Todmorden JOC 572 EYG in Rochdale - circa 1970

Circa 1970 - Todmorden Joint Omnibus Committee 28 (572 EYG) was an East Lancs bodied Leyland Leopard placed in service in January 1964.

TJOC was a bus undertaking owned jointly by Todmorden Corporation initially in partnership with the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company (1931-1947). After the nationalisation of railways the partner became British Railways (from 1947). Prior to 1947 the total bus fleet saw shared ownership but from 1947 each partner owned their own individual buses to an equal number. This bus was owned by British Railways and it entered service with similar bus numbered 37 (573 EYG), a bus owned by Todmorden Corporation. I recall visiting Millwood garage during December 1963 and seeing the brand new buses parked ready to enter service on 1 January.

Number 28 was seen in Smith Street, Rochdale about to return to Todmorden on the Saturday only limited stop service jointly licenced to TJOC and Rochdale Corporation. Once upon a time this service ran every 40 minutes from 1335 to 2215 with one bus provided by each undertaking, the journey taking 35 minutes each way. However, in the late 1960s the service was reduced and operated by just one TJOC bus. Travelling from Rochdale to Todmorden when the through service wasn’t running required a change of buses at Summit between Littleborough and Todmorden.