Pond Street 11.15pm Last Bus

[Rooks]

Does anyone on here remember when all the last Buses left Pond Street at 11.15pm on the signal of an inspectors whistle ?

 

I can remember all the buses jostling for position down Pond Hill, near the Queens Head, like the first bend at Silverstone.

 

Happy Memories, although I did miss the last 92 or 93 most weekends !!!!!!!

[JayneRay]

those were the days I used to catch the 221 and if I missed that I could catch 23 or 32 although that was a walk ................why can I remember bus numbers from 30 years ago but can not remember what I did 5 minutes ago ?

[laineyiow]

I can remember that happening too. It was a bit like the starting grid of a race track.

 

Take it this doesn't happen these days?

[GrahamY]

I was heading for my last bus and came across a policeman struggling on the ground with a number of men. He called out to me to dial 999, which I duly did from the adjacent phone box.

 

It didn't take long for police vans to arrive, but most of the men then scattered. I got on my bus, but it didn't set off. The police came on the bus and inspected everyones' knuckles before the bus could go.

[DUFFEMS]

Didn't they dim the lights in Pond Street Bus Station prior to the buses setting off on the inspector's whistle?

[bracken]

....here you go !!!!........

 

[RichinR'mond]

Fortunately in those days all the 'blue & creams' were 'backloaders' so you always had a fighting chance even when t' Inspector's clock was a tad fast and you were left with no option but to chase them down the ranks !

 

The real challenge always came when said whistle went and you were only halfway down the Lyceum steps ! - This left no option but to beat the 41/25/26/83 to the Stop outside the Midland Station - achieved with great satisfaction on many an occasion ! Given failure there was always the late night 95's in 'Comical St.' - but that hill up from Intake terminus represented a different sort of challenge - especially if the Conductor had just woken you up !!:)days

[olilew]

they used to blow a whistle on the high street as well at 23:15 and all the buses would almost have a drag race! lol

[Davekowl]

Some evil busdrivers would sit with the engine ticking over, the clutch down and the bus in gear ready for the whistle. When it went they would be off like a shot and leave anybody who was to slow to respond.

I know, I used to be a conductor hanging on for grim death.

[Jax2706]

Oh yes I remember it well!!