Privatised public transport is far from a new thing. Before the Ulster Transport Authority, or even the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board came along, many small privately run companies provided essential transport to travellers all around Northern Ireland. One such company was the famous "Mourne" bus company owned by Tommy and Davy McAtee of Kilkeel, shown here with one of their coaches in Greencastle Street.
(Mounted on the wall behind the bus is the logo of the Cyclist Touring Club. Click here to read Brian Willis's article on the CTC.)

These buses ran between Kilkeel and Belfast in the 1930s. In those days it must have been quite a journey with poor roads, solid studded tyres and slow coaches with little by way of suspension. How long did that journey take? Do you have stories or pictures of a bus company that ran near you? Do tell us..