Workington Buses

Cumberland Motor Services
In October, 1912, the Whitehaven Motor Service Company started the first regular bus service between Whitehaven and Cleator Moor. The first buses were a second-hand Arrol Johnston and a Commercial Car charabanc.
On 1st June, 1921, the company became Cumberland Motor Services Limited having expanded to run services between Whitehaven and Carlisle, Keswick, Cleator Moor and Egremont and between Carlisle and Abbeytown and Maryport and Cockermouth.
By the 1930s, when the buses had acquired fast feline names like Leyland Lion and the heavier duty Tiger, the buses had taken on much the same overall shape as today’s vehicles, with the driver’s cab positioned right at the front.
The first double-deckers, the unsuccessful Guy FCX, were purchased in 1927, but the mainstay of the fleet throughout the thirties was the Leyland Titan, with its enclosed staircase and sloping windshields.
Buses were everywhere on Cumberland’s roads, taking workers to coal mines, steelwork and a host of factories – and everyone about their business in the town or the country.
Workington Bus Station
In 1926 CMS opened England’s first purpose-built covered bus station – in Workington. Until this time different operators used different streets in town for their services. CMS had used Central Square for some of its routes. Opening of the bus station allowed better coordination of services. It also helped CMS during its 1930s phase of takeovers of a number of smaller operators. In following years garages were built alongside the station in Vulcans lane, though these were demolished in the 1990s.
Other stations and garages were built in following years at Whitehaven, Wigton and Keswick, but Workington is now the sole survivor in West Cumbria. All buses now operated by Stagecoach are based at a 1980s depot at Lillyhall.
Stagecoach
Cumberland succumbed to the advances of Stagecoach in the 1980s. They invested much money in a new fleet and new depot at Lillyhall, and they now provide the bulk of regular services in and around the town.
Other Operators
Whilst CMS and Stagecoach are the major operators, others have provided services over the years around Workington. CMS acquired these operators:
1926 – Star Bus Services
1932 – Workington Motor Services
1933 – J.B. Roseby
1934 – H & A Mofat of Great Clifton
1935 – W Gilmore of Seaton
1935 – N Hamilton
1935 – W & J Kirkpatrick, Little Broughton
1941 – J Hayton, Broughton Moor
In the 21st century Ellenvale has tried to make a commercial success of previously supported services to Allonby & Silloth.
http://wtht.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/buses6.jpg
buses6
http://wtht.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/buses5.jpg
buses5
http://wtht.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/buses4.jpg
buses4
http://wtht.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/buses3.jpg
buses3
http://wtht.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/buses2.jpg
buses2
http://wtht.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/buses1.jpg
buses1