Farewell Geldards

Sorry I haven’t been updating in a while – due to my current health and being unwell i struggle to find the time to update this blog. However, I have been informed that it has been 2 years yesterday since i started this blog, so i would like to thank everyone for their continued patronage and support. But i digress, lets crack on with the main post shall we?

Geldards Coaches, based just off Gelderd Road(Probably what they were named after) at New Farnley had a varied fleet which ran several different school services around the West Yorkshire region, also covering several private hire contracts for schools along with CT Plus, who run most of the Mybus contracts which Geldards opted out from in favour of their fleet. I don’t know how long Geldards have been around, but i remember catching their MCW Metrobus Mark 2’s(Gardner Engined mostly) from my Primary School to the local Swimming Baths in Wakefield(Sadly, since been closed and pulled down) and back, always remember the loud differential’s and the typically dark interiors that the Metrobuses had, and the fact that they were yellow which i think was one of Geldards Main liveries at the time. Of course since, they slowly adopted the Blue colour scheme with the yellow fleet names.

Geldards Coaches J811HMC, an Alexander RH Bodied Scania N113DRB taken on the 29th August 2015 at Leeds City Bus Station. Little did i know this photo of this bus possibly would be my last?

Their fleet had evolved slowly over the years from what I’ve seen personally updating the West Yorkshire Independent fleet lists, gradually keeping up with the times with newer purchases such as the East Lancs Lowlander Bodied DAF DB250(Which had wheelchair access), Ex Reading Optare Spectras and newer DDA Spec Coaches. Most of the low floor stuff was used on services such as the 711(White Rose Centre – Pudsey – Bradford) or the 28B(Leeds Docks – Leeds University), but since Yorkshire Tiger launched their extensively branded university services, the 28B gradually got less patronage and ended up being cancelled. Later on though a lot of Low Floor stuff came to keep up with the times of DDA Regulations getting stricter, and newer buses were found in the form of several Ex Connex and Metroline Alexander ALX400 bodied Dennis Trident II’s which replaced a lot of the older stock that they had. Old stock was gradually retired, with more purchases such as Plaxton President Bodied Trident II’s being brought in.

However suddenly earlier on this year, a lot of these purchases were repossessed, allegedly due to lack of payment. So quite a lot of their services were reduced and the Ex Connex ALX400’s and Presidents disappeared. Things seemed to cope fine despite this blow, until when recently there was a huge blaze of fire in their Maintenance building in their yard, allegedly reported to be started accidentally by a spark off Welding onto some oil. Unfortunately, it had destroyed their building so a lot of the maintenance that they did would not be able to be done. Quick purchases were soon sought in the form of Different Tridents of varying bodies in time for the Leeds Festival Contracts. But sadly just about a week ago, it was announced the company was going into administration, and the company has ceased its operations, bringing an end to years of service in the West Yorkshire area. A range of different operators around the Leeds area are now covering the school contracts, with Yorkshire Tiger now running the 711 from their Kirkstall Road Depot and First Leeds running the X11(Limited run Leeds – Pudsey)

I had only managed to get a few photos of Geldard’s and the odd trip to their yard(With permission), but I’m sure for many enthusiasts this will be a huge loss with the company’s wide variety of vehicles and services. I leave you with a closing fleetlist, which can be accessed by clicking here.

Arriva MAX comes to Dewsbury!

In March of 2015 Arriva Yorkshire’s Dewsbury depot received a batch of 17 Enviro 400/E40D’s for use on services 202/3 from Leeds to Huddersfield via Dewsbury. These new Enviro 400’s are kitted out to Arriva’s MAX specification, which includes leather seats, Free Wi-Fi and Charging Points.

1920(SN15 LLK) is seen leaving White Rose Shopping Centre with a 202 journey to Leeds.

