Kingston upon Hull Corporation Transport
1953
AEC Regent III
Weymann "Auroa" H32/26R

Regent III I hear you shout, yes I thought it was a Daimler as well, until Paul Morfitt a K.H.C.T. expert pointed it out to me. K.H.C.T. bought 6 of these Regent IIIs with the Birmingham style tin front, they were apparently the last front engine/open platform buses bought brand new by them. Fleet number 337 is now fully preserved and should be out on the rally circuit next summer (2010) so keep your eye out for it. There is also a restored Bradford City Transport Regent III with a similar tin front it can be seen here.

04/04/13 – 06:28

The Weymann Aurora body is something of an enigma. The first one – also co-incidentally on an AEC Regent III with tin front – was built for Devon General and exhibited on the MCW stand at Earls Court in 1952 alongside the prototype Orion. An MCW sales brochure was produced, which was still being distributed two years later, but no more bodies of that type were ever built. In the meantime Weymann had been building this much more elegant design, which most people agree bears no resemblance to the prototype described in the brochure, and which could instead be traced back much more clearly to earlier Weymann bodies. It is almost as though Weymann simply thumbed its nose at the MCW design team and just carried on with their own design evolution as if nothing had happened.
To confuse matters still further, a brief article in a recent edition of Classic Bus magazine, describing the prototype (which is now preserved) as unique, it was answered by not one but two letters referring to production Auroras as "virtually identical" to the prototype – one of them referring to these Hull vehicles and the other I think to some Bristols for Maidstone and District. It seems that resemblance, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder!

Peter Williamson

04/04/13 – 08:29

The Aurora is certainly an enigma – and a trap for those who only know half the story. I too have been puzzled by the lack of similarity between to prototype and production versions but the Weymann Story (in two volumes Senior/Venture) is very clear. The Aurora name was used for these modernised versions of the classic Weymann design (produced from 1953 to 1959). The MCCW Orion design was produced at Addlestone from about 1953 (the first being re-bodies of war time Guys for Maidstone & District). Interestingly, Addlestone were also building Aurora bodies on war time Bristols for M & D. What most people didn’t realise – me included – is that the Aurora name was then resurrected as the official and proper name for the forward entrance version on the Orion.

David Oldfield

04/04/13 – 11:03

Just remembered the Bournemouth trolleys which had the Aurora as late as 1962.

David Oldfield

04/04/13 – 11:04

Here is a photo of the preserved one-off 1952 Aurora, Devon General NTT 679, taken at the Devon General Running Day at Newton Abbott in 1993.

John Stringer

04/04/13 – 15:49

The main difference between the prototype Aurora and the production model seems to be the move from pan window fixing to rubber mounting.

Here is an example of the production version as supplied to Birkenhead Corporation in 1954. Apart from being on an exposed radiator chassis, it differs from the Hull version in having a 5-bay body. The traditional Weymann drooping saloon window is much in evidence. Birkenhead dabbled with Weymann as a body supplier. The batch of 10 Auroras was not the whole of the CBG intake, the remaining 5 of the batch having locally-built Ashcroft bodies. The 1955 intake of 17 vehicles (10 PD2 and 7 Arab IV) saw half the PD2s bodied with the Orion style, and finally in 1964 came the one-off batch of 10 Fleetlines, again with Orion style, one of which appears on the left of the picture. (Originally delivered with the cream relief as window surrounds only, the appearance of the Fleetlines was much improved with the application of the standard livery on repaint, as seen here.)

Alan Murray-Rust

05/04/13 – 05:51

To me there are more differences than similarities. On the prototype, the dimensions of the windows – deep lower, shallow upper – are more like a production Orion than any other Aurora (and the deep lower deck windows were made much of in the sales brochure). On the production version, as Alan says, the traditional Weymann drooping bulkhead window is much in evidence, whereas on the prototype the top rail is straight and only the bottom curved, again just like most highbridge Weymann Orions. In fact the only similarities I can find (using other images) are in the front and rear domes and the rear emergency window.

