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Citybus, Belfast's buses 1973-1988 Buses in Ulster Volume 5

Category: Transport

In this long-awaited addition to the Buses in Ulster series, Will Hughes looks at Belfast's red buses from the takeover in 1973 to the retirement of Managing Director Werner Heubeck in 1988.

This was a difficult period for the new company, with many vehicles maliciously destroyed and passenger numbers in decline. It was, however, a time of much interest to the enthusiast with numerous vehicles acquired second-hand from operators throughout England - Daimler Fleetlines from Potteries Motor Traction and Northern General, AEC Merlins and Swifts from London and Eastern Coach Works-bodied Bristol REs from various National Bus Company subsidiaries.

All of the types of vehicles operated are illustrated, as are some of the people who worked on them. Interesting asides are the sections on preserved former Citybus vehicles and those buses which operated in the city during the period covered and then moved 'Beyond Belfast'.

About the Author

Will Hughes was born in 1954 and is a native of Belfast. Educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, he graduated in 1979 from the Glasgow College of Building and Printing with a BSc in Quantity Surveying.

Travelling back and forth, by both bus and rail, between his home in south Belfast and the city centre school, awakened his interest in public transport generally. The dwindling trolleybus fleet was his first interest but following its demise in 1968 his attention was focussed on the red and cream diesel buses of Belfast Corporation Transport Department, the forerunner of Citybus.

Will is the Northern Ireland Sub-Editor of the PSV Circle and prepares monthly reports for inclusion in their news sheets. He has also been involved in the preparation of their last three fleet books covering Northern Ireland operators. His comprehensive records have provided much of the fleet information in this book and also other volumes in the series.

For many years he has been the Honorary Chairman of local bus enthusiasts group, the Irish Transport Trust.

Will now lives in Lisburn and works for a north Belfast-based Quantity Surveying practice. He is married to Marnie and has two grown-up daughters, Kirsten and Tracey.

 ©2008 Colourpoint Books