Scarborough 1967-2012

Wednesday 10 August 1994 - Shoreline Suncruiser Buses buses seen on Sandside in Scarborough working their sea front service. Both had been new as normal covered top buses to their original owners. Left is SS2 (MOM 573P), a Park Royal bodied Leyland Fleetline which had been new to West Midlands PTE (6573) in July 1976. Right is SS5 (NHR 165M), a Metro-Cammell bodied Daimler Fleetline which had been new to Swindon Corporation (165) in November 1973.

Saturday 13 August 1994 (approx. 0845) - Shoreline Suncruiser Buses LFS 296F seen on Columbus Ravine in Scarborough no doubt heading down to the North Bay to start working their sea front service. It was one of the few 33 foot long Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VRs and had been new to Scottish Omnibuses Limited (AA296) as a covered top bus in December 1968. It was one of the buses forming part of the fabled exchange programme between the Scottish Bus Group with the National Bus Company. In the exchange SBG parted with its VRs in exchange for NBC Lodekkas and this bus joined Southdown Motor Services as their 544. It was later transferred to Alder Valley and converted to open top for a service around Windsor. Here it is wearing a special livery promoting the pleasure cruises by two Scarborough Pleasure Steamers ‘Coronia’ and ‘Regal Lady’ although the red front doesn’t have the same impact of the company’s blue and yellow livery.

Thursday 11 August 1994 (approx. 1250) – Tees and District was created in February 1990 from the Cleveland and North Yorkshire coastal operating area of United Automobile Services which at the time was owned by Caldaire Holdings. In 1992 the company was acquired by the Westcourt Bus Group. Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger 1331 (C38 CWT) was new in February 1986 to West Riding as their number 38 - West Riding also became a Caldaire subsidiary. It was seen in Westborough, Scarborough working a mid-day departure of service 93C to Whitby about 20 miles up the coast.

Friday 12 August 1994 (approx. 0840) – Tees and District was created in February 1990 from the Cleveland and North Yorkshire coastal operating area of United Automobile Services which at the time was owned by Caldaire Holdings. In 1992 the company was acquired by the Westcourt Bus Group. Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger 1419 (A146 EPA) had been new to London Country in February 1984 as a Green Line coach (TPL46). It was seen parked at Westwood, Scarborough having worked the 0730 service 93A from Whitby it was taking a short break before departing to Middlesbrough on service 93.

Thursday 11 August 1994 (approx. 0840) – Tees and District was created in February 1990 from the Cleveland and North Yorkshire coastal operating area of United Automobile Services which at the time was owned by Caldaire Holdings. In 1992 the company was acquired by the Westcourt Bus Group. Plaxton Paramount bodied Leyland Tiger 1341 (RMO 201Y) was new to Reading Transport (201) in March 1983 passing to Pulham’s Coaches of Bourton-on-the-Water in late 1991. In April 1993 it was acquired by Tees and District and when seen here it remained in Pulham’s livery. Seen in Somerset Terrace Scarborough having arrived on the 0730 service 93A from Whitby about 20 miles up the coast.

Friday 12 August 1994 (approx. 1715) – United Automobile Services 4021 (L421 FHN), an Optare Delta bodied DAF new in August 1993, loading in Somerset Terrace, Scarborough for the evening return of ‘Seaside Flyer’ service X62 to Esh Winning (County Durham) – a journey of about 80 miles. I believe this was a day trip type service operating into Scarborough around mid-day returning in the late afternoon. Once upon a time the vast operating area of United stretched from the Newcastle area down to Bridlington and the company had a garage and bus station in Scarborough. The company operated the town bus service network. When the National Bus Company re-organised the Scarborough area services during the latter part of the NBC era United’s services passed to East Yorkshire Motor Services. The United presence in Scarborough then became quite limited.

Friday 12 August 1994 (approx. 1715) – United Automobile Services 4021 (L421 FHN), an Optare Delta bodied DAF new in August 1993, loading in Somerset Terrace, Scarborough for the evening return of ‘Seaside Flyer’ service X62 to Esh Winning (County Durham) – a journey of about 80 miles. I believe this was a day trip type service operating into Scarborough around mid-day returning in the late afternoon. Once upon a time the vast operating area of United stretched from the Newcastle area down to Bridlington and the company had a garage and bus station in Scarborough. The company operated the town bus service network. When the National Bus Company re-organised the Scarborough area services during the latter part of the NBC era United’s services passed to East Yorkshire Motor Services. The United presence in Scarborough then became quite limited.

Friday 12 August 1994 (approx. 1725) – Tees and District was created in February 1990 from the Cleveland and North Yorkshire coastal operating area of United Automobile Services which at the time was owned by Caldaire Holdings. In 1992 the company was acquired by the Westcourt Bus Group. Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Olympian 251 (B251 NVN) had been new to United in May 1985. It was seen near Scarborough Railway Station on the return trip of service X57 to Hartlepool which was a ‘Seaside Flyer’ service to cater for day trip traffic operating down from the North East in the morning returning in the late afternoon. The vehicle wasn’t doing much seaside flying here as it had taken the best part of 15 minutes to travel the short distance from the Somerset Terrace departure point. Road works in Falsgrave Road combined with Friday rush hour traffic creating significant delays. A United driver of another similar type service which departed Somerset Terrace 5 minutes later had travelled via York Place and the upper part of Westborough to then leave town via Northway and Burniston Road helped him avoid the delays.