Peter Williamson

23/04/13 – 07:50

My favourite bus, thin steering wheel and a smooth seat which you could slide off on exit from a roundabout and if it was a hot day and your cab door was open it could be interesting. A lot of drivers didn’t like them because you couldn’t see the pavement from the cab. I thought they were great, the exhaust would roar when you put your foot down.

box501

03/06/14 – 12:52

The Daimler and Guy Utilities of Maidstone and District were rebodied with a later form of five bay Weymann body derived from the pre and early post war design but with deeper windows upstairs. Only some Utility Bristol K6As had four bay ‘Aurora’ or five bay ‘Orion’ bodies. The only Orion bodied Guys which Maidstone and District had, were the Guy Arab IVs acquired or ordered by Chatham and District which were based on new post war chasses.

Gordon Mackley

United Services
1957
AEC Regent V
Roe L27/26RD

W. Everett & Son United Services to give them there full name operated from the Yorkshire village of Kinsley which is between Barnsley and Pontefract they ran services to nearby towns such as Leeds, Wakefield, Barnsley and Doncaster.
This bus delivered new to United Services along with UWT 875 another Regent V had a lowbridge body. If you look at first side window on the top deck you will see it has been smashed not by a bridge though looking at the bodywork.
United Services had quite a collection of second hand vehicles including a Dennis Loline from Aldershot & District and a very flash looking Titan with a Preston registration so ex Ribble, Scout or Standerwick I would guess. 
A good place to see more United Services photos is on the United Services section of Huddersfield Passenger Transport Group website to view click here.

This particular United Services was in fact made up of three autonomous family businesses who operated stage carriage services from the late 1920’s/early 1930’s under the United Services brand but also ran their own coach and paddy bus operations.
Willie Everett, the founder of W Everett & Son was my Granddad and my uncle Harry is the ‘son’ in the company name. Their bus depot was in South Kirkby near the parish church. The Kinsley depot belonged to Bingley Brothers, one of the other United Service operators (who had bought the business from another family called Granters who had been the first bus operator in the area). Cooper Brothers was the third family business partly operating under the United Services brand and it had a depot at one end of Stockingate in South Kirkby. The bus pictured is almost certainly from the Bingley’s fleet.

John Wrightson

06/10/12 – 18:52

I’m no expert on buses, but I used to travel on the United Services regularly in the fifties. We lived in Morley and my grandma (maternal) lived in Hemsworth, so my mother paid a monthly visit carting me along with her! This involved catching the West Riding 57/58 to Wakefield and then the United Services to Hemsworth. In the days before Wakefield Bus station we’d get off the 57/58 in Wood Street and catch the United at the Springs bus stops. In those days many of the United buses were former coaches and had windows you could wind down, like a car – guess who made a nuisance of himself winding the windows up and down.
When the bus station was built it was just a matter of changing platforms.
If for some reason we missed the United, we’d catch the West Riding service from Leeds to Hemsworth – but this only went as far as Cross Hills and we had to walk the rest. I recall also another independent operator in Hemsworth – Ideal Motor Services – I wonder what happened to them.

Geoff Bragg

10/10/12 – 09:10

The ‘Ideal’ referred to would almost certainly be, coincidentally, another ‘co-operative’ (they weren’t all that common) – i.e. that of Taylor of Cudworth, and Wray of Hoyle Mill, Barnsley, both trading as ‘Ideal’ and sharing a service running between Barnsley and Pontefract. There is a section on Ideal on this very site.
Taylor’s ultimately sold out to Yorkshire Traction, but most of their vehicles passed to Wray’s, who, I think, finished up with more ex-Taylor vehicles than ex-Wray, so to speak. Wray’s continued for a few more years (presumably running in co-ordination with Yorkshire Traction) before themselves selling out to YTC.
Another service running between Barnsley and Pontefract (but by a slightly different route) was operated by South Yorkshire Motors, but I don’t know whether or not it ran via Hemsworth.

