WYPTE/Yorkshire Rider/First etc

Saturday 8 August 1987 – West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive 1657 (EWR 657Y) seen climbing Dunford Road when leaving Holmfirth. It is a Duple Dominant bodied Leyland Tiger new in June 1983. In January 1999 when owned by Blue Bus of Horwich (74) it was re-bodied by East Lancs Coachbuilders. Holmfirth was the small town made famous as the location for the BBC television comedy series ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ which ran for 31 series between 1973 and 2010. As a result of the show’s popularity the town became a magnet for tourism.

Sunday 26 September 1993 – Yorkshire Rider 7575 (B575 RWY), an MCW Metrobus new in October 1984, seen at Showbus, Duxford. It carries a retro Leeds City Transport livery. Yorkshire Rider was the successor to the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive which, in April 1974, was created to absorb the municipal undertakings of Bradford City Transport, Calderdale Joint Omnibus Committee, Huddersfield Joint Omnibus Committee and Leeds City Transport.

Thursday 12 October 1995 – Yorkshire Rider, owned by Badgerline since April 1994 became First Bus in June 1995 after the merger with GRT Holdings. In September 1995 Yorkshire Rider was split up into four localised companies based on Bradford (Bradford Traveller), Halifax (Calderline), Huddersfield (Kingfisher) and Leeds (Leeds City Link). This double decker seen in Huddersfield bus station, which I believe might be 3299 (PUA 299W) a Roe bodied Leyland Atlantean new in March 1981, was adorned with the former Huddersfield Joint Omnibus Committee red and cream livery.

Thursday 12 October 1995 – Yorkshire Rider, owned by Badgerline since April 1994 became First Bus in June 1995 after the merger with GRT Holdings. In September 1995 Yorkshire Rider was split up into four localised companies based on Bradford (Bradford Traveller), Halifax (Calderline), Huddersfield (Kingfisher) and Leeds (Leeds City Link). 3300 (PUA 300) a Roe bodied Leyland Atlantean new in March 1981, carries a retro livery in the style of Huddersfield Corporation Tramways.

Thursday 24 September 1992 – Yorkshire Rider 7597 (F597 XWY), an MCW Metrobus new in October 1988, seen in Boar Lane, Leeds on a late afternoon trip of service X56 to Whinmoor.

Thursday 24 September 1992 – Yorkshire Rider Roe bodied double decker seen on The Headrow passing the Town Hall in Leeds. A poor quality shot so unable to identify the actual bus. New the West Yorkshire PTE and probably a Leyland Atlantean AN68A/1R. The Roe factory was located at Crossgates, a suburb of Leeds.

Thursday 24 September 1992 – Yorkshire Rider buses in Leeds. I haven’t managed to identify the exact street location of this photograph suffice to say that it was somewhere very close to Leeds City railway station and Boar Lane. At the kerb is 1322 (LUA 322V), a Leyland National 2 new in March 1980. On the left is 7532 (CUB 532Y), an MCW Metrobus new in January 1983. Both were new to the West Yorkshire PTE.

Thursday 24 September 1992 – Yorkshire Rider 6245 (KWY 245V), a Leyland Atlantean AN68A/1R with locally built Roe bodywork, seen in Boar Lane, Leeds on a late afternoon trip of service 71 to Farsley. It was new in July 1980 to the West Yorkshire PTE. The tree on the left stands at the front of Holy Trinity Church. The building beyond that still remains but the more modern C&A Stores building was demolished and is now where Bank Street, a small access for delivery vehicles to the Trinity shopping centre, now stands. C&A which is still very active in Europe and other parts of the world withdrew from the United Kingdom in 2001.

Sunday 22 September 1996 – First Bus owned Rider Group 1451 (G451 JYG), a Plaxton Derwent bodied Volvo B10M-55 new in January 1990, seen at Showbus, Duxford. Yorkshire Rider had been owned by Badgerline since April 1994 became First Bus in June 1995 after the merger with GRT Holdings. In September 1995 Yorkshire Rider was split up into four localised companies based on Bradford (Bradford Traveller), Halifax (Calderline), Huddersfield (Kingfisher) and Leeds (Leeds City Link).

Sunday 25 September 1994 – Showbus, Duxford Left is Yorkshire Rider 5516 (D516 HUB), an Optare bodied Leyland Olympian new in February 1987. It carries a retro West Yorkshire Road Car Company livery, the Bradford and Leeds garages of WYRCC having been acquired from Blazefield by the Rider Group (owners of Yorkshire Rider) in August 1989. Yorkshire Rider, owned by Badgerline since April 1994 became First Bus in June 1995 after the merger with GRT Holdings. Right is privately preserved former Midland Red 6225 (UHA 225H), an Alexander bodied Daimler Fleetline new in November 1969.

Sunday 25 September 1994 – Showbus, Duxford Left is privately preserved former Midland Red 6225 (UHA 225H), an Alexander bodied Daimler Fleetline new in November 1969. Right is Yorkshire Rider 5516 (D516 HUB), an Optare bodied Leyland Olympian new in February 1987. It carries a retro West Yorkshire Road Car Company livery, the Bradford and Leeds garages of WYRCC having been acquired from Blazefield by the Rider Group (owners of Yorkshire Rider) in August 1989. Yorkshire Rider, owned by Badgerline since April 1994 became First Bus in June 1995 after the merger with GRT Holdings.

Sunday 22 March 1992 - Yorkshire Rider 5220 (G620 OWR), an Alexander RL bodied Leyland Olympian new in June 1990, parked in Huddersfield bus station.

Saturday 19 October 1991 – Yorkshire Rider 8041 (H641 VNW), an Alexander RH bodied Scania N113DRB new in March 1991. It was seen in Bradford Interchange loading for service 655 back to Leeds where it was based. Time was between 1625 and 1650.

Sunday 22 March 1992 – Three Yorkshire Rider vehicles parked in Huddersfield bus station. Nearest the camera is 2003 (E203 PWY), an Optare StarRider bodied Mercedes-Benz 811D new in November 1987. Yorkshire Rider also capitalising on the ‘Star Rider’ name. 5217 (G617 OWR), an Alexander RL bodied Leyland Olympian new in June 1990. A pure guess of the distant bus. It may be be 5148 (C148 KBT), an Optare bodied Leyland Olympian that was new in November 1985 to West Yorkshire PTE.

Wednesday 7 February 1996 – Rider York (part of Yorkshire Rider) 1203 (J423 NCP), an Ikarus Citibus bodied DAF SB220 new in July 1992, seen near Heslington Hall adjacent to York University.

Wednesday 7 February 1996 – Rider York (part of Yorkshire Rider) 1203 (J423 NCP), an Ikarus Citibus bodied DAF SB220 new in July 1992, seen near Heslington Hall adjacent to York University.

Wednesday 7 February 1996 – Rider York (part of Yorkshire Rider) 1203 (J423 NCP), an Ikarus Citibus bodied DAF SB220 new in July 1992, seen near Heslington Hall adjacent to York University.

Wednesday 7 February 1996 – Rider York (part of Yorkshire Rider) 1203 (J423 NCP), an Ikarus Citibus bodied DAF SB220 new in July 1992, seen near Heslington Hall adjacent to York University.