A RETURN TO YORKSHIRE

 We depart Rochdale, leaving the trams behind at Milnrow Road.

Slightly across country and we soon arrive here.

Littleborough station, on the Halifax to Rochdale line, served by Northern Rail (Photo by "Mikey" - Creative Commons License).

Around the corner was the Railway, a Bass pub. It still exists, but is now an eatery called the Waterside. They've even used my photo on their website!

The Rochdale Canal is nearby. (Photo by "Sludge G" - Creative Commons License).

Littleborough was once served by Rochdale's trams, opened in 1905.

Todmorden's buses also reached Littleborough.

Firstbus is today's main operator.

Centrebus once had a share of the action.

The Falcon Inn, in the town centre, was a good boozer, but now has no real ale.

Not far away is the Red Lion, a former Wilson's pub.

Heading into the hills, we arrive at the Moorcock Inn.

Even further, on Blackstone Edge, to the White House.

Over the moors and into West Yorkshire. So, here we are at Rishworth, with its trestle bridge. It has gone now, but there's more info here.

Rishworth was at the end of a L&YR branch line from Sowerby Bridge.

High above the next village is Rishworth Moor, where there was once a pub called the New Inn. I think it's a private house now.

We're looking down into Ripponden here.

Ripponden was once full of mills.

The Old Bridge Inn is worth checking out in Ripponden

Yorkshire Rider buses were a common sight in Ripponden.

Now we pass along Halifax Road, as we leave Ripponden.

Soon we reach the limit of the Halifax tram system, at a place called Triangle.

There was also a railway station on the Rishworth branch.

The Rishworth line was operated by L&YR steam railmotors, such as this one on that duty, seen at its own platform at Sowerby Bridge.

Indeed, Sowerby Bridge is next on the agenda, but you'll have to wait for the next post. Meanwhile, follow the route here.

MORE OF ROCHDALE

 Time now to look at some buses in Rochdale. This is a famous coach operator, Ellen Smith - the depot in 1935.

The other Rochdale coaching business was Yelloway.

After deregulation, Yelloway purchased double-deckers for new stage carriage work.

Firstbus is the main operator in Rochdale these days.

This Firstbus Wright saloon is in the old Bolton colours.

Other bus companies included Centrebus, Bu-Val, MR Travel, Pioneer and Rossendale.

Manchester Metroink has also reached Rochdale town centre.

No visit to Rochdale is complete with calling in at the Baum.

The Dog & Partridge is a pub no more.

I presume the New Inn has also closed.

Sadly, the Reed no longer has real ale.

The Navigation, on the way to the station, is now another casualty.

The nearby Cask & Feather, once a mighty brewpub, is still going, but no longer brews.

So, on to Rochdale railway station, in L&YR days.

A Cravens DMU calls in the '70s.

"Sprinters" serve the station today.

That's it for now. The next post will see us leaving Rochdale for pastures new.

TO CHURCH....., THEN ROCHDALE

Having left Bedlam behind, we next pay a quick visit to Church & Oswaltwistle station, where a DMU calls in 1981. 

 

Church itself is to the north, but we head south to Oswaltwistle, first reached by Accrington's trams in 1907.

Continuing south, we come across Lower Darwen L&YR station.

Darwen station is still open, but not as busy as it was in L&YR times.

Darwen's centre revolves around its town hall (Creative Commons License).

Many of the buses serving Darwen terminate outside the town hall. This one belonged to an independent called J&S Travel.

Having taken over Darwen Corporation Transport, Blackburn's municipal buses terminated at this point too.

Darwen Corporation Transport had a depot close by, full of Leylands in this 1968 view.

After the takeover, Blackburn Transport continued using the old Darwen garage. Inhabitants included some Leylands, an ex Leicester Bristol RE and a Guy service vehicle.

I'm not certain that this free house, just called "The Pub", still exists.

The Black Horse was an excellent boozer when visited in 2004. It has a Facebook page.

Still heading in a southerly direction, we come to Entwistle station, quite a grand affair in L&YR times.

Today, Entwistle consists of a single platform.

We now go across moorland, in an easterly direction, crossing at right angles (see the map here) our own footsteps. Our next stop is Edenfield, once served by Ramsbottom's trolleybuses.

Continuing across country, we arrive in the suburbs of Rochdale, on Shawclough Road, at the Healey pub, a Robinson's house.

Close by is another pub, the Albion.

We move on into town and where better to start our visit than at the town hall, on the Esplanade? As one can see, Rochdale once had trams.

Prior to those modern electric machines, Rochdale's trams were once hauled by steam engines. The last one is seen at the depot in 1905.

An electric tram on the Broadway.

As well as the open-top double deckers, Rochdale also used single deck cars, such as No. 61 at The Butts in the town centre.

Now we see an early Rossendale motorbus in Rochdale.

Rochdale Corporation ran motorbuses too. This one was photographed in the centre of town.

Before I conclude this post, it's only fair that I include a couple of Rochdale's pubs. First stop, the Regal Moon, quite a decent Wetherspoons.

Finally, for today, the Flying Horse Hotel, a free house in the town hall square.

There's plenty more to see in Rochdale, but you'll have to await the next post (coming soon).