I tried one of these on a 202 journey from Leeds City Bus Station to Dewsbury Bus Station, and aside from the new bus smell making me feel ill(I have never been able to withstand the smell) the bus was very comfortable and presented wonderfully. Power certainly wasn’t an issue either, keeping to time along the long route. However, due to the company’s new trial of their Econospeed feature, it has been limited climbing hills to about 40mph, which is not good when your on a 70mph dual carriageway! Which is a shame as it if not utilizing full power of the Cummins/ZF Ecolife engine/gearbox configuration.

It has been at least 9 years since proper investment for these services, having been upgraded in 2006 with a brand new batch of East Lancs Lowlander bodied VDL DB250’s and being replaced with Ex 110 Darwen Olympus bodied Volvo B9TL’s, so the upgrade to MAX has really made the route worth riding again.

Two of these MAX E400’s have been branded as ‘MAX Spares’ as opposed to the standard 202/3 branding, one of the buses carrying this branding is 194(SN15 LLC) which is seen on the 126 route towards Wakefield Bus Station.

My video of 1930(SN15 LLZ) can be seen below by clicking on the Youtube link.

Dewsbury Bus Museum Open Day 08/03/2015

Sunday 8th March saw the Bi Annual Dewsbury Bus Museum Open Day event take place once again,  consists of stalls being set up in the main depot building, and visiting vehicles and indeed, their own vehicles and guest vehicles being used in service on Shuttles from Wakefield, Dewsbury, and to Charlottes Ice Cream Parlour in Whitley and Mystery Tours. 20 different buses of different were in attendance, which is a record number for the event. 13 buses were running in service including some extra surprises, and of course a selection of buses in the showground.

All in all, a great day was had and i had enjoyed myself.

I had been on two buses during the day, i had gotten sidetracked by other things during the event so didn’t get chance to try alot.

This preserved Yorkshire Coastliner ECW Bodied Leyland Olympian Fails to Disappoint!

The first vehicle i had been on was on the shuttle service from Raventhorpe to Dewsbury Bus Station, which was worked by a Preserved ECW Bodied Leyland Olympian represented in Yorkshire Coastliner Livery, registered B521 UWW. This was new to West Yorkshire PTE in July 1985 and had also served with Yorkshire Coastliner(Which livery it is preserved is) and ended up living out its days at Transdev Keighley and District until it was withdrawn in 2013. It has been finely preserved and is always a pleasure to ride on. I would have preferred a Semi Automatic Gearbox instead of the Automatic it has fitted, but this is a slight niggle, and you just cannot beat the sound of a roaring Gardner Engine!

This fine example of a preserved West Riding ECW bodied Leyland Olympian harks back to an early memory for myself…

The second bus i had been on between Dewsbury South Street and Ravensthorpe was this very fine example of a West Riding Buses ECW Bodied Leyland Olympian, registered A577 NWX. This was new in 1984 to West Riding Buses at Belle Isle Depot, and then transferred to Arriva Yorkshire in 1998 after Arriva’s acquistion of the company. It carried on in service until 2007 where it was withdrawn from service at Selby Depot. it has since been preserved and wonderfully restored by Steve Hurley into the West Riding Green and Cream and looks fantastic inside and out. I was fortunate enough to be driven by the ever wonderful Yorkshire Buses Veteran Driver Tony Salmon, who organizes these events for the Dewsbury Bus Museum.

Once again, a big THANK YOU must be said to the power of Dewsbury Bus Museum, West Riding Bus Group,Arriva Yorkshire and the other owners of said Vehicles for making this day possible.

The photos i have taken from this day can be seen by clicking this Link.

Dewsbury Bus Museum Open Day 18/11/14

Sunday 16th November saw the Bi Annual Dewsbury Bus Museum Open Day event take place. This usually consists of stalls being set up in the main depot building, and visiting vehicles and indeed, their own vehicles being used in service on Shuttles from Wakefield, Dewsbury, and to Charlottes Ice Cream Parlour in Whitley and Mystery Tours. 20 different buses of different were in attendance, which is a record number for the event. There was lots of variety too which means every taste was catered for.

