Extract from the 'Roadway Motor Coach Timetable' 1932 - Fawdon Bus Company

In 1928 the Fawdon Bus Company commenced a service between Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Coventry. Whilst there had been a number of different pioneering operators with similar services it was only Fawdon Bus Company and Hall Brothers of South Shields that obtained road service licences in 1931 under the then new Road Traffic Act.

The Fawdon service had competed with the big company operators working the ‘Limited Stop’ pool between Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Leeds and the ‘Yorkshire Services’ pool between Leeds and Birmingham. In 1933 Fawdon was acquired by the West Yorkshire Road Car Company on behalf of the pool operators. Following the acquisition revenue north of Leeds was shared by Northern General Transport, North Western Road Car, West Yorkshire Road Car and Yorkshire Woollen District. South of Leeds it was shared by East Yorkshire Motor Services, West Yorkshire Road Car Company, Yorkshire Traction Company and Yorkshire Woollen District.

Due to there being so many different companies involved, the road service licence for the service was held in the name of the Fawdon Omnibus Company registered at the offices of Northern General in Bensham. Since no vehicles were owned by Fawdon a hiring permit was granted by the Traffic Commissioners with Northern General Transport, West Yorkshire Road Car and Yorkshire Woollen District being the prominent operators. The Fawdon Company was wound up in 1962 and the different pool members then held separate licences. It was at this time the service became marketed as the ‘Ten Cities Express’.