Early history:...
.