All in all, a fantastic day was had. I had thoroughly enjoyed myself. This was the first open day fully organized by Bus Museum Patron Tony Salmon, and what a brilliant job he did! I certainly look forward to the next open day in March.

Below is a list of buses i got on the day.

Preserved Yorkshire Rider Calderline Northern Counties Bodied Leyland Olympian 5158 F158 XYG – Private Shuttle to Ravensthorpe.

Preserved West Riding Buses Leyland Lynx MK1 252 C920 FMP – Event Shuttle to Dewsbury South Street.

Preserved Todmorden Willowbrook Bodied Leyland Leopard 9 NWW 89E – Event Shuttle to Ravensthorpe.

First West Yorkshire Wrightbus NBFL LT2 LT61 BHT – Event Shuttle to Dewsbury South Street.

Preserved Yorkshire Rider Calderline Northern Counties Bodied Leyland Olympian 5158 F158 XYG – Event Shuttle to Ravensthorpe.

Preserved Yorkshire Rider Calderline Northern Counties Bodied Leyland Olympian 5158 F158 XYG – Private Shuttle To Wakefield Bus Station.

My photographs can be seen by clicking here.

And a video of Leyland Lynx MK1 252 can be seen below…

 

Heath Common Bus Running Day 14/07/2014

The 14th July 2014 saw West Riding Bus Group once again put on the event that is the Heath Common day which sees Dewsbury Bus Museum vehicles take to the stage at Heath Common Showground to run shuttles and relive services that were run by such companies as Yorkshire Woolen and West Riding Buses.

This year however saw the 110th Year of the 110 service(Kettlethorpe/Hall Green – ASDA Wakefield – Wakefield – Outwood – Leeds) which is the Flagship service for Arriva Yorkshire, currently being run by Wright Gemini II Bodied VDL DB300 Wright Gemini II 2DL’s new in December 2011 and entered service in February 2012. To celebrate this, Arriva Yorkshire had put YJ61 OAA(1508) in a special 50/50 livery with the corporate Arriva Bus Interurban livery and the West Riding Buses livery, not a fan of it myself however but some other people may like it. Who knows!? A picture of said livery can be seen Here.

It also saw the return of another former 110 patron, which was an ECW Bodied Leyland Olympian registered A577 NWX and was numbered 577 in West Riding/Arriva Fleet numbers and was new in 1984, served with West Riding/Arriva until 2007 where it was finally retired and secured for Preservation and has been wonderfully preserved by DBM member Steve Hurley, i was lucky enough to get a ride on it between Wakefield to Kettlethorpe and back reliving Service 110 which was a regular route for the bus, where a video can be seen Here. A video of several ECW Bodied Leyland Olympians working Service 110 at Kettlethorpe Terminus in 1996 can be seen Here on Paul Salmons Youtube channel.

Once again it had been a very enjoyable day, with plenty of visiting buses, home buses and even newer buses to add to that wonderful bit of variety. A big THANK YOU must be said to the power of Dewsbury Bus Museum, West Riding Bus Group,Arriva Yorkshire and the other owners of said Vehicles for making this day a very enjoyable day indeed.

My photos can be seen on my Photostream.

Buses that i got can be seen below:

Preserved Pennine Motors Leyland National LN19 BYW 432V – 52 shuttle to Wakefield Bus Station.

Preserved Mexborough & Swinton ECW Bodied Leyland Olympian 658 A658 OCX – 52 Shuttle to Heath Common.

Preserved West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive Roe Bodied Leyland Atlantean 6294 PUA 294W – 52 Shuttle to Wakefield Bus Station.

Preserved West Riding Buses ECW Bodied Leyland Olympian 577 A577 NWX – 110 to Kettlethorpe.

Preserved West Riding Buses ECW Bodied Leyland Olympian 577 A577 NWX – 110 to Wakefield Bus Station.

Preserved West Riding Buses ECW Bodied Leyland Olympian 577 A577 NWX – 52 Shuttle to Heath Common.

New Enviro 200’s for Arriva Yorkshire!

