Stuart Emmett

This book follows on from Volume 1 and concludes the route history and development of the many interesting routes on the hills in Bradford. These are beautifully illustrated and show the ranges from sooty dark Victorian buildings to rural termini and the attendant changes with city redevelopment. Indeed, the redevelopment of the city in the 1960s also provides a historical pictorial backdrop to the trolleybuses seen at work in the city. The renaissance of Bradfords trolleybuses is described along with the reasons why it was such special system. After every rise, there must come a fall, and this started in Bradford soon after 1961. Whilst the future had looked good in 1960, with capital development planned, the fall and the final closure resulted from management changes, city centre development, major road changes and, finally, a definite close policy. Although the decline was a slow one, it did, however, gather momentum as final closure approached. All of the closures and attendant fleet losses are fully covered, however there is no final day' coverage, as this the book (and Volume 1) seek to principally give light to the best and peak times of the system.

Bradford trolleybuses were the first and the last' in the UK - first introduced in 1911 and last used in 1972. With only one flat road out of the centre, appropriately called Canal Road, Bradford city centre is in a bowl' surround by 200 to 400 metre hills. Therefore, the operating environment in Bradford was perfect for quiet passenger transport that soared up the hills that surround the city. This book focuses on the 50th anniversary year of 1961, and the 19 variations of trolleybuses used in that year are illustrated along with a fleet history from 1934 (many 1934 chassis were still working in 1961). It also details the second-hand trolleybuses Bradford bought after 1951 and the extensive rebuilding and rebodying programmes that ran from 1944. The changes in livery are fully explained and illustrated, with a look at the fleet bought new and those bought from other operators, and the depot structure and service vehicles used to maintain the network are also covered. Finally, the route history and development from 1911 is fully detailed. With over 180 images, this book, the first of two volumes on Bradford trolleybuses, showcases the trolleybuses at work on different routes around the city, returning them to their heyday of 1961.

The West Yorkshire Road Car Company's routes from Skipton and Ilkley up into Wharfedale, Wensleydale and Swaledale are some of the most scenic in Great Britain, and they are captured in this volume of historic bus photographs, taken from the 1950s to the 1970s by some of the finest photographers in their field. Using his first-hand knowledge of West Yorkshire's network, Stuart Emmett takes the reader on a journey in Upper Wharfedale, passing by countless sheep farms along the grass-patched limestone river valleys as he goes from hamlets and small villages like Grassington to market towns like Skipton and Otley, and the spa town of Ilkley. The enduring Yorkshire landscape, which has been used for many films and TV programmes, such as Calendar Girls, All Creatures Great and Small and Emmerdale, complements the little-changed street scenes and villages to give a fascinating backdrop to this captivating collection of more than 170 photographs, many of which are previously unpublished or have rarely been seen in print.

The city of York stands at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss on flat arable land called the Vale of York, which is bordered to the west by the Pennines, to the northeast by the North York Moors and to the east by the rolling Yorkshire Wolds. Outside the city are many beautiful small country villages and bus operators were needed to provide services linking these local villages and towns with York, especially on market days. Consequently, routes were very rural, and besides catering for the traditional market day shoppers, they often carried a considerable volume of passengers to work in York. This book, the follow-on to York Independent: Eastern Stage Bus Operators, tells the story of stage bus companies, including Hopes Motor Services, Hutchinson Brothers, Reliance Motor Services, G E Sykes & Son and Majestic of Cawood, who operated from the west of York. Including over 150 photographs, many in color, it shows how most of the companies covered started out as family-based operators running a service to the nearest local market town before expanding to offer excursions and private hires. It also shows how changes to the way of life, including the growth of car ownership, eventually killed off the majority of them.

This book, containing over 150 photographs, many in colour, tells the story of stage bus companies, including Everingham Brothers, Baileys, J. Broadbent, Milburn and Gorwood Brothers, who operated from the east of York. All of these companies had similarities and, like many rural bus services, they started by running a service to their nearest market town. This was often done to get a second income to supplement the operator's main living, which usually came from farming and agriculture. As time progressed, most of the companies grew their bus network and also offered excursions and private hires. However, changes to the way of life in the 1950s and 1960s, including the growth of television and car ownership, led to the demise of many true country bus operators, including all of those featured in this book. 150 illustrations

Samuel Ledgard, the legendary founder and owner of the bus operator based in Leeds, started out running a pub in 1896. However, he soon branched out into catering, for which transport was needed and so, in 1912, he bought a lorry along with an interchangeable coach body and started services to the seaside resorts of Scarborough and Blackpool in 1913. Though the First Word War stopped expansion, in 1920 the coastal runs were resumed and Ledgard grew, purchasing many local bus operators. After Samuel's death in 1952, his son started a new policy of buying mainly second-hand buses - in the next 15 years only 13 new vehicles were bought, but over 170 second-hand ones joined the fleet. Focusing on the 1950s and 60s, this nostalgic look at the iconic Ledgard takes the reader on a trip down memory lane. Starting with a brief history of the buses themselves and their routes, it then goes on to examine the fleet, covering not only buses from London's Daimler fleet which ran on all but two of the double-decker routes, but also the single deckers and low-bridge double deckers. Using a variety of images, with illustrative captions, this book not only rekindles memories for those fortunate enough to have known Ledgards but also gives an insight into these charming vehicles for the many others who were never able to experience Ledgards first hand.