Yelloway TDK 687J in Manchester - Dec 1971 (Photo by Bill Clarkson)

December 1971 - John Hartley at the wheel of TDK 687J, a 1971 Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied AEC Reliance, at Central Railway Station Forecourt in Manchester bound for Cheltenham.

Some of the Yelloway duties, particularly in winter, were on a four day cycle with three nights away. The pattern was: Day 1 - Rochdale to Cheltenham. Day 2 - Cheltenham to Burnley/Colne or Cheltenham to a Yorkshire town on the 'South West Clipper'. Day 3 - the reverse of day 2. Day 4 - Cheltenham to Rochdale.

John lived in the Calder Valley (Todmorden or Hebden Bridge area) so was well placed to minimise his nights out because his wife would meet him with their car at Burnley/Colne or Bradford/Halifax and he could then spend the extra night at home. His overnight expenses helping pay for the petrol!