Yelloway (ATL) PRR 120L in Rochdale – 11 Sep 1988 (74-42)

Sunday 11 September 1988 – In July 1985 Yelloway Motor Services which had been managed by the Allen family for more than 50 years was sold to a new owner. Changes ensued which might have portrayed an air of an optimistic future that sadly was not going to be.

Amongst the changes made by the new management was the decision to branch out into bus service operation and to hand over the long distance coach services to National Express for which Yelloway then became a contracted operator. Vehicles would wear National Express livery resulting in the famous Yelloway colours and name no longer being seen countrywide.

Initially buses appeared in the old company colours but gradually a livery style and layout used by other businesses in ATL Group ownership came to be which no longer reflected the glorious past of the Yelloway company.

These two grubby looking Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR buses were seen parked in Milton Street, Rochdale close to the Yelloway garage and coach station wear that livery format. Both carry the new style fleetname introduced by ATL although PRR 120L, which had been new to East Midland Motor Services as their 120 in April 1973, also carries the old style rising sun style fleetname on the side.