British Bus Garages: A Portrait

Bus garages, also known as depots, have their origins in the tram depots established by tramway companies before electrification. They varied in size and type of construction, with some being architectural gems. After deregulation in 1986, new operators set up more cost-effective establishments with maintenance buildings and open-air parking areas.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2021
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

Bus garages, often referred to as depots, come in a wide array of shapes and sizes, with their origins traceable back to the tram depots established by the various tramway companies during the pre-electrification era. These tram depots were initially constructed to accommodate horse-drawn and steam-hauled tramcars, and in many cases, they also included stables for the horses. It's worth noting that hardly any two bus garages were identical, as they varied significantly in terms of size and construction. Some, like the London Transports Stockwell garage, which is still in operation today, and Salford Corporations Frederick Road tram/bus depot, can be considered architectural gems. The capacity of a garage could vary enormously, with examples such as Ribble Motors outstation in Bowness-on-Solway, capable of housing just one bus, and Oldham Corporations Wallshaw Street garage, originally designed to hold 300 buses under one roof. While there are still a significant number of former tram depots functioning as bus garages, their numbers are gradually declining. The deregulation of bus services in 1986 marked a significant turning point in the bus industry's history. As undertakings were privatized and sold off during the 1990s, the new operators moved out of their inherited garages and set up more cost-effective establishments. These typically consisted of a moderately sized maintenance building and a vast open-air parking area.

Weight: 302g
Dimension: 233 x 165 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398100367