Rossendale Transport

Sunday 27 February 1999 (1020) - Rossendale Transport 113 (P213 DCK), an East Lancs Spryte bodied Dennis Dart new in June 1997, seen in Rochdale bus station. It carries ‘Easyride’ branding.

Sunday 27 February 1999 (1020) - Rossendale Transport 113 (P213 DCK), an East Lancs Spryte bodied Dennis Dart new in June 1997, seen in Rochdale bus station. It carries ‘Easyride’ branding.

Wednesday 11 October 1995 – Rossendale Transport 131 (VDY 531T), an East Lancs bodied Leyland Atlantean AN68A/1R, seen at the Cronkeyshaw Common bus stop on Whitworth Road, Rochdale. It had been new to Eastbourne Borough Transport as number 31 in November 1978. Despite being secondhand it was virtually identical to buses purchased new by Rossendale. It was operating service 464 from Rochdale to Accrington by way of the Whitworth Valley, Bacup, the Rossendale Valley, Rawtenstall and Haslingden. Rossendale and its predecessor Rawtenstall Corporation Motors had worked the Bacup to Accrington service with trams then buses jointly operated with Haslingden and Accrington Corporations. Since deregulation when Rossendale expanded into Rochdale the Rochdale to Bacup service (originally operated by Rochdale Corporation) was linked with that from Bacup to Accrington. The Yelloway service X79 to Blackpool and Fleetwood used to pick-up at this bus stop if requested. Despite having an official definition of ‘Cronkeyshaw Common’ we always referred to the stop as ‘One Ash’. ‘One Ash’ being the name of the large house on the north west corner of Whitworth Road and Mizzy Road which was the home of Statesman John Bright.

Friday 18 October 1991 – The tower of Rochdale Town Hall and the rear of the former General Post Office building provide a backcloth to Rossendale Transport 163 (PHB 363R) which was picking up passengers in Newgate when bound for Syke on service 440. It is a Duple Dominant (bus model) bodied Leyland Leopard that had been new to Rhymney Valley Transport (Inter Valley Link) in March 1977. In April 1993 Rossendale Transport had this body replaced with an East Lancs EL2000 body and the vehicle was later re-registered as PJI 9171.

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 ERF tow truck YJX 538Y (Hector) at the yard in Corporation Road, Rochdale. The yard is on the site where the Standard Mill (built in 1889) once stood, one of the many cotton mills that existed in Rochdale. In the background is a small remaining part of what had been Brimrod Mill. It had been owned by AEI (Associated Electrical Industries) for some years and I recall the names of its subsidiaries Siemens, Edison Swan on the building in the 1960s.

Sunday 5 July 2015 - Rosso (Rossendale Transport) YJ07 PBU passes the line up of preserved Yelloway coaches on the 'Yelloway 100' road run in St. James Street, Bacup.

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1350) – Rosso is now the trading name of Rossendale Transport with a new colour scheme. Optare Solo 55 (YJ05 JWD) carries the Rosso name but remains in the earlier livery. It is seen entering Rochdale Interchange from Smith Street. The Metrolink tram station stands across the background.

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1356) – Rosso (Rossendale Transport) 139 (PF51 KMV), an East Lancs bodied Dennis Dart SLF new in January 2002, seen at Rochdale Interchange loading for service 435 to Shaw and Buckstones.

Sunday 5 July 2015 (1326) – Rosso (Rossendale Transport) 243 (YJ07 PBV) seen in Bacup when working the Rochdale to Accrington service 464. The bus stops for both directions of this service are on the same side of the street (behind the camera on the right). Rochdale bound buses simply travel through the town but Accrington bound buses have first to turn at the roundabout facing back towards Rochdale in order to pickup. Having done so the bus then pulls away making a U-turn in order to continue on its way. It is a Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE new to Lancashire United in April 2007.

Sunday 5 July 2015 (1326) – Rosso (Rossendale Transport) 243 (YJ07 PBV) seen in Bacup when working the Rochdale to Accrington service 464. The bus stops for both directions of this service are on the same side of the street (behind the camera on the right). Rochdale bound buses simply travel through the town but Accrington bound buses have first to turn at the roundabout facing back towards Rochdale in order to pickup. Having done so the bus then pulls away making a U-turn in order to continue on its way. It is a Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE new to Lancashire United in April 2007.

Sunday 5 July 2015 (1326) – Rosso (Rossendale Transport) 243 (YJ07 PBV) seen in St. James Street, Bacup passing the ‘Yelloway 100’ road run. It is a Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE new to Lancashire United in April 2007 which was working the Rochdale to Accrington service 464.

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1732) – Rosso is now the trading name of Rossendale Transport. Wright bodied Scania L94UB 223 (YN05 GXU) is seen outside Rochdale Interchange New in June 2005 to Reading Transport (1017).

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1354) – Rosso is now the trading name of Rossendale Transport. Wright bodied Scania K230UB 236 (YN57 FWM), seen at Rochdale Interchange loading on service 464 to Accrington via Bacup and the Rossendale Valley. It was new to Reading Transport (1036) in November 2007.

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1348) – Rosso is now the trading name of Rossendale Transport. Wright bodied Scania K230UB 234 (YN57 FWK), seen at Rochdale Interchange prior to working service 444, was new to Reading Transport (1034) in November 2007.

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1347) – Rosso is now the trading name of Rossendale Transport. Wright bodied Scania K230UB 234 (YN57 FWK), seen at Rochdale Interchange prior to working service 444, was new to Reading Transport (1034) in November 2007.

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1345) – Rosso is now the trading name of Rossendale Transport. Wright bodied Scania K230UB 234 (YN57 FWK), seen at Rochdale Interchange, was new to Reading Transport (1034) in November 2007. An Optare Solo stands behind. The building on the right stands where the Yelloway Travel Bureaus once stood at the end of Weir Street.

Saturday 4 July 2015 (1321) – Rosso is now the trading name of Rossendale Transport. Wright bodied Volvo B7RLE 215 (PO59 MLX) is seen at Rochdale Interchange working service 468 to Bury via Fairfield Hospital.