PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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MOTOR BUS ROUTE "92" PLYMOUTH to BIGBURY-ON-SEA On Tuesday January 1st 1929 the Western National Omnibus Company formally took over the Road Motor Service of the Great Western Railway from Plymouth to Modbury and Bigbury-on-Sea. This became Western National's service 92. The service ran from Plymouth North Road Station via Cobourg Street, York Street, Russell Street and Bedford Street to St Andrew's Cross and then through Vauxhall Street, Exeter Street, Embankment Road, Laira Bridge Road, Pomphlett, Elburton, Brixton, Yealmpton, Modbury, and Harraton Cross before terminating at the Seaside Stores, Bigbury-on-Sea. The 92A ran into Kingston as well. There were three journeys each way during the 1935-36 winter season. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays the first bus left Bigbury-on-Sea at 8.35am as a 92A. This service went in to Kingston before going on to Plymouth St Andrew Cross, where it was due to arrive at 10.04am, and North Road Station at 10.09am. On Thursdays it ran as the 92 and left Bigbury-on-Sea ten minutes later, missing out Kingston. The bus left North Road Station again at 10.15am and arrived at the Seaside Stores at 11.39am. It left again at 1.15pm and was due back at North Road Station at 2.39pm. There was then a very quick turn around as it left again at 2.45pm, this time carrying a postal letter box. It was due to arrive at Bigbury-on-Sea at 4.09pm. At 5.45pm the bus left for its final round trip of the day, again carrying the postal letter box, and arriving back at North Road Station at 7.09pm, in plenty of time to catch the mail train to London. Except on Thursdays, the final journey left the Station at 7.15pm and arrived at Bigbury-on-Sea at 8.39pm. On Thursdays it became the 92A and went via Kingston, arriving at Bigbury-on-Sea at 8.49pm. On Sundays there was only one journey each way, outward at 11.30am from Plymouth North Road Station and the return one at 5.45pm again carried a postal letter box. The fare from anywhere between North Road Station and Prince Rock to the Seaside Stores was 2s 6d single or four shillings return. The traveller to Plymouth Market -- alighting at St Andrew's Cross -- on the 92A from Kingston would have four shillings for a return ticket. After the Second World War work began on reconstructing the centre of Plymouth and many bus routes got diverted in to roads that were not designed for such large vehicles. One such service was the 92. After leaving North Road Station is got diverted in to North Road and Patna Place on its way to the centre. On the return inward journey it was sent up Hastings Terrace and Oxford Avenue. Although these were only temporary diversions, they were disliked by the drivers and the upper-deck passengers because of the adverse cambers of the roads and the numerous corners that had to be negotiated. There was great relief all round when on Sunday August 11th 1957 Western National's services 92, 92A and 93, along with many Plymouth Joint Service's routes, resumed travelling via York Street and Morley Street to join the brand new Western Approach. The fare stage in Harwell Street was moved back to its former position at the bottom of York Street. |
