Ellen Smith (Tours) Ltd

March 1975 – A blurred line-up of Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited vehicles on the parking area alongside the garage in Yorkshire Street, Wardleworth, Rochdale. Far left is either XDK 279 or YDK 869, both were short length Harrington Cavalier bodied Leyland Leopards dating from 1960 and 1961 respectively; ODK 137, a Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster RT3/2 new in 1956 re-bodied in 1968; 4728 DK, a Harrington Cavalier bodied Leyland Leopard new in 1963; and WDK 916K, a Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied Leyland Leopard new in 1972.

June 1975 - Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited was a Rochdale based family business that had its origins in the early 1900s. Leyland Leopard coaches seen outside their garage in Yorkshire Street, Wardleworth, Rochdale include Harrington Cavalier bodied 4728 DK, new in April 1963, and a Plaxton Panorama which, judging by the body mouldings, might be HTD 589N new in May 1975.

April 1974 - Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited Harrington Cavalier bodied Leyalnd Leopards seen outside their garage in Yorkshire Street, Wardleworth, Rochdale. 6733 DK was new in March 1964 and 3161 DK was new in May 1962. The family run business had its origins in the early 1900s. In January 1991 the family sold the business to Rossendale Transport who continued to operate this well respected business until 2002 when ownership then passed to two Rossendale Transport managers in a management buy out. The name continues today and continues to operate a comprehensive holiday tour and excursion programme from the area around Rochdale, Bury, Middleton etc.

April 1974 - Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited HDK 751E, a Plaxton Panorama bodied Leyland Leopard new in 1967, seen outside the garage in Yorkshire Street, Wardleworth, Rochdale. In 1975 this coach was damaged in a serious accident in Holywell, North Wales after running down an embankment. It was subsequently re-bodied with a later style Plaxton Panorama Elite body.

September 1976 - Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited TDK 594J, a Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied Leyland Leopard new in 1971, seen in Newgate, Rochdale displaying the headboard for the Rochdale Hornets Rugby League team in the windscreen. The coach was fitted with tables with rearward and forward facing seats and was also used by the Rochdale AFC team. The company’s booking office was on a small plot of ground directly beyond the coach.

June 1975 - Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited CDK 373L, a a Plaxton Panorama bodied Leyland Leopard new in June 1973, seen outside their garage in Yorkshire Street, Wardleworth, Rochdale. Tucked behind was withdrawn Duple bodied Leyland Tiger Cub RDK 4 new in April 1957. We had a school trip to Morecambe on this coach circa 1962 and on the return trip when travelling along the motorway around Preston the driver got the coach up to 80 miles per hour.

September 1976 - Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited SDK 442 seen in Newgate, Rochdale. It was a Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster RT3/2 new in March 1958 with a Plaxton Consort body but in 1970 it was rebodied as seen in this photograph remaining in the fleet until 1983. Seen in Newgate, Rochdale close to the company’s booking office.

September 1972 - Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited ODK 137 was a Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster new in January 1956 with centre entrance Plaxton Consort bodywork. In 1968 it was re-bodied with the Plaxton Panorama body seen here which extended its life into the mid 1970s. It was seen here parked outside the company’s booking office in Newgate, Rochdale bearing the nameplate of Rochdale Hornets Rugby League Football Club. The booking office was demolished during the town centre redevelopment and although an alternative office was created not too far away.

Saturday 21 March 1992 – Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited of Rochdale used a tiger logo on their coaches from the early 1930s and in Eric Ogden’s book on the Ellen Smith company it tells that Leyland Motors later used the same image for their Royal Tiger badge. The Smith family sold the business to Rossendale Transport in 1991 and the tiger identity continued albeit with a change in graphics. Later still when the business was purchase by two Rossendale managers a variation on the tiger theme continued. This logo from the Smith family era adorned the window of the Newgate booking office in Rochdale.

Sunday 21 August 2016 – Former Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited CDK 448C, a Harrington Grenadier bodied Leyland Leopard new in May 1965. Ellen Smith was based in my home town of Rochdale. A participant at the ‘Buses Festival’ held at the National Motor Museum, Gaydon organised by ‘Buses’ magazine.

