What Can You Tell Me?

This is a photo of my father William Taylor (the conductor). He was born 1912 and worked for a while in Blucher Pit, Walbottle before this job, so I suspect this is about 1930?
Any further details of this coach registration TY 5951 and this firm Robert Emmerson Co Ltd would be gratefully received. I believe they were taken over by United Automobile Services and he transferred with them to the newly opened Carlisle depot in 1936, later taken over by Ribble.

Ken Taylor

13/07/12 - 09:12

All I can tell you Ken, is that it is an Albion, probably a model PMA28, dating from c.1927. Somebody out there will have more specific info, as I cannot name the body maker, but the styling has strong Leyland influences as had several of the smaller builders, the contemporary "Lion" being a trend setter. I will watch with interest for more forthcoming detail.

John Whitaker

13/07/12 - 09:13

I'm afraid I can't help with any detailed knowledge of the myriad north eastern operators, but if it is of any pertinence the splendid OK Motor Services of Bishop Auckland was in the hands of an Emmerson family before succumbing in recent times to one of the larger groups.

Chris Youhill

14/07/12 - 07:42

TY 5951, definitely an Albion PMA28 (C/no 7053J), with 30 seat bodywork Ref: PA8/54 - United Automobile Service, fleet History Part 1C, 1931 - 34. This gives details of Emmerson, in brief. Purchased by the LNER January, 1929 and passed to United a year later. I hope that this is of interest.

Keith Easton

14/07/12 - 07:43

This is definitely out of my area and identifying vehicles is not my strong point, but I believe John is certainly right about this being an Albion and yes Emmersons did come part of United Auto, but in an interesting way. They were bought by the LNER, not directly, but through a subsidiary Thompson McKay, who bought other bus businesses on behalf of the railway company once the "grouped" railways obtained powers to run buses. United came under the control of LNER and so a tidying up of smaller companies became inevitable.
I am not sure that there is any connection with OK Motor Services, I had a look in David Holding's excellent history of OK and he does not mention a link BUT I know several people are interested in the way the same family names keep cropping up over again in the bus companies of the north east so hopefully someone with more knowledge might be able to contribute something.

David Grimmett

15/07/12 - 08:03

Further to my last comment, here is a potted history of the company. Robert Emmerson commenced operation from Blacker Colliery in November, 1921, by May 1923 operations were under the name of Emmerson Brothers from Walbottle. As stated elsewhere this company was purchased by Thompson, Mckay & Co, from the London & North Eastern Railway Company, and was reconstituted as Robert Emmerson & Company Limited, with the Emmerson Brothers as minority shareholders, in January, 1929. Operations were now from Throckley. Upon transfer of direct operation of subsidiaries of the L.N.E.R. to United Automobile Services (another L.N.E.R. subsidiary) Emmerson's was operated as a subsidiary of United from January, 1930, however the company was wound-up in October, with routes and vehicles being transferred to United.
With regard to the vehicle in the photograph, as I stated it was an Albion PMA28 with a 30 seat body, new in June/July 1929. This was one of 20 Albion vehicles purchased by the L.N.E.R. in 1929, comprising 5 PMA28's and 15 PK26's. Upon transfer to United, PY 5951 was numbered CM8 (10/30) and in 1935 became AL4.7, but it was withdrawn later in 1935, and was sold to Alexander of Falkirk as their D207. It was last licenced in October, 1946.
Information on Emmerson can be found in the PSV Circle/Omnibus Society fleet histories; PA7 pages 35 to 37, and PA8 pages 53 and 54.
I do not believe that thre was ever a connection with OK Motor Services.

Keith Easton

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