David Call

David I can help you there, as I worked for South Yorkshire and successors (several) from 1987 until I retired in 2001. Under the WYPTE excellent route numbering scheme the SYRT (joint with Yorkshire Traction) route from Pontefract to Barnsley became 245. The service was basically hourly between Pontefract and Barnsley, with "short workings" to Hemsworth (Highfield Estate) also every hour, making a half hour frequency between Pontefract and Hemsworth – the latter Monday to Saturday daytimes only. The route was via Featherstone, High Ackworth, Fitzwilliam, Kinsley, Hemsworth, Shafton, Cudworth and Lundwood to Barnsley. The SYRT share of the mileage was handed over to Yorkshire Traction, along with the three new SYRT Dennis Darts, late in 1994 after Caldaire Group (West Riding) took over Pontefract depot. There, I bet you wish you’d never asked !!

Chris Youhill

11/10/12 – 07:19

Not at all, Chris, I’ve read a great many of your posts and they’re all enjoyable.
One thing I certainly didn’t know was that the Pontefract to Barnsley service was joint SYRT/YTC. Having had a look at the current 245 timetable, and assuming that the Hemsworth shorts interworked with the through service, I would say that four buses were required to run the basic Monday to Saturday service – two SYRT and two YTC? What would have been the Hemsworth shorts look as though they now run through to Barnsley as service 244, and the ex-Ideal service is still recognisable as the 246.

David Call

11/10/12 – 09:05

Thank you David and, yes, you’re right in thinking on "interworking" lines – at least throughout daytime hours Monday to Saturday – and that four vehicles would be needed. The South Yorkshire vehicles (and presumably YT as well) did alternate trips from Pontefract to Barnsley and to Hemsworth Highfields, taking a little under four hours for each cycle. One particularly vicious journey with which we were faced (weekdays) was at 1810 from Pontefract to Barnsley which also diverted via Highfields, a narrow and tortuous estate where by that time of day there was flagrant double parking everywhere. I may be mistaken – its a long time ago now – but I’m pretty sure that South Yorkshire did all the Barnsley journeys on Sundays with two vehicles to balance the mileage agreement, and of course there were no "Highfields" on the Sabbath.
I do still visit friends in Pontefract and I think that the whole service network in the region has been considerably modified now, especially since Stagecoach took "Tracky", and the services running into Pontefract are numbered in the two digit "30s"

Chris Youhill

12/10/12 – 08:23

Indeed. When I checked back it seems that the timetable I had found was dated October 2006 – but still coming up on the internet, of course. What was the 245 has now become the 35, while the ex-Ideal service seems to have blossomed into the 46 and 47. I’m not saying the routes are exactly as they used to be, as you say services have generally been modified.

David Call

12/10/12 – 12:52

Both of the AEC’s, UWT 875/876 were delivered new to Bingleys in April, 1957. Out of curiosity, I looked at Bus Lists because T. Burrows of Wombwell had an identical vehicle, PWY 943. I’ve often wondered if they were ordered together but apparently not. The Burrows machine was delivered a year or so earlier and is listed as an MD3RV with the 7.7ltr. engine, the two Bingleys vehicles were D3RV’s with 9.6ltr. engines. The Roe bodies were identical though.

Chris Barker

13/04/13 – 07:23

Just a slight correction to the original text. The front window isn’t actually smashed – its the reflection of the gable end of the adjoining building – Bingleys only ever turned out pristine vehicles in service. Also they did not operate to Leeds and Barnsley as stated here. South Yorkshire Motors of Pontefract did and the confusion is because they also had a blue and white livery like United Services.