Sunday 21 August 2016 – Former Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited CDK 448C, a Harrington Grenadier bodied Leyland Leopard new in May 1965. Ellen Smith was based in my home town of Rochdale. A participant at the ‘Buses Festival’ held at the National Motor Museum, Gaydon organised by ‘Buses’ magazine.

Showbus, Donington - Sun 25 Sep 2016 Coaches of two old Rochdale competitors. Former Yelloway CDK 172L, a Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied AEC Reliance new in May 1973. In the background is former Ellen Smith CDK 448C, a Harrington Grenadier bodied Leyland Leopard new in May 1965.

Showbus, Donington - Sun 25 Sep 2016 Former Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited CDK 448C, a Harrington Grenadier bodied Leyland Leopard new in May 1965.

Easter Sunday 16 April 1995 – Rossendale Transport bought the old family business of Rochdale based Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited in 1991 and continued to use the well respected name. Plaxton Supreme IV bodied Leyland Leopard LFS 487T was new to Ellen Smith in 1979 and became Rossendale 308. In this view it carries the Ellen Smith livery but with Rossendale fleetnames although the front showed Ellen Smith on the glass panel beneath the windscreen.

Easter Sunday 16 April 1995 – Rossendale Transport bought the old family business of Rochdale based Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited in 1991 and continued to use the well respected name. Three Ellen Smith liveried coaches seen at the Corporation Road yard in Rochdale. Left to right: 382 (AAL 468A), a Plaxton Paramount III 3200 bodied Leyland Leopard. The chassis was new to National Welsh in June 1980 registered BUH 225V (fleet number UC8019) with a Plaxton Supreme IV bodywork. It was re-bodied in June 1988. 314 (NIW 6514), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new to National Travel South West in March 1980 registered KAD 356V; and Plaxton Supreme IV bodied Leyland Leopard LFS 487T which was new to Ellen Smith in 1979 and became Rossendale 308. The Rossendale Transport yard is on the site where the Standard Mill once stood, one of the many cotton mills that existed in Rochdale. It was built in 1889 and had about five or six floors.

Easter Sunday 16 April 1995 – Rossendale Transport bought the old family business of Rochdale based Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited in 1991 and continued to use the well respected name. Three Ellen Smith liveried coaches seen at the Corporation Road yard in Rochdale. Left to right: 382 (AAL 468A), a Plaxton Paramount III 3200 bodied Leyland Leopard. The chassis was new to National Welsh in June 1980 registered BUH 225V (fleet number UC8019) with a Plaxton Supreme IV bodywork. It was re-bodied in June 1988. 314 (NIW 6514), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new to National Travel South West in March 1980 registered KAD 356V; and Plaxton Supreme IV bodied Leyland Leopard LFS 487T which was new to Ellen Smith in 1979 and became Rossendale 308. The Rossendale Transport yard is on the site where the Standard Mill once stood, one of the many cotton mills that existed in Rochdale. It was built in 1889 and had about five or six floors.

Easter Sunday 16 April 1995 – At the Rossendale Transport yard in Corporation Road, Rochdale. The yard is on the site where the Standard Mill once stood, one of the many cotton mills that existed in Rochdale. It was built in 1889 and had about five or six floors. The coach nearest the camera carries the Rossendale Transport livery whereas the remainder carry the livery of Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited, a Rochdale based business which Rossendale Transport acquired in 1991. Left to right: In Rossendale Transport livery LIB 1181, a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard that was new in January 2001 to Hills of Tredegar registered GBO243W. The three Ellen Smith liveried coaches are: 382 (AAL 468A), a Plaxton Paramount III 3200 bodied Leyland Leopard. The chassis was new to National Welsh in June 1980 registered BUH 225V (fleet number UC8019) with a Plaxton Supreme IV bodywork. It was re-bodied in June 1988. 314 (NIW 6514), a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard new to National Travel South West in March 1980 registered KAD 356V. 308 (LFS 487T), a Plaxton Supreme IV bodied Leyland Leopard which was new to the family owned Ellen Smith business in 1979 which became Rossendale 308.

Easter Sunday 16 April 1995 – Rossendale Transport bought the old family business of Rochdale based Ellen Smith (Tours) Limited in 1991 and continued to use the well respected name. 390 (170 BHR) was an MCW Metrorider new to Capital of West Drayton as D741 ALR in 1987. It was seen at the Corporation Road base in Rochdale.