East Yorkshire 741 (3741 RH) in Mytholmroyd - Oct 1972

October 1972 - East Yorkshire Motor Services 741 (3741 RH), a Harrington Cavalier bodied Leyland Leopard new in May 1963, seeing travelling through Mytholmroyd when working the 1515 Blackpool to Hull express service. It had just taken a refreshment break at a local cafe (due 1730-1800) and was now continuing on its way.

The service had a simple format with the coach travelling out and back within the day operating on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays (20 May to 15 October 1972); also Tuesdays and Thursdays (4 July to 12 October 1972).

Westbound timings were Hull (0900), Howden (0945), Selby (1005), Monk Fryston (1018), West Garforth (1034) and Halifax (1123). The refreshment break was then taken at Mytholmroyd (1140-1210) continuing via Hebden Bridge (1213), Todmorden (1225), Burnley (1247), Accrington (1302), Blackburn (1316), Preston (1340) and Blackpool (1425).

Eastbound timings were Blackpool (1515), Preston (1600), Blackburn (1624), Accrington (1638), Burnley (1653), Todmorden (1715), Hebden Bridge (1727), Mytholmroyd (1730-1800), Halifax (1817), West Garforth (1906), Monk Fryston (1921), Selby (1935), Howden (1955) and Hull (2040)

Express services were regulated at the time and the Road Service Licence for this service contained the following stipulations:

For passengers boarding at Hull or Howden the first set down was Halifax; boarding at Selby the first set down was Todmorden; and boarding at Monk Fryston or West Garforth the first set down was Accrington.

I don’t know exactly when the service ceased travelling via the Calder Valley route but this would have been fairly soon following the opening of the M62 motorway in the early 1970s. This was also around the time that the National Travel coach brand was introduced.


The background scene has only changed very slightly over the ensuing years. The Economic Stores building is a Sainsbury’s Local (at least I think it is the same building shell) although the old bus shelter has gone as the ground is now a small car park.
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