Grey-Green
Encyclopedia
Grey-Green was a coach
and bus
operator in the United Kingdom. It was based in Stamford Hill
, and can trace its origins back over a century to the foundation of George Ewer’s horse carriage business in 1885.
was well covered too. The first service to operate throughout the year was the London–Ipswich
route, started in June 1928. The 1930s started with the introduction of a London–Harwich
route, and operations continued to expand rapidly through East Anglia and to the coast, interrupted only by World War II
. Routes run by the Prince Omnibus Company of Edmonton
were added in the ’30s. Orange Luxury Coaches Ltd. was acquired in 1953, and this long-established company remained as a subsidiary of the main company until finally wound up in December 1975. Orange Luxury Coaches Ltd was based in Brixton, SW London and its vehicles carried the Royal crest, being suppliers of coaches to the royal household.
The large-but-ageing United Service Transport fleet was taken over in 1965. Several of the companies taken over retained their separate identities and distinctive liveries in order to maintain goodwill, but in 1966 it was decided to concentrate the group’s operations on two trading names: Grey-Green and Orange. Subsequent acquisitions included the London coaching business of Birch Bros. Ltd.
in 1971, Mitcham Belle Coaches in 1974, and Dix Coaches in 1976. In 1980 Grey-Green was a founding member of the British Coachways
consortium which competed with National Express Coaches, but pulled out after a year.
As part of the Cowie Group, Grey-Green was one of the first private operators to operate London bus services following the process started with the privatisation of London bus services
, eventually operating nearly 20 in all. In 1987 the company successfully bid for routes 125
, 173, 179 and 379 (originally the 179A). In 1988 they began operating the 24
, 298
and 313. Route 103 was taken over in 1991, and by 1994 the list had expanded to include the 20
, 141
, 167
, 168, 210
, 235, 275, 473 and D9. The high profile route 24—which passed along Whitehall
—and route 188
to Euston Station
brought non-red London buses directly into the City. Grey-Green also operated bus services in Kent
, in Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone
and Medway
, and a commuter coach service from London.
The company’s basic livery was green and white (having evolved from the green and grey that gave Grey-Green its name). The coaching fleets were painted in separate liveries. Grey-Green bus livery was still in use as late as 1997 with new deliveries of Dennis Dart
SLFs with Alexander ALX200
bodywork. With the growth of the Cowie Group through acquisition of other bus operators, Grey Green co-existed for a time with other companies such as Kentish Bus.
Cowie Group eventually rebranded as Arriva
, and Grey-Green's London operations were absorbed into Arriva London
, and the other bus operations were absorbed by other Cowie group companies.
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
and bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
operator in the United Kingdom. It was based in Stamford Hill
Stamford Hill
Stamford Hill is a place in the north of the London Borough of Hackney, England, near the border with Haringey. It is home to Europe's largest Hasidic Jewish and Adeni Jewish community.Stamford Hill is NNE of Charing Cross.-History:...
, and can trace its origins back over a century to the foundation of George Ewer’s horse carriage business in 1885.
History
The business prospered, and summer-only services were soon operating to many South Coast resorts. Before the end of the nineteen twenties, East AngliaEast Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
was well covered too. The first service to operate throughout the year was the London–Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
route, started in June 1928. The 1930s started with the introduction of a London–Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
route, and operations continued to expand rapidly through East Anglia and to the coast, interrupted only by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Routes run by the Prince Omnibus Company of Edmonton
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
were added in the ’30s. Orange Luxury Coaches Ltd. was acquired in 1953, and this long-established company remained as a subsidiary of the main company until finally wound up in December 1975. Orange Luxury Coaches Ltd was based in Brixton, SW London and its vehicles carried the Royal crest, being suppliers of coaches to the royal household.
The large-but-ageing United Service Transport fleet was taken over in 1965. Several of the companies taken over retained their separate identities and distinctive liveries in order to maintain goodwill, but in 1966 it was decided to concentrate the group’s operations on two trading names: Grey-Green and Orange. Subsequent acquisitions included the London coaching business of Birch Bros. Ltd.
