PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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MOTOR BUS ROUTE "98" PLYMOUTH to YEALMPTON, ERMINGTON and IVYBRIDGE On Monday May 13th 1929 the Western National Omnibus Company formally took over the National Omnibus Company's service 217 from Plymouth to Yealmpton, Ermington and Ivybridge. From Wednesday January 1st 1930 it became Western National's service 98. The service ran from Plymouth North Road Station to St Andrew's Cross and then through Vauxhall Street, Exeter Street, Embankment Road, Laira Bridge Road, Pomphlett, Billacombe, Elburton, Brixton, Yealmpton, Flete, Ermington, Caton, and terminating at The Bridge in Ivybridge. Some journeys started and ended at St Andrew's Cross. During the winter season of 1935-36 the first bus left Ivybridge at 7.35am, Ermington at 7.46am, Yealmpton at 7.58am and Elburton at 8.09am and was due to arrive at St Andrew's Cross at 8.25am and North Road Station five minutes later. There were further services from Ivybridge at 10.15am, 2.15pm (to St Andrew's Cross only), 5.15pm and 8.15pm (to St Andrew's Cross only). The first outward journey left North Road Station at 10.20am. At 11.15am there was a connecting service to St Andrew's Cross that arrived an hour and ten minutes before the next departure at 12.30pm. The two following journeys, at 3.20pm and 4.40pm, started from St Andrew's Cross but the 6.20pm started at the railway station. The last bus of the day left St Andrew's Cross at 9.15pm and was due to arrive at Ivybridge at 10.05pm. Adult single fares from Plymouth during the winter season of 1935-36 were: to Plymstock (Pomphlett Farm), 3d; to Billacombe (Gorse Hill), 4d; to Elburton (Croft House), 5d; to Brixton (Old Toll Gate), 7d; to Yealmpton (Hotel), 9d; to Flete (Western Lodge), 1s 1d; to Ermington, 1s 3d; and to Ivybridge (The Bridge), 1s 7d. The fare on service 88 direct to Ivybridge was only one shilling. The return fares to Yealmpton and Ivybridge were 1s 3d and 2s 6d respectively. Between July 3rd and September 10th 1939 the service 98 operated between Ivybridge and Plymouth as part of a circular service with the 88. The 7am departure from Plymouth went straight to Ivybridge and left there at 7.35am as the 98. This one ran to North Road Station, where it was due at 8.30am. The 9.30am service 88 became the 10.02 service 98 back to Plymouth. Likewise the 1.25pm departure became the 2.25pm back to Plymouth via Ermington. However, the 11.25am, 3.25pm, 6.35pm, 8.25pm and 9.25pm, buses did a short run circular from Ivybridge through Caton to Ermington and back, to form the 12.38pm, 4.28pm, 7.31pm, 9.28pm and 10.19pm service 88 straight back to Plymouth. The adult single fare from Ermington to Ivybridge was 4d. It is understood that the service 98 ceased completely in 1939, presumably after September 11th. It was restored in 1945 but was diverted to Ugborough from May 6th 1946 and then, from September 21st 1947, it was extended to Totnes and Paignton, making a pleasant alternative to the service 128. During the summer season from June 17th to September 8th 1956, buses left Plymouth Union Street Bus Station every two hours from 6.45am until 6.45pm. On Mondays to Fridays there was a 9.15 departure that ran as far as Totnes (Plains) but on Saturday nights it was extended right through to Paignton Bus Station. The bus took exactly one hour to get to the Avon Inn at Avonwick and a further 47 minutes to reach Paignton. Departures from Paignton Bus Station were at 8.55am, 10.45am, 12.45pm, 2.45pm, 4.45pm, 6.45pm and 8.43pm. The adult single fares from Plymouth in 1956 were: to the Rose & Crown at Yealmpton, 1s 3d; to Ermington, 1s 9d; to Ugborough (Square), 2s 1d; to Totnes Plains, 2s 11d; and to Paignton Bus Station, 3s 5d. The return fare to Paignton was 5s 6d. The Ugborough to Ivybridge part of the old route became the 98B but was mainly to provide buses for the school children and workers at Moorhaven Hospital. An interesting innovation came on September 13th 1952 when the 98C service was introduced. It ran from Totnes to the Pennycross Stadium in Plymouth. It ceased March 2nd 1961.
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