Musings from the Merse
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
BORDERS BUS MYSTERY TOUR
" Yes but you will have to help me find it" said the Number 60 Bus Driver to the lady in front of me boarding the bus at Duns in reply to a question as to whether the 0920 Duns to Berwick stops at Allanton. Apparently this was his maiden voyage from Galashiel/Berwick via Duns (and indeed via Allanton only reachable on the 9.20 on weekdays)In consequence the passenger, Allanton bound, was up and down from her seat giving the Driver detailed instructions en route-ending up with the suggestion to do a U-turn opposite the Allanton Inn to head back to join the main route at Chirnside. She then disembarked. One would be passenger waiting at the Allanton Bus stop, knowing a novice when he saw one, abandoned his plan to board the bus preferring, presumably to await a more familiar driver on the next Berwick bound bus (in exactly 24 hours time)
Having lost his guide the driver had to ask a boarding passenger just short of Chirnside the best route through the town but once on the main Chirnside/Berwick road he drove very fast and with great confidence which was bad luck on a the sole potential passenger from Foulden who did not quite reach the bus stop in time-not to worry there will be another along in 120 minutes.
I was a bit concerned that once in Berwick the tyro driver would not know about the diversion to the station so with 200 yards to go before the turn off I got up and asked him if the bus would go to the station.
"Up to you" he replied
So it did
" Yes but you will have to help me find it" said the Number 60 Bus Driver to the lady in front of me boarding the bus at Duns in reply to a question as to whether the 0920 Duns to Berwick stops at Allanton. Apparently this was his maiden voyage from Galashiel/Berwick via Duns (and indeed via Allanton only reachable on the 9.20 on weekdays)In consequence the passenger, Allanton bound, was up and down from her seat giving the Driver detailed instructions en route-ending up with the suggestion to do a U-turn opposite the Allanton Inn to head back to join the main route at Chirnside. She then disembarked. One would be passenger waiting at the Allanton Bus stop, knowing a novice when he saw one, abandoned his plan to board the bus preferring, presumably to await a more familiar driver on the next Berwick bound bus (in exactly 24 hours time)
Having lost his guide the driver had to ask a boarding passenger just short of Chirnside the best route through the town but once on the main Chirnside/Berwick road he drove very fast and with great confidence which was bad luck on a the sole potential passenger from Foulden who did not quite reach the bus stop in time-not to worry there will be another along in 120 minutes.
I was a bit concerned that once in Berwick the tyro driver would not know about the diversion to the station so with 200 yards to go before the turn off I got up and asked him if the bus would go to the station.
"Up to you" he replied
So it did
Labels: 60 Bus, Duns/Berwick, new bus drivers
Comments:
This is what happened to me a few years ago pre-driving licence in the days when there were buses through Whitsome, a bus to Swinton, Coldstream and Kelso and a bus from Kelso to Duns. I had just finished a driving lesson in Duns and took the bus to Swinton to connect with the Swinton-Berwick one. There was a new driver who didn’t know the way and I, the only passenger, didn’t either. Somehow I got him to Swinton, but the other bus hadn’t waited, leaving me to walk the rest of the way. They STILL don’t give their drivers route maps, it seems. Plus ca change, etc.
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: 10:18 PM