Friday 12 August 1994 (approx. 1725) – Tees and District was created in February 1990 from the Cleveland and North Yorkshire coastal operating area of United Automobile Services which at the time was owned by Caldaire Holdings. In 1992 the company was acquired by the Westcourt Bus Group. Tees 5007 (H32 PAJ), a Leyland Lynx new in June 1991, was seen in queueing traffic outside Scarborough Railway Station working the return trip of service X79 to South Bank (Middlesbrough), a ‘Seaside Flyer’ service to cater for day trip traffic operating down from the North East in the morning returning in the late afternoon. The vehicle wasn’t doing much seaside flying here as it had taken the best part of 15 minutes to travel the short distance from the Somerset Terrace departure point. Road works in Falsgrave Road combined with Friday rush hour traffic creating significant delays. A United driver of another similar type service which departed Somerset Terrace 5 minutes later had travelled via York Place and the upper part of Westborough to then leave town via Northway and Burniston Road helped him avoid the delays.

Friday 12 August 1994 (approx. 1715) – Tees and District was created in February 1990 from the Cleveland and North Yorkshire coastal operating area of United Automobile Services which at the time was owned by Caldaire Holdings. In 1992 the company was acquired by the Westcourt Bus Group. Tees 5007 (H32 PAJ), a Leyland Lynx new in June 1991, was seen in Somerset Terrace, Scarborough working the return trip of service X79 to South Bank (Middlesbrough), a ‘Seaside Flyer’ service to cater for day trip traffic operating down from the North East in the morning returning in the late afternoon. In the background (left) is the Tesco store which was built on the site of East Yorkshire Motor Services bus station in Westwood and just out of shot to the left of the camera is where United’s Valley Bridge Bus Station was located.

Saturday 15 July 2006 (approx. 0815) - Arriva North East 1206 (V206 DJR), a Plaxton Prima bodied DAF DE33 new in September 1999, seen setting down across the road from Scarborough Central Railway Station. It had just arrived as the 0715 service 93 from Whitby.

Saturday 12 April 2008 (0829 hrs BST) - Arriva North East works their X56 service into Scarborough from Middlesbrough, Loftus (from where this bus came today) and Whitby. N519 XVN (number 3019?) is a 1995 Optare Prisma bodied Mercedes-Benz O 405. It had arrived at 0825 (from Loftus at 0642) and would then work the 0900 to Middlesbrough (due 1142). It was parked on Northway with Prospect Road crossing in the background.

Sunday 15 April 2007 (0805) - Dunn-Line 31 (YN03 DGE), an Irizar Century bodied Scania new in 2003, seen in Scaborough when working the National Express service 563 from Whitby (0730) to London (1520). This was seen across the road from Scarborough Railway Station as it picked up its passengers at 0805.

Sunday 15 April 2007 (approx 0820) - East Yorkshire Motor Services Limited 37 (3277 KH ex V838 JAT), a Plaxton Premiere bodied Volvo B10M (new 1999), seen at the coach stop opposite the Railway Station in Scarborough about to depart as the 0815 National Express service 322 to Brecon (Wales). Travelling via various towns and cities including Hull (0955-1000); Nottingham (1255-1300); Birmingham (1415-1515 where it partakes in the interchange hub); and Cardiff (1745-1750). It was due to arrive in Brecon at 1910. New coaches were anticipated within the forthcoming weeks which would oust this coach from National Express work. The art deco theatre was the ODEON cinema in my childhood.

Saturday 12 April 2008 (0817 hrs BST) - East Yorkshire Motor Services Limited Plaxton bodied Volvo 46 (A19 EYC) was seen outside Scarborough railway station (to the right) about to leave as the 0815 National Express service 322 to Brecon, South Wales (due 1910). The taxi parked behind the coach had hastily arrived with some passengers one minute after the supposed departure time. The Art Deco style building on the left, now Alan Ayckbourn's Stephen Joseph Theatre, was built in the 1930s as the Odeon Cinema.

Saturday 12 April 2008 (0817 hrs BST) - East Yorkshire Motor Services Limited Plaxton bodied Volvo 46 (A19 EYC) was seen outside Scarborough railway station about to leave as the 0815 National Express service 322 to Brecon, South Wales (due 1910). The taxi parked behind the coach had hastily arrived with some passengers one minute after the supposed departure time.

Friday 12 August 1994 (0820) – The Shearings Group owned the Norbreck Hotel in Scarborough where the clientele of these two coaches were most probably tucking in to their hearty breakfasts before venturing out for the day. The hotel stands high above the town close to Scarborough Castle. Built in the 12th century, one side of the castle’s Great Keep was sheered away by Parliamentarian heavy cannon in 1645. Nearest the camera is 292 (J292 RNC), a Plaxton Premiere 320 bodied Scania K93 new in March 1992. Standing behind is 841 (G841 RNC), a a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger new in March 1990. Note that 292 carries two different tour labels SS362 and SS383.

Friday 12 August 1994 (0820) – The Shearings Group owned the Norbreck Hotel in Scarborough where the clientele of these two coaches were most probably tucking in to their hearty breakfasts before venturing out for the day. The hotel stands high above the town close to Scarborough Castle. Built in the 12th century, one side of the castle’s Great Keep was sheered away by Parliamentarian heavy cannon in 1645. 841 (G841 RNC), a Plaxton Paramount 3200 bodied Leyland Tiger was new in March 1990. Tour number MN361 label carried.