Mark B

31/05/14 – 08:01

Mention of the Ideal service, Barnsley – Pontefract, reminds me of the long service 70, operated jointly by Sheffield JOC and Yorkshire Traction, which ran from Sheffield to Upton. I often wondered why this stopped at Upton and didn’t run through to Pontefract. This would have required a fifth bus and a third operator.
The licensing system often made what seemed to be logical routes difficult.

Geoff Kerr

12/08/17 – 07:45

The "United" bus service was operated by a number of Companies in the area as stated. As I recall from growing up in the 50s Bingleys of Kinsley was known as W.R & P Bingleys. From memory I seem to remember that their buses were a darker blue than the one pictured. My Dad (Fred Stacey) did drive for them from time to time on a casual basis. As well as the Coaches used on "Trips" to the coast he would drive the "Mill Buses" which collected the Girls from the Mills and he often drove the Wakefield to Doncaster route along with Frank Bingley. They shared the duties for this using a Daimler Bus which I recall did something like 2 million miles in it’s lifetime. It was always the last bus out of Wakefield Bus Station at the weekend en-route back to Kinsley and if you missed it you walked.
Frank lived at the Upton Depot and operated from there. Albert Holmes was the Chief mechanic operating out of Gorton Street Depot in Kinsley and his Son (Paul) and I spent many happy hours playing in the garage known as Hunters Farm Garage. I also vaguely remember the Taxi they had which I believe was a Armstrong Siddeley.
These were happy times when life was at a different pace but I would bet journey times were no longer then than now.

David Stacey

30/08/22 – 07:02

I was looking for pictures of United Daimler/Duple (I think) GWW 49 and GWW 50 which I sometimes caught from Cross Hills to Wakefield for school (1949-1957). (Having come on an ‘Ideal’ to Hemsworth from Brierley). United had an elderly ‘high bridge’ double decker, ex-Leeds, I think. Great fun going round bends on the upper deck. One time, early 1950s (?) there was a strike, which didn’t involve ‘United’ crews, but we were made to get off on the outskirts of Wakefield.

John Lovett

York Pullman Bus Company Ltd
1957
AEC Regent V MD3RV 
Roe H33/28RD

A could of been better shot of a York Pullman Regent V with its rear doors closed. Talking of which does anybody know how the rear doors worked, were they air operated by the driver or operated by the conductor either manually or air assisted. I once went by normal service bus to Scarborough from Halifax via Bradford, Leeds and York, so the chances of going on a West Yorkshire K series with rear doors on route would be odds on I would of thought. But I can not remember the operating system of the doors, if you know please leave a comment.
I was obviously new to the skills of photograph back in 1966, the number of shots I have that were taken into the sun is amazing. The trouble is, with half cab buses the more interesting side is the near side which is not the easiest side to take angle wise. So when a chance for a near side shot came up you took it and hoped for the best, I could always retouch out the shadow that’s not a difficult job but then the shot would loose its originality.

A full list of Regent V codes can be seen here.

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Don’t know how the doors on the York Pullman AEC in your photo worked, but the West Yorkshire K series buses all had conductor operated doors.  As often as not, the doors were left open except when the conductor had finished collecting fares and knew that it was unlikely that the bus would stop soon. Obviously, opening and closing the door was virtually impossible when the bus was frequently stopping and starting, when the conductor would be busy collecting fares, particularly on the top deck. Going from York to Scarborough, for example, (Route 43), the door would probably be left open until the bus had reached the outskirts of the city.

Roy Burke

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The answer  to your question is the rear door on the York Pullman Regent V was operated by the conductor.
My late dad was a driver with York Pullman and I can say he has driven this and all the buses in the old fleet he was paired with Danny Weaver his conductor and yes I am a bus and coach driver, if you would like any more info on the old York Pullman then if I can I will only be to pleased to do so. I remember very well the old depot on Navigation Road, York then Peter Dew and his ‘Top Line Travel’ buses worked out of there when it was a car park how do I know? I drove for him and it is a pleasure and honour to drive from the same place as my late dad. I have spent many happy hours at the York Pullman depot dreaming of driving a bus sad but true.