On Wednesday 18th June Arriva Yorkshire’s new fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro 200’s were officially launched in a press only Launch Event in Langthwaite Buisness Park in South Kirby, before going out into service in the afternoon to replace the now redundant Dennis Dart SLF’s with Plaxton Pointer II MPD bodies. These new Enviro 200’s are kitted out to Arriva’s MAX specification, which includes leather seats and Free Wi-Fi(But only up to 15 mins, presumably to stop people freeloading from it). The new E200 fleet consists of 31 brand new 14 reg buses, 23 being used at Belle Isle Depot for local services such as 100,101,102,114,115,119,120, whilst the remaining 8 are being used at Castleford Depot to work a range of duties that require a smaller bus. These are also unique in the fact that they are some of the first Enviro products to use the brand new ZF AS Tronic 6 speed gearboxes, which work in a similar fashion to the Volvo i-shift system. Having been on a couple of these buses today, they seem very suited to purpose for the routes they are being used for, and it is a promising and needed investment for Arriva Yorkshire’s Fleet.

 

Below is a few photos of these new Enviro 200’s in service:

 

Fleetlist Update! (11/06/2014)

The following fleetlists have been updated!

• Tates Travel
• M Travel
• Geldards
• SGI Community Transport

Click Here to view them!

Fleetlist Update! (03/04/2014)

The following fleetlists have been updated!

• Tates Travel
• Ross Travel
• M Travel
• Geldards
• SGI Community Transport

Click Here to view them!

Dewsbury Bus Museum Open Day 09/03/2013

Buses caught on Dewsbury Bus Museums Spring Open Day on the 9th March 2014.

Arriva Yorkshire DAF DB250 Optare Spectra 639 T639 EUB – Shuttle to Dewsbury Bus Station.

Tates Travel Alexander Dennis Dart SLF Enviro 200 YX62 FET – 278 to Wakefield Bus Station.

Arriva Yorkshire VDL DB300 Wright Gemini II 2DL 1531 YJ61 OBE – 126 to Dewsbury Bus Station.

Preserved West Riding Buses Leyland PD2/1 640 BHL 682 – Shuttle to Ravensthorpe.

Photos can be seen on my Photostream.

Dewsbury Bus Museum Open Day 17/11/13

Attended the Bi Annual Dewsbury Bus Museum open day today, here is a list of the vehicles i got today.

Arriva Yorkshire VDL DB300 Wright Gemini II 2DL 1533 YJ61 OBG – 127 to Wakefield Westgate.

Preserved Dudleys Coaches(Tamworth Tourer) Volvo B10M H630 UWR – Free Shuttle Service to Ravensthorpe.

Preserved Keighley & District ECW Leyland Olympian 389 B521 UWW – Free Shuttle to Dewsbury Bus Station.

Preserved Keighley & District ECW Leyland Olympian 389 B521 UWW – Free Shuttle to Ravensthorpe.

Arriva Yorkshire VDL DB300 Wright Gemini II 2DL 1506 YJ59 BUA – Free Shuttle Service to Dewsbury Bus Station.

Arriva Yorkshire VDL DB300 Wright Gemini II 2DL 1533 YJ61 OBG – 126 to Horbury.

Arriva Yorkshire VDL DB300 Wright Gemini II 2DL 1529 YJ61 OBC – 127 to Wakefield Bus Station.

Arriva Yorkshire VDL SB200 Wright Pulsar II 1469 YJ62 JZX – 194 to Havercroft Green.

Arriva Yorkshire VDL SB200 Wright Pulsar II 1466 YJ62 JZH – 194 to Wakefield Bus Station.

Arriva Yorkshire VDL DB250 East Lancs Lowlander 1601 YJ06 WLZ – 481 to Leeds City Bus Station.

Stagecoach Yorkshire MAN 18.240 Enviro 300 22632 YN08 JFU – 444 to Wakefield Bus Station.

*Due to the long wait for a bus home, a taxi was called to take me back home in Horbury*

Photos can be seen on my Photostream.