National Bus Manual

Out now: @modernistmag 44 with a piece on graphic designer Norman Wilson. His pioneering Manchester practice brought striking modernist graphics to industial Britain, famously the once-ubiquitous corporate identity for the National Bus Company. More here: nationalbusmanual.com/2022/09/17/a-m…

@JaneFallon Outstanding! I think of Warren’s return every time I pass through Warren Street tube, which is of course named after him. Sharing a bag of chips with Amita Dhiri remains one of the highlights of my life.

30 years ago today our little show first went out …

You’ll have spotted that there’s less on the blog while I focus on the book, which will include the re-issued manual, and a few surprises. Thanks to everyone who’s helped. Looking forward to sharing progress with you all soon.

@CatHobbs Why, Cat? Seriously? That may just not make sense. It frees up government capital for other investments in public services.

Huge missed opportunity that these new trains will not be owned by ScotRail They are being leased by Beacon Rail which is owned by JP Morgan Asset Management Rolling stock is the most profitable bit of the railway Scotland should own its own trains! bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Another fab issue of this gorgeous, informative, entertaining, beautiful, engaging, lovingly designed and produced, top quality, stunningly illustrated, can’t-live-without magazine. Out now classicbusmag.co.uk

1977 convertible open-top ECW-bodied Bristol VRT VDV 138S 'Warspite' is seen at the Strand in Torquay in 1981. From 1987, under Devon General Ltd. ownership, it ran with the name 'Illustrious'. 938 is preserved, and its current owner is renovating it. Picture credit: Paul Jenkins

@JoeBrownLondon @NootiNoot02 What is incredible is how tightly packed in everything was. It’s not a huge space. That makes it hard to imagine now. Thanks for your wonderful map and photo. Endlessly fascinating, especially when you’re there regularly.

@JoeBrownLondon @NootiNoot02 The ‘now v then’ does my head in here. Those diesels are stabled close to what is now Gasholders Park, just by where HS1 and the MML diverge. Every time I pass through (which is often) I try to note where I’m walking: suburban side… Milk Dock.. gas holders… canal… Coal Drops..

#OnThisDay 53 years ago Kings Cross Goods closed, although freight continued to the yard on the far right of this Alamy image buff.ly/41tqXCe Some buildings of the complex survive around Granary Square, including the Coal Drops many of us remember as Bagley's nightclub

@JoeBrownLondon @NootiNoot02 Like a tiny enclave of the recognisable modern railway!

@JoeBrownLondon @NootiNoot02 Can I see a whole bunch of diesels stabled by the Midland Main Line, just to the left of and behind Top Shed?

@seatsixtyone This change will itself cost DfT a small fortune in deferred payments, whike directly undermining consumer rights. What a disaster.

So how do we deal with this? I gather that pressure for this change has come from overly-basic digital ticketing that has left significant scope for fraudulent refunds. But we don't have to solve it by putting honest passengers at risk. There's a better way...

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus bawb, a diolch i holl gyn-weithwyr NBC yng Nghymru sydd wedi cefnogi’r prosiect hwn. Happy St David’s Day everyone, and thanks to all the NBC employees in Wales who have supported this project. #NationalBusCompany #cymrucenhedlaethol #southwales #crosville

@northernassist @ThatSneaker @EthanAfro YES 👏 YOU 👏 CAN!

@ThatSneaker @EthanAfro Unfortunately that is the case that if there is another service within an hour we cannot put extra stops on another service.

Morning @northernassist. Is it possible to get an additional call at Bamber Bridge for 1B22 BPN-LDS seeing as the fact you have cancelled 2N15 towards Blackburn? Cheers!!

More detective work for you! Who has a copy of the A4-sized 1972 NBC Corporate Identity Manual? Here’s Page 14. But all copies seem to be missing Pages 15 & 16. Were they ever issued? If you’ve seen them let us know! #NationalBusCompany #NormanWilsonDesigner #WilsonNational

@1701aStarship Happy birthday! Just as I’m most definitely not a Ruston-Paxman 12RK3ACT. Other than that, it’s a good year!

Well then let's see what year 48 brings. The birthdays seem to arrive quicker every year now 😳 So here is a Class 48 (im definitely not a Sulzer V12)

The NBC identity was rigorously enforced on vehicles, but less coherent in publicity. On this timetable cover from 1972, Associated Motorways is being rebranded as part of the National network. The Manual later tightened up things like the position of the symbol & text.

@seatsixtyone I really need to do this trip.

I've released a short video showing the journey to Orkney, by Caledonian Sleeper to Inverness, the scenic Far North Line to Thurso (Britain's most northerly station) and Northlink Ferries from Scrabster to Stromness on the excellent m/v Hamnavoe: youtu.be/8TpQJS-a4EM?si…

@RMcCarthy86 Wonderful. Absolutely fascinating. I spend a silly amount of time worrying about this kind of thing (purely as an amateur!). So good to hear from someone who makes it all work. Thanks a lot.

I hope this has been an interesting read, and if you're reading this on the 18:07 EDB-BHM tonight, I'm sorry for turfing you off as soon as you've got comfy, but I also hope that this explanation of the thought process goes some way to justification! Have a train. G'night.

01:00, and all is at peace in the Control. Since I'm up to speed with everything, I thought I'd follow last week's 'Night In The Life' with a more detailed example of the sort of problems I solve whilst I'm sat at work. So, how do I arrange returning a failed set to depot? 🧵

@WilsonBone @WayDunwoodyTMD It just passed my house near Highbury. I wasn’t expecting it so didn’t immediately recognise the tug sound!

@WayDunwoodyTMD Great catch, tones, tug rumble... jointed track

60046 on 6A25 this morning near Crewe Steel works.

Local operating companies were given huge leeway with publicity, with major departures from the National brand, in contrast to the strict policing of the identity on vehicles. This early Southdown example, advertising express coaches, even neglects to mention the National brand!