Gee Cross Motors was owned by David Uttley who lived in the only detached house on School Lane Gee Cross. He was quite a character by all accounts, and shall we say careful with his money..
One story I've been told is about one of the part time drivers called Derek. David Uttley had just taken delivery of a new coach and his regular driver was off sick, he asked Derek if he would drive it on a trip for him as it was Derek's day off (weekend?). Derek said yes what will you pay me? Uttley said, Oh! I thought you'd be doing it for nowt! as it a new vehicle.
Sentinel Seagull
These are all the same coach going off the registration number OWU 771 and the coach is a Sentinel Seagull I am informed. The last picture looks to have been taken when the vehical was quite new, and the paintwork at the front is not quite the same. It may not have been working for Gee Cross Motors then, but I've included it just for the view and because it was in the group of pictures one of our readers Jim kindly sent in. If you have any memories of Gee Cross Motors please send them in.. or leave comments below.
Sentinel Insignia
Notice Sword Insignia
AEC Insignia
Notice the AEC Insignia above the number plate.
Sentinel Insignia
Notice Sword Insignia
AEC Insignia
If you have been reading the comments, and very good they are to... there's been some discussion on what vehicles the coach was. We have tried sorting it out best we could as it would be nice to no the post is as correct as can be and may one day help some one doing some research.. Dave Williams as found the two pictures above of the insignia of the AEC and Sentinel. Dave says
The only sure way to recognise them is by the chassis manufacturers badge and the AEC one (the letters 'AEC' inside a red London Transport type logo which is inside a blue upside-down triangle) on this particular model is in the middle of the small grill above the front number plate. The sentinel insignia is an upright sword with the handle uppermost, and on this coach the blade of the sword is the bar running down from just beneath the windscreen to the grill at the bottom. I'll email you some photos to illustrate this.
Notice the AEC Insignia above the number plate.
The first and third photos look like the railway arches at the bottom of Great Norbury Street and the second photo could be just about anywhere, but where was the fourth photo taken? Having worked in the centre of Manchester from 1960 up to 1991 it looks SO familiar, but I just can't make out where it is. I've tried Google Earth, but so many of the old buildings which I remember have now been demolished that I can't identify the ones in the photo. Then again, it could be Liverpool, Leeds, or any one of a number of Northern towns and cities......
ReplyDeleteI think you are right about the arches Dave, and the first looks to be out side of Hyde Central, parked near to the arches. I can't help at all with the forth one though... The depot was in a yard behind the owners house on School lane by the way.
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone, the real story is that he asked him to do the run on a Saturday to a match at Maine Road to see City play, he said he thought that he would do it for nowt as he would be able to see the match. I am afraid he also disagrees with the Sentinel Seagull, he says it was an AEC. The railway arches are at Stalybridge, as GX motors was taken over by Kitson's of Stalybridge and that's where their depot was. GX motors coaches were much sought after apparently as you could only run day trips if you had a private hire licence and the Joint Board certainly didn't have one, but North Western did.
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth.. tell your Dad thanks for input here... I should have phoned him about this first.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder he wanted paying.... it should have been double time if he had to watch City play.. ;0)
The last photo of OWU771 was taken when it was working for it's original operator, W,H,&F Schofield, Marsden, Huddersfield. When they closed down in 1962 the coach went to Gee Cross Motors.Also, when owned by Schofields, OWU771 went as far as the South coast, so the photo could have been taken anywhere. Gee X Motors also had a garage in the arches near Stalybridge station, so the other photos could have been taken there. The boss of GXM used to follow his coaches on day trips in his Vauxhall Cresta sometimes. Dave.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave..
ReplyDeletethank you for commenting.. once again great information being added.
Dave... just by chance do you know anything about Turbine Garage that used to be on Mottram Road? We have had some great pictures sent in.
ReplyDeleteI remember the Tubine Garage, the only thing I know is that they had used vehicles for sale. The old tram shed nearby was used by George Wood who delivered pop, remember sarsparilla in stone bottles ? Dave
ReplyDeleteYes, I've found a website on Google of 'Images for AEC Coaches' and there's a photo which matches this one. It doesn't say what the model designation is though. The Sentinel Seagull does look very similar.
ReplyDelete(AEC, by the way, made the iconic London Routemaster bus)
OWU771 was a Sentinel SLC6-30 (Seagul) Dave.
