Former Wallasey bus on Penny Bridge -1973

Image: © Alan Murray-Rust Taken: 28 Jan 1973

This is the only picture I have of a bus crossing any of the moveable bridges in Birkenhead Docks. Penny Bridge was until the late 19th century the only bridge across the Wallasey Pool and had a one penny toll. The bridge in the picture was built in 1926 and was the only major moving bridge to remain as a swing bridge, all the others having been converted to bascule type in the 1930s. Note the panel on the left hand girder indicating the scale of tolls. The bridge was replaced by a fixed roadway in 1996 after the closure of Bidston Dock. Bus 254 is a former Wallasey Corporation Leyland PD2 dating from 1951 with a pre-war style Metro Cammell body. It was by this time part of the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive fleet, but retained its original Wallasey colours. It is seen here on an enthusiast tour marking its withdrawal after 21 years of service. It now forms part of the Wirral Transport Museum collection. This is one of a series of views featuring buses in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=137652761

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