Northampton Buses

The first buses started running in Northampton in the 1920s and as the years progressed they were synonymous with high standards of maintenance and good service. After the Second World War, Northampton Corporation Transport’s bright red vehicles became a familiar sight throughout the town as the route network expanded. By the 1960s, the Northampton fleet was unique - a complete set of virtually identical vehicles, carefully serviced with pride and including the very last new open platform rear-entrance vehicles in the country. But the 1960s were also the first years of decline…

Using more than 150 mostly unpublished photographs, John Evans examines the rise and fall of Northampton Corporation Transport and its eventual migration to modernisation and privatisation. His extensive collection of mainly colour pictures taken many years ago provide a rare, nostalgic look at old Northampton. The story is brought up to date as both the town and its bus routes expanded, with many illustrations taken in more recent years.

Several classic old-timers from the Northampton fleet have survived to delight those who recall the days of Northampton as a market town famous for its footwear industry. The story of these is also told in words and pictures.