Andy Tyler

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Hi, I am clutching at straws here at the moment but I am trying to find out information on my father, Mr Donald Fewster who worked on York Pullman buses in the 1960s. Any information would be very gratefully received.

Brian Lloyd

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I have just been reading the above comments and yes I remember Ada and Ted and also George Tyler. I believe George had the nickname Eggie because he used to be a driver delivering eggs. My Dad, Gerry Rank worked for York Pullman from 1939 until his retirement in 1990. He was a mechanic/driver. I have ridden many miles on their buses and coaches. My Mum was also a clippie, Molly, until I was born in 1956

Liz Greene nee Rank

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Gosh, this is stretching the purpose of this site rather, but I was intrigued by Brian Lloyd’s enquiry about his father, Donald Fewster. That isn’t a very common name and there can’t have been many Fewsters in York, so maybe I, (or rather my dad), knew a relative of Brian’s. He was Alf Fewster, who had a greengrocer’s round with a horse and cart, and, later a Jowett Javelin, (Reg No. FDN 750). Any use, Brian?

Roy Burke

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14/09/11 – 17:01

I clicked on this website cause I’m trying to find anyone who knew my dad, Geoffery Phillips, who worked for York Pullman until he left in 1990 ish. I know he knew Pete Dew and he used to say that the company was called Raynard Pullman. is this true? any help gratefully received.

Andy Phillips

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15/09/11 – 09:31

York Pullman was bought out by a Father and Son called Marsh, who had earlier bought the Reynard Car Hire and Garage business, they had previously bought Broadbent of Stamford Bridge and Walkers of Tadcaster and combined them as Reynard Coaches. After the takeover, York Pullman traded as Reynard Pullman. In 1990 the York Pullman Coach business was sold to Hull City Transport. The bus part of the business was renamed Reynard Bus and was sold to the Rider Group (later to be part of First Group) later in the Year. York Pullman later passed to Durham Travel Services and then, in 2000 to First Group. The Current York Pullman was formed in 2007 by K and J Logistics.

D Hick

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15/09/11 – 09:55

The original owners sold York Pullman to Reynard of Tadcaster in the late eighties adopting the name Reynard Pullman They in turn sold the coaching side of the business to Hull City Transport while the stage services went eventually to First

Chris Hough

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16/09/11 – 09:33

On a visit to York last year, I had a walk along to Navigation Road to see if the depot remained. I had never been before and there didn’t seem to be any sign of it. Is it now demolished or re-developed?

Chris Barker

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17/09/11 – 08:04

Yes-demolished a few years ago and replaced with student accommodation.

D Hick

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15/01/12 – 16:41

Last time I saw this bus it was in a state with the engine out and wires everywhere, the body had been lifted of the chassis. I looked with a view of restoring it but bought Chesterfield Daimler 266 instead.

N.Hegedus

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16/01/12 – 11:41

Don’t worry Andy Tyler – you’re far from being alone and its not sad at all. I spent much of my childhood and teenage years around the Samuel Ledgard depots at Ilkley, Otley, Yeadon and Armley "dreaming about driving a bus" (and West Yorkshire at Ilkley too) and succeeded in doing just that – for forty four years. I worked for many fascinating firms – Samuel Ledgard, West Yorkshire, Murgatroyds, Wallace Arnold, Independent Coachways, Leeds City Transport, South Yorkshire Road Transport, Caldaire (West Riding), British Bus, Cowie, Arriva – a dream come true and no regrets at all !!

Chris Youhill

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11/07/12 – 08:10

Another dreamer! I finally learned to drive a bus at 50 years old (passed the test first time) Had 8 years with Southern National (Cawlett era). The stress finally got to me and I retired early. now living in York. Will extract a pic of Navigation road garage being demolished from the hard drive and send a copy in.

Steve Oxbrow