Keighley & District Wrights / Volvo 544 crosses the River Wharfe bridge at Grassington on the Sunday extension of route 67A to Grassington.

Arriva Yorkshire Dennis Dart 261 climbs out of Burnsall whilst heading for Grassington deep in Wharfedale on service 805 the winter dalesbus route to Hawes

Found in a compound near central Bradford as a non-pcv is this former Southend Fleetline seen on 16th Feb 07.

Pending delivery of a new vehicle. K Line have taken this late model Ikarus / Daf single decker on loan from Arriva dealer Gomersal, during Feb. Seen here on 16th Feb at one of the companies daytime outstation locations near Bradford. The relationship between Ikarus and Arriva sales came to an end during 2006.

Chassis ON872 became WYPTE 5096 and spent most of its career in Calderdale. New in December 1983 it was at one time the flagship bus at Halifax in the "Building on a great tradition" old Halifax colours livery. On Monday 26th Feb 07 it showed its form on the 508 route into Leeds for much of the day. Here she pulls away from the city with the 14.45 departure seen from Armley Prision bank.

First Leeds 40639 (3270) seen at Station Road in the rural village of Burley in Wharfedale on tendered 962 service from Ilkley to Otley. The service originally was numbered W5 from West Yorkshire RCo days and has seen a host of operators, First picked up this route when Pegasus ceased trading. The bus (driven by one of Kirkstall`s most senior & well respected drivers) has always been a Leeds machine entering service on 5th Feb 1996.

Roe Olympian from Bradford depot 30761 ( 5503 ) at North Rigton Village on 13th March 2007.

30761 ( 5503 ) North Rigton 13/03/07 on the 10.15 653 Bradford - Harrogate service 13th March 2007.

First Leeds 31081 ( 8004 ) has just turned onto Crabtree Lane at East Keswick. It is the last survivor of the first batch of 5 Alexander bodied Scania`s ( 8001-5 ) new to Yorkshire Rider in 1990. YR went on to operate 42 in total . The other 37 had Northern Counties bodies ( 5 ) and slightly different Alexander bodies ( 32 ). These vehicles brought another meaning to fast buses when they arrived.......

"Olympian twilight".... Bradford`s Roe Olympian 5134 catches the last rays of sun with the 18.05 Harrogate - Bradford service leaving Otley on 26th March 07.....last week it would have been dark at this time !

Probably the first time this bus has ever been here ! Halifax 60781 pulls away from Menston Hare & Hounds on the 653 from Harrogate to Bradford whilst on loan. 26/03/07

Five Lane Ends, Bradford 60772 turns for the sun on route 640 whilst on loan..26/03/07

Kirkstall`s 37026 ( sadly not in large logo livery )passes Menston Park on its way to Otley on 25th March 2007. Menston village is subject to a massive development currently involving the former High Royds hospital just to the right of the bus...

30760 ( 5502 ) on the 653 between Harrogate and Pool near North Rigton on 27th March 2007...

First Bradford 30760 ( 5502 ) at Cross Green, Otley with a early morning service to harrogate 27/03/07

30759 ( 5501 ) heads up through Yeadon on its way to the Airport on the 737 route on 02nd April 2007. The 737 is booked cummins olympian, to see one of these old ladies on here is very rare indeed.

Brand new First Leeds 66995 was only 10 days old when seen at Bardsey on 02nd April 2007 heading for Leeds on route 99.

Welcome to Spring......30755 a Northern Counties Volvo Olympian passes through North Rigton with the 653 on Monday 02nd April. 5401 -5 were similar to 5601-5 although they had Cummins engines in a comparison trial with Volvo engines. ( 5601-5 )

Its hard to believe that First Leeds 61079 aka 8601 entered service on 10th April 1993 - 14 years ago ! These early Striders could well move on within First, when newer buses arrive shortly. 8601 was Yorkshire Rider`s ( Halifax ) first Scania with the Strider body, it was nearly the first into use in the UK although Newport`s were a few weeks before in March 1993. Nowadays 8601 is not known as a popular bus although it did make it onto the 781 from Otley to Leeds on 07th April 2007 as seen here at Hewland House Farm near Weardley in sunny conditions. The 781 links Harewood, Weardley, Arthington & Pool with the market town of Otley. First have had an on off relationship with the tendered route loosing it to Black Prince and then gaining it back in the take over of BP routes. From 3 or 4 journeys a day the route is now down to one trip each way......

First Leeds Volvo Olympian 31771 was new to London United and acquired by FirstGroup at a time when it had a shortfall in modern step entry double deckers which were needed to speed up fleet renewal in certain group companies. The livery has never suited them and they quickly started to look down at the heel, of late they have started to be re-painted into the latest First livery which suits them more than the style shown. 31771 comes down Rawden Hill near Arthington on the morning 781 service from Leeds to Otley. Due to low trees in this area ( notice how the driver is keeping into the ditch away from the branches ) the route is normally a single deck Dennis Dart duty although on 10th April 07 after the failure of the booked vehicle 31771 was the only available bus, resulting in this rare scene.

First Leeds 37028 climbs Canada Hill, Rawdon whilst enjoying a rare trip on the 97 from Bradford to Leeds on Bank Holiday Monday 9th April 2007.

Big CATS seen in Dales ? When new these Volvo B10BLE / Wrights were used to re-launch the X33 as "City and Town Shopper" CATS....probably thought up in a brainstorming session by Arriva, it lasted about 2 years before it was dropped ( quietly ). The B10s were replaced by Optare Spectras and moved to Selby depot where they were more suited. 109 pulls out of Ilkley with the 800 Dalesbus to Hawes on 15th April 2007. Notice the destination paper in the window reading " Hawes " - Arriva have only operated the Dalesbus service to Hawes for about 7 years so it cant be expected they would take the trouble to put it on the destination blind...........

First Leeds 40642 ( 3273 ) darts through Guiseley with the 14.45 Leeds - Otley 33A service on Monday 16th April 2007. The 33 route is of course double decker Royale booked although due to a vehicle shortage this Dennis Dart was used. The vehicle had just come out of the paintshop hours before at kirkstall !!

Flying High.....Following the failure of single decker Volvo / Wrights 66707 - Volvo Olympian 31813 is seen on the 17.30 Leeds - Airport - Pool 757 service on Tuesday 17th April 2007 passing Crowtrees Summit, Rawdon on the A65.