Due to a very favourable response from our members and visitors to the website I am pleased to bring back this feature for an experimental period. I have extracted the first section from our "Latest News" page for October just to get things moving.  I hope you will enjoy the return of this feature, and for our members please let me have your photographs and articles. All the best, Bob Ashton

Taking advantage of our over 60's Travel Passes a day out in Barnsley is an attractive proposition in true Yorkshire Tradition "anything for nowt" is not to be missed. A train journey from Kirk Sandall Station and changing at Meadowhall for Barnsley was not be missed on Friday 10th October. We were very impressed with "Sailor Sid's Sweet" in the market. An excellent market with a huge range of stalls, but be quick the planners have ideas for a new market! The miners underground tub is one of two on display in the town centre.

On Saturday 18th October using the Senior Citizens travel cards again saw a much earlier start. Dawn was just breaking as it was time to catch the train from Kirk Sandal station. A change of train and noticeably uncomfortable ride from Meadowhall brought us into Huddersfield a place I have not visited since 1968 when the trolleybuses made a farewell through the streets. We had a very interesting visit to the Art Gallery opened on the 15th April 1940 which to me looks a very impressive but stern looking building from the outside. Inside we found the staircase to the second floor art gallery a modern work of art itself. The motorbus below is stood next to a street lighting standard or as I remember a traction pole that once used to support the trolleybus wires until 1968.

A ride on the 185 bus brought us to Marsden formerly if I remember rightly once Huddersfield's longest trolleybus route. A half mile walk brings you to some beautiful countryside to Stanedge Tunnel. Whilst back at Huddersfield another view of the traction pole and in addition a 1960's concrete street lamp looking a little worse for time, then back to Meadowhall the interior view of what we nickname a "nodding donkey" and its "pack 'em in" seating.     

Out and About in Huddersfield between 1965 and 1968. Above left a typical scene as trolleybus 615 heads out on the Almondbury Route in 1964. Whilst to the right the decorated "Last Trolleybus" 623 makes a farewell journey out into the countryside to Outlane on the 13 July 1968. Below left, Some years earlier 624 passes underneath the wiring for the short working at Salendine Nook  on the on the Outlane -- Waterloo route. Notice the street lighting a couple what looks like 150W light bulbs hung off the trolleybus span wires at where the trolleybuses reversed into the side street. This section of wiring was also used on the last two days of trolleybus operation. The last day of Trolleybus operation was on Saturday 13 July 1968 using the decorated trolleybus. If only the trolleybuses were still running today!

The journey from Doncaster to Ross-on-Wye once could be made by train, but not so now as nearest railway station is to be found at Hereford. Dr Beeching's Axe cut Ross-on-Wye off from the railway network. Some relics of the railway line that used to connect through to Ross have survived . A display of railway tracks and photographs can be seen by the former bridge to commemorate the passing of the railway to the town, well worth a look at if you ever visit the town. The station buildings were demolished to make for way for what is now a Morrisons' Supermarket.

Our journey to Ross-on-Wye commenced at 6.30 am from Hatfield (Nr Doncaster) taking the motorway network to call in at Birmingham to visit my Aunty who lives at Warstock, Birmingham. We arrived at about 8. 45 am in time for a cup of tea whilst waiting for the Senior Citizens bus passes to be valid at 9.30 am (that's half an later than in the South Yorkshire PTE area). The last time I rode on a Birmingham bus was in 1952 from my grandparents which was the No 24A Yardley Wood bus. The route has been renumbered to No 2, we alighted at the market area next to the famous Bull Ring. What a change there has been to Birmingham since I visited it as young lad. I can remember seeing the streets with cars, buses and until 1950 trams. Many buildings have gone but yet many have survived with some excellent pedestrian areas and public squares.

We made our way through the new Bull Ring (a suitable photo of myself and the Bull of course) to what they now call "Little Venice", perhaps the word "little" is inappropriate as I was surprised to see the extent of the restored canal area.

Above one of many open spaces next to the town hall as we made our way to the canal area. Even at this time of year the canals were busy with boats. We were very impressed to see an island with a traffic sign on it for the boats including the number of locks for instance between Birmingham and Worcester it is 30½ miles with some 58 locks. 

The last time I rode on an electric tram in Birmingham was in 1949.  Some 59 years later I took the opportunity to ride on the latest generation of trams operating out Birmingham's Snow Hill Station to the Jewellery Quarter. Alighting from what they now call the Metro we came across a rather unusual Grade 2 listed building called "The Temple of Relief". This listed structure is a Cast Iron Urinal manufactured at the Walter Macfarlane Foundry, Scotland circu 1880. It has a "Flora Admaish" Pattern one of three distinct types used. Unfortunately there was to be no relief here as a modern locked gate prevented entry to this structure.     

Whilst in the Jewellery Quarter I looked up the street where my mother once lived prior to marrying my father. The section of houses have been demolished but the street sign still looks very much original. More modern cast signs have been added to a nearby stretch of pavement. One of these relates to the fact that the whistles on the Titanic were cast in a foundry in that area.

Britain's latest trolleybus under construction at the museum. It is not a fully working model, more of a donation box be it a rather large one, that coins (not sure about £5 or £19 notes etc) will ring a bell. Shortly after this photograph was taken the first coat of paint had been applied.
Popular as ever the fish and chip shop at the museum which opens at 12 noon. It is always advised be prepared to queue. They are well worth the wait but do not let your doctor know how they are fried! You will see a clue below. I can recommend the ice buns too!

A visit to the bathroom, loo or toilet well no, these you must not use as they are some that you will see in some of the houses dating back to the early and mid 20th Century. The museum is well worth a visit, but allow plenty of time on your visit as there is so much to see. Click here or on the centre photograph above to visit their website.