Museum of Transport Greater Manchester's Bolton bus photos

The Bolton buses make up part of the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester’s celebration to mark 200 years of British buses.

The museum plans to spend the unfolding year using photographs and exhibitions like these to tell the story of the regions’ buses past, present and future.

Spokesperson Paul Williams said: “Greater Manchester was the cradle of Britain’s public transport, with the Liverpool and Manchester Railway starting in 1830 and John Greenwood starting bus services in 1824.

“We want to celebrate that Greater Manchester led the way, and we want as many people as possible to see the story of buses over the last 200 years.”

An early Bolton bus

He added: “We hope to have our 1890 horse bus out on the road, alongside the horse tram from our friends at Heaton Park Tramway; and especially for the last event, we’ll invite our modern bus travel partners to come and help complete the celebrations in style.”

A bus in Bolton town centre

The museum, based on Boyle Street, Cheetham Hill, is planning to run a series of events throughout the year celebrating different eras of Greater Manchester’s public transport history.

These events include the “Omnibus” exhibition celebrating the ancient history of Greater Manchester’s transport from 1824 to 1940 on April 20 and 21.

A very early bus depot

There is then the “Fares please!” exhibition celebrating the golden age of sixpenny rides and conductors in the 1940s and 1950s on June 1 and 2.

This is followed by the “Ticket to ride” celebrating the colourful buses of Greater Manchester’s local buses in the “white heat of technology” era of the 1960s on July 27 and 28.

Some old fashioned bus conductors

Next will be “Orange Times” celebrating SELNEC, Greater Manchester Transport, Saver Seven, Clippercard and orange buses on September 28 and 29.

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Finally will be the “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” exhibition bringing the story up to date, from deregulation to Bee Network zero emission buses on November 9 and 10.

Mr Williams said: “We’re excited to tell the story of 200 years of buses, and we’re proud that it all started in Greater Manchester.

“And the story hasn’t ended, with Greater Manchester’s buses coming back under public control as the region’s Bee Network and in 2024 we’re looking forward to showing Greater Manchester’s proud heritage.”