Birch Brothers
- History :William Birch started running horse-drawn cabs in London in 1837. After his death in 1846 his widow, Elizabeth, contitook over the business and in 1847 extended it to include the running of omnibuses, operating a service between Pimlico and Mansion House. The company was divided between...
in 1971, Mitcham Belle Coaches in 1974, and Dix Coaches in 1976. In 1980 Grey-Green was a founding member of the British Coachways
British Coachways
British Coachways was a consortium of independent coach operating companies in the United Kingdom. Formed immediately after the deregulation of coach services in October 1980, it competed with the state-owned National Express Coaches and Scottish Bus Group on a range of long-distance routes...
consortium which competed with National Express Coaches, but pulled out after a year.
As part of the Cowie Group, Grey-Green was one of the first private operators to operate London bus services following the process started with the privatisation of London bus services
Privatisation of London bus services
The privatisation of London bus services was the progressive process of the transfer of operation of London Buses from public bodies to private companies....
, eventually operating nearly 20 in all. In 1987 the company successfully bid for routes 125
London Buses route 125
London Buses route 125 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 173, 179 and 379 (originally the 179A). In 1988 they began operating the 24
London Buses route 24
London Buses route 24 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:This route dates back to 1910, when it ran between Hampstead Heath and Victoria...
, 298
London Buses route 298
London Buses route 298 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:The route was created in September 1968 as a replacement for part of route 29 and all of route 29B...
and 313. Route 103 was taken over in 1991, and by 1994 the list had expanded to include the 20
London Buses route 20
London Buses route 20 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 141
London Buses route 141
London Buses route 141 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is contracted to Arriva London.-History:...
, 167
London Buses route 167
London Buses route 167 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:...
, 168, 210
London Buses route 210
London Buses route 210 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. This service is currently contracted to Metroline.-History:...
, 235, 275, 473 and D9. The high profile route 24—which passed along Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
—and route 188
London Buses route 188
London Buses route 188 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, United Kingdom. The service is currently contracted to Abellio London.-History:...
to Euston Station
Euston station
Euston station may refer to one of the following stations in London, United Kingdom:*Euston railway station, a major terminus for trains to the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and part of Scotland...
brought non-red London buses directly into the City. Grey-Green also operated bus services in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, in Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
and Medway
Medway
Medway is a conurbation and unitary authority in South East England. The Unitary Authority was formed in 1998 when the City of Rochester-upon-Medway amalgamated with Gillingham Borough Council and part of Kent County Council to form Medway Council, a unitary authority independent of Kent County...
, and a commuter coach service from London.
The company’s basic livery was green and white (having evolved from the green and grey that gave Grey-Green its name). The coaching fleets were painted in separate liveries. Grey-Green bus livery was still in use as late as 1997 with new deliveries of Dennis Dart
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
SLFs with Alexander ALX200
Alexander ALX200
The Alexander ALX200 was a midibus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was one of the ALX-series, which accounted for 5 different models , built for new generation bus chassis produced since late 1990s.It was designed by John Worker, and was launched in summer...
bodywork. With the growth of the Cowie Group through acquisition of other bus operators, Grey Green co-existed for a time with other companies such as Kentish Bus.
Cowie Group eventually rebranded as Arriva
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
, and Grey-Green's London operations were absorbed into Arriva London
Arriva London
Arriva London is a division of Arriva which operates bus services in London, UK. It is made up of many previous bus operators including previously independent Grey Green...
, and the other bus operations were absorbed by other Cowie group companies.
External links
- Grey Green Volvo Citybus page - www.countrybus.org
- Grey Green Volvo B10M page - www.countrybus.org
- Grey Green Scania page - www.countrybus.org
- Showbus - Grey Green bus page
- Showbus - Grey Green coach page