(20 Jul 2014, 2:19 pm)NorthWed wrote Hi

I am trying to source information on my families business know locally as "The General".

Initially the first taxi company set up in Chester le Street, the General Omnibus ran both buses and coaches from the early 1900's maybe earlier!
The Atkinson family owned many vehicle related business due to the brothers all setting up various businesses.

Up until the mid 1990's Akinsons Coaches ran by third/fourth generation...

Why am I asking for images, and details. I too run my own set of businesses relating to the wedding market and I ve been informed that my great great grandad may have been one of the first to offer wedding cars in the north east (Taxi). I d really like to know more and search the general internet is not throwing much up at all.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thank you

Hi,

I would recommend checking out 'The Bygone Era'. You'll find a lot of old timetables and information in there.

My grandma, who was brought up in Birtley, has a friend who's father who was a driver for Atkinson's donkeys years ago. She, like a lot of old folk residing in Chester, just called CLS Depot - 'The Northern Garage'.

I'll surf Flickr for you, because in the past I've seen a lot of photos of Northern General Transport's early days.

EDIT: Don't know if this is of relevance to Atkinson's;
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/teesbuspho...D_w_IS_all

Also, if you're thinking of this 'General', there's these;

https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/busfreakbr...D_w_IS_all

https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/emdjt42/35...D_w_IS_all

https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/emdjt42/35...D_w_IS_all

As for Northern General, I saw an image of the depot from the 30s, but it since seems to have disappeared, here is one of many photos of Chester Depot from the late 20th century;

https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/27204054@N...D_w_IS_all