Deregulated Leeds

21/11/2017 WebSupport Bus News, Features, Gallery
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Brian Crowther’s Black Prince Buses of Morley was high profile in the post bus deregulation era in Leeds. His vehicles with their distinctive name and striking colour scheme were readily recognisable particularly on the fiercely contested corridor to Morley. Also well-known was Rhodes of Yeadon, which operated services from Leeds to Otley, Guiseley and Yeadon, but they were just two names amongst numerous others that were all fighting for a share of a crowded market still dominated by Yorkshire Rider and Yorkshire’s former National Bus Company subsidiaries. It made the city’s streets a colourful place with further interest provided by the local mainstream coach operators. David Bell has been a regular visitor to the area over many decades, but he captures the spirit of that time with this selection of images dating from the late 1980s and early 1990s

  • A coach-seated ECW-bodied Bristol VRT/SL3 new to Alder Valley in 1976, but previously operated by Keighley & District, is seen with Taylor’s Coaches of Morley in Morley during June 1992
  • A Reeve Burgess-bodied Leyland Swift new in November 1991 to Fourway Coaches photographed in June 1992 passing the Corn Exchange in Leeds. The company is still in business today based in Guiseley
  • A Leyland National new to South Wales in 1973, photographed in Leeds city centre in June 1992 with Barnsley-based Pride of the Road
  • A Northern Counties-bodied Leyland Olympian new to the old established independent South Yorkshire Motors of Pontefract in 1984, is seen leaving Leeds for Doncaster during September 1992
  • Yorkshire Rider supported local manufacturing when it bought Optare-bodied Leyland Olympians like this bus in 1985, pictured near the Corn Exchange in Leeds six years later
  • Black Prince operated a 1972 Leyland Leopard Marshall new to Yorkshire Woollen District in Leeds by April 1990
  • New to United Counties in 1976, an Alexander T-bodied Leyland Leopard with Four Seasons of Castleford in Leeds during April
  • This Scania K92 East Lancs was new to Jones of Login in West Wales in 1987, but Rhodes of Yeadon was operating it by June 1992
  • This former London Transport Routemaster was one of three operated by Black Prince and was photographed in Morley during April 1991. It previously operated for Clydeside Scottish
  • The Scania Metropolitan was a stylish looking bus and Black Prince operated several of them, including this one pictured in Leeds in September 1992 which was new to Tyne and Wear in 1977
  • A Leyland National new in 1973 to West Riding is pictured with Taylor’s Coaches of Morley
  • Remember Optare’s revolutionary CityPacer? This one was new in December 1987 to Leeds City Council and was photographed in the centre of Leeds five years later
  • Another Black Prince vehicle, an Alexander-bodied Volvo Ailsa new to Central SMT and seen in Morley in April 1991
  • London Country operated long-wheelbase ECW-bodied Leyland Olympians on Green Line services including this bus that later passed to Rhodes of Yeadon
  • A Northern Counties-bodied Leyland Olympian in central Leeds that typified the Yorkshire Rider fleet at that time
  • A Leyland National new in 1976 to East Kent with Black Prince outside Morley Town Hall in July 1989
  • An unusual Willowbrook-bodied AEC Swift new in 1972 to Great Yarmouth Corporation that was in service by July 1989 with Miramare Coaches of Morley
  • CVE Omnis were never common. This one was operating a local service in Rothwell for AB Cars of Kippax in April 1991
  • A former East Midlands Alexander T-type Leyland Leopard that had acquired a Plaxton grill and was still in Lincolnshire operator, Appleby’s livery when running for Black Prince past Leeds central market in April 1991
  • A much travelled Leyland National 2 new to the Cairngorm Ski Company in 1980 is seen here with Rhodes of Yeadon in June 1992. It later passed to Norfolk Green of King’s Lynn
  • An ex-West Midlands PTE MCW Metrobus new in 1980 that was painted in County Motors livery by West Riding. It was approaching the Eastgate roundabout near the Central Bus Station in Leeds during April 1991
  • This Leyland Leopard Marshall was new to Midland Red and was operating for AJC Coaches (Fallas) in Leeds by September 1992