Busway pictures

Here are some pictures of the busway that may be of interest, click on the thumbnail for a larger and higher quality picture (these are about 50-100K so take a while to download). The pictures are mostly from Whitehouse and Astmoor industrial estates, where some relics of the past still exist!

WHITEHOUSE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE 4/7/2001 - the photos are presented in order from the far end of the busway through towards Murdishaw.
Map
This is a map showing the locations of the photographs from Whitehouse, simply match the photo to the number. You could also try copying and pasting the following web address into a new broswer window to have the reference alongside the photos:
http://uk.geocities.com/runcornbuses/busway/bphotos/whousemap.jpg
1
There is, of course, a turning circle at the far end of the Busway in Whitehouse. There is only a bus stop on the right hand side of this picture, one on the left being pointless as buses can turn and then drop off.
2
Ever wondered what these diamonds are for painted on the Busway? They are for the drivers - the lights should be changing by the time the bus reaches the diamond, if not then the driver wil need to brake. How the driver is meant to be able to see the lights around this bend with the current vegetation is questionable.
3
These old shelters have managed to survive, near to where the busway in Whitehouse crosses Northwhich Road. Notice that originally they had glass in them but it has all been smashed out, this being the reason that more or less all the other shelters on the busway were replaced.
4
This turning circle was put in (near Northwich Road) as the Busway in Whitehouse was not built to its full extension initailly (see 'map' above). The Busway is dotted with turning circles - they can give clues to how building and service requirements progressed (hopefully more coming soon on this topic).
5
Traffic lights control the Busway crossings, changing to give priority to the buses. Notice that they are numbered, this set being 'W3', although this system does not seem to be in use any longer (in terms of the prescence of signs at least). With modern buses it is now often necessary for drivers to brake as the lights are not changed in time.
6
Idiot proof signs were installed warning of the low bridge heights on the Busway after a spate of bridge strikes, by deckers on private hires. (To keep costs low, Busway bridges were built to a height of 11 feet 9). Lights on the public roads at Busway crossings have 'No left turn' warnings, and there are signs stating 'No entry except for local buses'. Abuse of the Busway by motorists is not uncommon, especially on stretches like Whitehouse and Rocksavage. Accidents are also common at Busway junctions - motorists sometimes begin not to notice the lights, seeing them as 'street furniture', and vegetation prevents bus drivers seeing the cars. This issue is currently being addressed. This scene looks towards Murdishaw at the A56 crossing.

ASTMOOR 2/7/2001 - Pictures of the original shelter that survives at Chadwick Road.

	The view towards the Old Town from Chadwick Road on Astmoor. Since the rebuilding of the High Street bus station, this and the Aston fields shelter (see above) are the only survivng original ones. At Chadwick Road there is the added bonus of the old 'T' logo surviving too.
	The Crosville 'T' logo survives at Chadwick Road. Crosville used a letter prefix for all of their routes, and T was used for Busway services. This was built into a promotional image - see the RE on the front page of the site.
	On the opposite side of the Busway fron the picture above, the 'T' sticker has peeled off, revealing part of the Figure of Eight logo underneath (the logo used at the start of the Busway section).

MURDISHAW 4/7/01 - a picture of the turning circle/roundabout at Murdishaw.
Murdishaw is the terminus of many Runcorn bus routes, and also the junction for the Whitehouse extension. On the left of this picture is the Busway to Whitehouse, on the right the Busway continues around the main loop to Norton, Windmill Hill, Castlefields etc. Notice the parking for buses on lay-over.

HOME BUSWAY MAIN PAGE

	Map This is a map showing the locations of the photographs from Whitehouse, simply match the photo to the number. You could also try copying and pasting the following web address into a new broswer window to have the reference alongside the photos: http://uk.geocities.com/runcornbuses/busway/bphotos/whousemap.jpg
	1 There is, of course, a turning circle at the far end of the Busway in Whitehouse. There is only a bus stop on the right hand side of this picture, one on the left being pointless as buses can turn and then drop off.
	2 Ever wondered what these diamonds are for painted on the Busway? They are for the drivers - the lights should be changing by the time the bus reaches the diamond, if not then the driver wil need to brake. How the driver is meant to be able to see the lights around this bend with the current vegetation is questionable.
	3 These old shelters have managed to survive, near to where the busway in Whitehouse crosses Northwhich Road. Notice that originally they had glass in them but it has all been smashed out, this being the reason that more or less all the other shelters on the busway were replaced.
	4 This turning circle was put in (near Northwich Road) as the Busway in Whitehouse was not built to its full extension initailly (see 'map' above). The Busway is dotted with turning circles - they can give clues to how building and service requirements progressed (hopefully more coming soon on this topic).
	5 Traffic lights control the Busway crossings, changing to give priority to the buses. Notice that they are numbered, this set being 'W3', although this system does not seem to be in use any longer (in terms of the prescence of signs at least). With modern buses it is now often necessary for drivers to brake as the lights are not changed in time.
	6 Idiot proof signs were installed warning of the low bridge heights on the Busway after a spate of bridge strikes, by deckers on private hires. (To keep costs low, Busway bridges were built to a height of 11 feet 9). Lights on the public roads at Busway crossings have 'No left turn' warnings, and there are signs stating 'No entry except for local buses'. Abuse of the Busway by motorists is not uncommon, especially on stretches like Whitehouse and Rocksavage. Accidents are also common at Busway junctions - motorists sometimes begin not to notice the lights, seeing them as 'street furniture', and vegetation prevents bus drivers seeing the cars. This issue is currently being addressed. This scene looks towards Murdishaw at the A56 crossing.