If you ever waited for a bus on Talbot Road, you’ll remember it: cold, draughty, and heavy with the smell of diesel.
This set of 25 old pictures revisits Blackpool’s much-talked-about bus station, a building that started life in 1939 and was seen as innovative for its day thanks to its multi-purpose use as a car park.
Yet even in the earliest images, the place looks dark and dismal — and it drew criticism almost from the off.
One caption, written on the back of a photograph, pulled no punches: “The worst possible advert for a seaside resort – that’s the unanimous verdict on Blackpool’s seedy Talbot Road bus station.”
Still, for all its flaws, many locals relied on it. It was the launchpad for shopping trips, the late bus home after a night out, and the daily commute to work.
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1. Talbot Road Bus Station - as it used to be
This was in 1987 and there were ideas in the pipeline to build a new bus station. It had been given a facelift but had 'failed to overcome its basic shortcomings' Photo: National World
2. Talbot Road Bus Station - as it used to be
A clear sign telling pedestrians to cross a the signals at what was a perilous area to cross the road with buses and cars at every turn. This was October 1982 Photo: National World
3. Talbot Road Bus Station - how it used to be
A great scene from July 1970 Photo: National World
4. Talbot Road Bus Station - how it used to be
A bus station sign which did little to keep down engine fumes, 1982 Photo: National World
5. Talbot Road Bus Station - as it used to be
The caption on the back of this picture from June 1986 says 'Dark and dismal - boarding at Talbot Road bus station' Photo: National World
6. Talbot Road Bus Station - how it used to be
The caption on this 1932 picture says: "The Blackpool motor-coach (yes, motor-coach) station in Talbot Road was working at top pressure during the weekend where there was one of the greatest change-overs of the season, the Bank Holiday week crowd going out and the Preston week crowd coming in. Express motor-coaches were running to and from nearly all parts of the country Photo: National World