The Bus That Could Barely Turn

Copley village route, circa 1950 — Enhanced by halifaxpeople.com

The modern bus goes everywhere — there's scarcely a hill-top hamlet in Calderdale it hasn't reached. But getting there wasn't always straightforward.

Take the Copley village route. Before coming up to Wakefield Road, drivers faced a notorious right-angle bend that caused problems on every single visit and return. Along one side, a fence pressed in close. On the other, narrow stone setts left barely enough room for the bus to squeeze through and make a decent turn.

It was one of those corners every driver dreaded and every passenger held their breath on.

The fix, when it finally came, was simple — the fence was removed and the road widened considerably. What had been a daily battle became a straightforward journey, and Copley's residents could finally rely on a bus service that didn't risk scraping the paintwork every trip.

Do you remember the Copley bus? Did you ever hold your breath on that corner? Share your memories below.

Historic Copley