ReplyDeleteThe reason these coaches could be the same is that the coach-work was carried out possible by a company called Burlingham of Blackpool who made the bodywork for such vehicles. To make matters even more confusing I have come across a picture this morning of a 'Burlingham Seagull bodied AEC Reliance TOB377..
ReplyDeleteYou are right Tom, the "Seagull" refers to the bodywork, not the chassis. Several manufacturers had Burlingham Seagull bodies put on their chassis, Leyland was a popular one. Burlington went on to become Duple.
ReplyDeleteDave.
Cheers Dave for confirming that... I do like where these posting go sometimes... seems these old coaches can still take you on a journey even if it is a virtual one on the super highway.... ha! Now then who's taking a cap round for the driver. ;o)
ReplyDeleteQuite right about the bodywork of course, and even though I'm not an expert on commercial vehicles I should have remembered that. The only sure way to recognise them is by the chassis manufacturers badge and the AEC one (the letters 'AEC' inside a red London Transport type logo which is inside a blue upside-down triangle) on this particular model is in the middle of the small grill above the front number plate. The sentinel insignia is an upright sword with the handle uppermost, and on this coach the blade of the sword is the bar running down from just beneath the windscreen to the grill at the bottom. I'll email you some photos to illustrate this.
ReplyDeleteHi everybody the turbine garage was BP petrol
ReplyDeletei used to 5 shillings worth from there to the right of there was Lewis St Harry Woods potato merchants using the old tram sheds.
to the left of tubine was Harry Woods Bannana sheds where they ripened them I remember on the window bottom were jam jars with huge spiders from the wooden bannana crates. In the same yard was Eclipse Brewery which made Sasparala,ginger beer,etc in wooden vats i used to climb inside and scrub them out after every batch then used to bottle them into stone jars
barry.
Hi Barry... you've solved another problem here... I've been trying to find out where Eclipse Brewery was.. You will have to look out for the Turbine Garage post.. the pictures are amazing.
ReplyDeleteHi Tom
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it was fernally St, when you came up claredon rd round the bend onto mottram rd there was a corner crocers shop on the left down the side was fernally st immediately on right was yard to harry woods and eclipse brewery further along mottram rd was tubine station opposite was pomeroy second hand shop.
barry
Prior to 2001 in vehicle registrations containing 3 letters (ie ABC 123 or T456 BDK) the second and third letters (BC and DK in the above examples) indicated the authority issuing the registration number. Before 1974 this was the County Council. The issuing authority for this Sentinel coach (indicated by the WU of the registration number) was West Yorkshire County Council. Which explains why I couldn't recognise whereabouts in Manchester the fourth photo was taken - it was probably in Leeds. Over to you Paul, if you're reading this.
ReplyDeleteLoved this post....excellent photos of the old coaches......dont they look old world compared to the sleek designs of today!
ReplyDeleteFor what it’s worth, my memories of the Turbine (going off on a tangent) are of the showroom near to the corner of Fernley Street, a glass showroom window with a few used cars in it. My dad bought a Triumph 1500 registration number VTU707J from there around 1973. Seem to recall the petrol pumps almost directly across from Pomroys shop, maybe three or four pumps and they had some kind of mural on the wall if my memory serves me well.....it had flying birds on it. I think! Does anyone remember the deli on the corner or Hollands greengrocers? I think they were more heading towards the Sportsman.....but cannot remember properly. Also remember Doreens shop which was next to Pomroys. She had loads of cheap ‘Made in Hong Kong’ toys and sweets and stuff. Mum used to sometimes buy us a toy on her way home from work...she called it a ‘Surprise’. My mate from school used to joke that Doreen had several mirrors in her shop and could see you from her toilet if you were nicking sweets. As if we would!
The coach driver would really appreciate a whip round!!!
ReplyDeleteBad memories for a travel-sick kid of the 50s. I remember GX Motors without affection. They were our family's transport to Blackpool for the Wakes Week holiday every year. We would board the coach at the top of Rowbottom Street and by the time we reached Crown Point I was reaching for my bucket!
ReplyDeleteWerneth Low that caused me to choke laughing.... I had a friend very much like this.... even on the 330 he was once sick coming up from Hyde... ha!
ReplyDeleteBy far the worst sick-making form of transport was the trolley bus. I have a photograph of two No. 210s at the Gerrard's terminus. How do I upload it?
ReplyDeleteHi Werneth Low.. I think we may already have this picture... but to be sure you could email it to us here at the blog.. the address is hydonian@gmail.com Feel free to send in anything you think will be of interest, or even ideas for future posts.
ReplyDelete