Author: admin

  • Newcastle ‘Back Enders’

    Does anyone know when was the last ‘back ender’ was used in Newcastle upon Tyne. Bob Powell 31/03/12 – 17:34 The memory’s not what it was, but I think this question could well have two answers. The last open platform buses Newcastle bought as new vehicles were the Tin Front Orion bodied PD3’s, and that…

  • Yorkshire’s First Motor Bus

    Reluctant as I am to question the legitimacy of the claim that (Ezra) Laycock & Stephenson ran Yorkshire’s first motor bus service in 1904, between Kildwick and Cowling, but I keep coming across references to the fact that the North Eastern Railway Company ran feeder services using Stirling petrol-engined buses from Beverley as early as…

  • Frames Tours

    Can anyone tell me what happened to the firm Frames Tours, or if they still exist. I have searched, but come up with a blank so far, so I assume they have gone the way of many companies over the years. I remember them operating in the 1970’s, and in fact used to drive one…

  • Wilks & Meade

    I have a 1947 Leyland Tiger PS1 reg. number JAX 354 with a Wilks & Meade body and would be interested in finding out if any other Wilks & Meade bodied buses have survived. Dave Robertson 27/12/12 – 13:47 This firm was a subsidiary of Wallace Arnold in post war years and although some bodies…

  • Gas Buses in Hull

    As a kid I remember seeing a bus on the 45 route towing a trailer with what I thought then as a fire in the trailer. I am now 74 and until recently I found some one who remembered these things now I would like to know of anybody else who could throw some light…

  • Bristol Omnibus Co. Leyland PD1

    Can anyone advise me on the condition/whereabouts of the above mentioned vehicle, reg. KHW 630, fleet no. C4019, one of the 50 Leyland PD 1s that Bristol Omnibus acquired in 1947/8. I have contacted the 2 main groups here in Bristol that care for ex Bristol buses but no luck. I was told a good…

  • Foden Coach

    A photograph I purchased from RHG Simpson was that of Foden coach ORB 952. I remember this vehicle because it operated near to where I grew up. It belonged to Swain’s Garage of Somercotes, Derbyshire and the registration dates it to 1951. It had full fronted bodywork which had a look of Beccols about it.…

  • Wakes Weeks

    The holiday weeks of the industrial towns of the North West of England, and possibly of the West Riding, were known as Wakes Weeks. From family connections, I know that Bolton had a June week and a September week. The mills would shut down and most of the population would migrate to the seaside: Blackpool,…

  • Leyland TD4 CWB 987

    Does anybody know what happened to CWB 987. It is/was a 1936 Leyland TD4 that started life with Crosville; in 1952 it was rebodied by MCW, then somehow or other found its way into United’s fleet, it later became a canteen (and a very good one) located in the Newcastle Haymarket Bus Station layover area.…

  • Bristol LKH Four Cylinder Gardner

    I wonder if anyone can solve a puzzle re: a D/Decker which was at Cambridge depot Eastern Counties Omnibus Co until early 70’s (see subject heading). The Eastern Counties LKH code stands for Bristol K, KS & KSW highbridge Double Decker.I’m almost certain that this vehicle only had a 4cyl Gardner engine, but what puzzled…