BACK in 1948 electric cars for the masses were a thing of the future and there were no health worries about diesel fumes.

Barrow was still a town of bomb sites from the Second World War but the town had ambitions to modernise its housing and its bus fleet.

The Evening Mail on Thursday, May 6 in 1948 noted the pleasure of councillors on the transport committee of Barrow council when the first of its new 8ft wide, diesel-powered vehicles arrived to work the bus routes operated by Barrow Corporation Transport.

It noted: "The new vehicle is a Crossley diesel with an 8.8-litre engine.

"Nine other vehicles of the same type will be delivered in due course and five of the 10 contracted for should be at Barrow by Whitsuntide.

"A further 70 new buses have been ordered at a cost of over £270,000 but it is not expected that these vehicles will be delivered for some considerable time.

"The first of the 10 new buses now due for Barrow services has a standard Crossley chassis and the extra six inches width allowed under new regulations has been divided between the gangways and the seats.

"With accommodation for 58 passengers, these new vehicles will considerably relieve the pressure on the undertaking, particularly during the summer months.

"The seats in the lower saloon are upholstered in moquette and leather and those in the upper saloon in leather only.

"When the new bus enters service, the public will be able to assess the value of the extra six inch width.

"It will begin on Monday on the Abbey to Walney service.

"Its height prohibits its use on the Salthouse route because of the Salthouse bridge."