Sheffield's cream and blue buses

[little malc]

The most amazing thing when I think about it, being an old git, is that most of the old Sheffield buses in the museum I have actually driven when they were still operating! God!! I feel old.

[mojoworking]

Originally posted by little malc

The most amazing thing when I think about it, being an old git, is that most of the old Sheffield buses in the museum I have actually driven when they were still operating! God!! I feel old.

 

My dad was a bus driver in Sheffield during the 50s & 60s. Growing up, I thought it was the coolest job in the world and wanted to be just like him.

 

He said one of the best aspects of the job was driving the football specials on Saturday. The drivers & conductors got into Hillsborough and t'Lane for free. The only trouble was, they had to leave 10 mins before the end to bring the buses round to the front of the ground ready for the final whistle.

 

Later on, he became a ticket inspector and that didn't seem so glamorous. It was almost like being a cop in some ways and I recall the drivers & conductors didn't like the inspectors much either, as they had to lay the law down about getting the buses out on time.

 

It was just like On The Buses where everyone hated the inspector Blakey. In fact, that became my dad's nickname for a while

 

For anoraks and saddos like me who enjoy these things, here is the address of the Sheffield Bus Museum website:

 

http://freespace.virgin.net/neil.worthington/sheff/shefhome.htm

[Mo]

I remember those buses well. Didn't they look smart? Not like the filthy, polluting old bangers on the roads today.

 

Buses used to be renewed fairly regularly in the 'olden' days. We seem to have gone backwards rather than progressing.

[little malc]

Hey! Mojo, what was your dad's name when he was an inspector? I'll bet I knew him. Malc

[slimsid2000]

Originally posted by little malc

I remember when I first started working as a bus driver in the 70s, the Sheffield Corporation buses were painted a very smart blue and cream livery, with the Sheffield coat of arms prominent in the middle, since privatisation, the colour schemes seem to have gone from bad to worse, either very dowdy, or just very gharish, or am I just being nostalgic?

 

The cream and blue buses were replaced by the coffee and cream colour of SYT in the 1970s I think.

 

Both Sheffield and District and Sheffield Omnibus have used Blue and Cream/white livery since deregulation.

[sweetdexter]

Ah yes,

Fares please ,upstairs only,Hold tight

[oldtimer]

I drove for SCTD in 1963, and I believe they at one time had plans to paint all the buses dark green! They did manage to paint a couple, but the public soon put a stop to that!

[elaine]

my husband started work on s.t.d. in 1965,as an apprentice diesel mechanic.He tells me that not only were the cream panels hand painted but all the stripes,be they red,black or blue,top and bottom decks,were also painted by hand in the bodyshop at Queens road depot.The repainting and interior body renovation,with mega mechanical overhauls,were all part of a process known as "recertification" by the ministry of transport.Not quite sure wether the coat of arms were hand painted or not.

[sweetdexter]

I also heard the lines where painted by hand,

The brush they would use was a "Lining Fitch"

I think the coat of arms was a transfer

[elaine]

I began work as an apprentice diesel fitter at Queens Road bus depot in 1965.We had our own body shop,where all newly "certified" buses were re-painted and all the upholstery was refurbished.All the painting was done by hand and brush,including the top and bottom deck blue,red and black stripes.I'm not too sure about the Sheffield Crest,that was a guarded secret.The painted lines,around the bus,8ft wide and 30 + ft long ammounted to a lot of patience and skill which I doubt could be matched today as you couldn't see the join!76ft of red,black and blue took some doing.