A classic bus route - what's your favourite?

[Sainghin Green]

While there are still a few days of the international break left.....Who can better the old N°17 from Bretonside to Bridwell Road.
Departure from the prestigious Bay 1 of the newly opened bus station before sweeping down Royal Parade to admire the breathtaking beauty of the Civic Centre and Drake Cinema, then mounting Western Approach surely the Champs Elysées of the West before dropping down past North Road station to the qaintly named Pennycomequick roundabout. Hurrying up the hill and past the polished villas of Alma Road we reach Milehouse and that Green Army oasis the Brittania Arms before choosing Wolsely Road with its architectural masterpiece in obvious immitation of Buckingham Palace. Who can forget the thrill of a sunset captured the through the girders of Shakey Bridge seen across the Creek from the gothic splendour of Camels Head School before the ascent of Bridwell Road in almost alpine majesty to alight at St. Philips and seek local knowledge on the best route to Johnny Newman's mountain eyrie on Churchway.

 

[Beetle Burger]

My Favorite was I believe the number 13 from Saltash Passage into town. I got on that bus every Saturday night in the late 80s/early 90s and a couple of mates got on it along the route.
From memory it would leave Saltash Passage and then head up around the Naval married patch, down through St.Budeaux upto Weston Mill and then camels head up to into Keyham past HMS drake and then wind its why through Devonport and finally in royal parade.

 

[Ross B]

The 46 and 47. Circled the entirety of Plymouth.

46 - Royal Parade - Stonehouse - Devonport - Keyham - St Beaudeux- Kings Tamerton - Ernesettle - Whitleigh - Southway - Marjon's- Derriford - Estover - Asdas - Mainstone - Leigham - Austin Farm - Deer Park - Efford - Higher Compton - Mutley - North Hill. 47 same route in reverse. Always a double decker bus.

Hell of a route. Used to love doing the full circle

 

[unhinched]

Hell of a route. Used to love doing the full circle

That IS a helluva route, Ross, for sure !
So did you love it because
(a) you got massive value for money
(b) you adore Plymouth , warts and all
(c) you were excruciatingly bored at the time
(d) you are a bus spotter
or (e) none of the above

 

[Ross B]

A mixture of everything never bored though. Its was great value for money. Back in those days a child day rider was £1.20 and the route used to take about 2.5 hours. Used to get to see all of Plymouth from the top of a decker. The old double decker were great massive loud things as well. Sounded awesome when going up Clarks Hill, Eggbuckland Road etc I used to love buses.

It was also my favourite route because I only had to get one bus to my Nans in Efford from Whitleigh. Get on at the Albermarle and took me right through. Saved getting the 44 to Crownhill Fly over and then the 28/28A.

 

[pafcprogs]

The 46 and 47. Circled the entirety of Plymouth.

46 - Royal Parade - Stonehouse - Devonport - Keyham - St Beaudeux- Kings Tamerton - Ernesettle - Whitleigh - Southway - Marjon's- Derriford - Estover - Asdas - Mainstone - Leigham - Austin Farm - Deer Park - Efford - Higher Compton - Mutley - North Hill. 47 same route in reverse. Always a double decker bus.

Hell of a route. Used to love doing the full circle

Hear hear. Even though I only really did the Maugham to drakes Circus bit.

Could see the people starting to move In anticipation and still Make it from my back door to the Bus stop in time to get on

Dad was a Pct driver so quite often the conductor would just spin the dial in his ticket machine to simulate A ticket and the fare remained in my sweaty palm. Forty minutes from home to Sutton High

 

[Ross B]

Hear hear. Even though I only really did the Maugham to drakes Circus bit.

Could see the people starting to move In anticipation and still Make it from my back door to the Bus stop in time to get on

Dad was a Pct driver so quite often the conductor would just spin the dial in his ticket machine to simulate A ticket and the fare remained in my sweaty palm. Forty minutes from home to Sutton High

We used to watch go over Austin Farm and knew we had 4 minutes to go over the fly over and into Deer Park.

Nice extra snacks in town with the fare. There were some really good routes in the day. The buses were better as well. Not as comfy but tbey had character.

 

[Sun Stonehouse]

They are all classic bus routes now that they are all free!!.

 

[PL2 3DQ]

Back in the day probably 40 years ago the 40 and 41 bus went from the city centre to Southway, the 40 up Southway Drive and the 41 up Dunnet Road and to this day the same number buses do the same route.

 

[Ross B]

Back in the day probably 40 years ago the 40 and 41 bus went from the city centre to Southway, the 40 up Southway Drive and the 41 up Dunnet Road and to this day the same number buses do the same route.

And if the were early they would wait at the bus stops where the old BAE was until they were on time

 

[Green Matt]

The 88 London bus used to be my daily to work via Portland Place, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Parliament Square, finishing near the rear of the Tate gallery. Double decker and I'd be on from the start, so top and front.

Not really used buses much elsewhere. Other than the 21 and 52 routes I have barely touched buses in Plymouth.

 

[Sun Stonehouse]

A classic bus route??. Bloody hell mate you,ve got to get out more and live life and hopefully not by a bloody bus. I,ve got a bus pass but very rarely get on one, don't like to mix with the riff raff!!!

 

[boletus edulis]

The Routemaster 89 from Lewisham to Bexleyheath. Just as it was going up the top of Shooter’s Hill and at its slowest speed, run after it, grab the pole and climb on board in one swift movement. Get growled at by the clippy, and have a sense of achievement by not falling off. Simple pleasures

 

[Dave Stoneman]

About 50 years ago, numbers 5 and 6 ( I think) from Mountbatten or Hooe lake to North Road. A walk up Wake street then through Central Park to Home Park. Not really a classic but fond memories from a long time ago.

 

[Andrew Owen]

Funnily enough I did Cavan to Dublin Airport yesterday. Quite nice.

There used to be a service from Bretonside to Dartmouth, taking in the coast around Blackpool Sands. Took ages. Beautiful though.