PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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MOTOR BUS ROUTE "C" Exactly when in 1920 the route C started is unclear but it was probably in the October when the number of vehicles in the fleet reached nine and there was therefore enough to cover more than two services. However, it did not get its first mention in the traffic returns until May 1921. Its original route was from the Theatre Royal via George Street, Russell Street, York Street, North Road, Houndiscombe Road, Mutley Plain, Alexandra Road, and Old Laira Road to the Borough boundary at Laira Green. In those days it was possible to turn right out of Houndiscombe Road on to Mutley Plain. A variation, the C1, ran from George Street via Bedford Street, Old Town Street, and Tavistock Road to rejoin the main route at Alexandra Road. Like the other routes, these services took on a number instead of a letter in 1922, becoming the 3 and 3A, but they reverted to the C and C1 in December 1925. The timetable for 1924/25 shows that the first bus left both the Theatre Royal and Laira at 7.20am. The last bus for the Theatre left Laira at 10.53pm while the last bus to Laira left the Theatre Royal at 10.45pm. It left Laira for Milehouse at 11.08pm. Sunday service was between 2 and 10pm only. By July the following year the service had been extended at the Theatre end along Millbay Road, Caroline Place and down the full length of Durnford Street to St Paul's Church. Under the new route licensing regulations that came into force on Wednesday July 8th 1931, route C was officially known as H.1295 and was licensed to run from St Paul's Church, Stonehouse, through Millbay Road, George Street, Russell Street, York Street, North Road, Houndiscombe Road, Mutley Plain, Alexandra Road and Old Laira Road to Laira. At the same time a route C1 was licensed as H.1296 to run from St Paul's Church to the Theatre Royal and then via George Street, Bedford Street, Old Town Street and Tavistock Road to rejoin the main route at Alexabdra Road and on out to Laira. A further route, the C2, which had commenced in 1928, was also licensed as H.1297 to run only from the Theatre Royal to Laira. This service was withdrawn and from Sunday October 16th 1932 the C and C1 ran to a 12-minute frequency by way of substituion. There were also some variations run only for the benefit of workers at the Royal Dockyard. The C3 (H.1356) ran from Laira to North Keyham (St Levan's Gate) via Stuart Road and Morice Square; the C4 (H.1332) started at Alexandra Road and ran via Houndiscombe Road, North Road, and Alma Road to South Keyham (Albert Road Gate); and the C5 (H.1333) ran from Mutley Plain to Wolseley Road and Saltash Road to Bull Point. RETURN TO Motor Bus Services, Plymouth Corporation Tramways Department
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