First Leeds ran 5 of these rather large Scania / ELCB deckers on mainly school work from Bramley. Cherry Row received this example on loan and made my day using it on the long route out to Wetherby. Here 30252 is seen looking slightly out of place in East Keswick a beautiful village just off the A58.

Kirkstall depot in Leeds received 10 brand new Wrights / Volvo B7`s during May 2006 for the cross city 42 route. However sometimes they do escape to other services - Here 37021 is seen in Ilkley on the Sunday & Evening extension of route 33 deep into the Wharfe Valley. At one time West Yorkshire Road Car Co had a small depot in the town, although all that is history now.

First Leeds acquired a number of vehicles from Black Prince when that companies routes were taken over. Some of these former London Scania deckers found a home at Kirkstall depot for a short time. Here J821HMC passes J811HMC of Geldards Coaches on the turning loop at Adel. Who would have thought these two buses would be re-united in Leeds but with different companies !

This is a rather special machine. New to South Yorkshire PTE in July 1986 as a high spec coach. It is of course a Leyland Olympian and carries ECW body number Ex26 in relation to its prototype status. It did the rounds in the south but came north a few years ago to Saltaire Travel as the Leeds Party bus. However following a incident towards the end of 2006 the future of this vehicle is now in question and is no longer in use. Seen here in fine condition climbing the M62 near Halifax during the summer 06.

During the winter months when the sun is low and bright, there can only be one way to shoot. Sometimes very frustrating... but when it does fall right the results are worthwhile...... 30762 or probably better known as 5504 turns into the sun at Kirkstall whilst operating on route 15 on 25th Jan 07. This vehicle was new 23 years ago as a coach spec bus to WYPTE, later gaining GOLDRIDER livery under Yorkshire Rider ownership. Now its main use is school duties although sometimes they find normal use. Wonder how many trips on the X6 this old girl did ? Who remembers Clover behind the bus ?

This is where it all ends for me in terms of being passionate about buses i suppose. The very last Leyland bus built in the world. SBS9168 carries chassis ON21080 the very last one. Seen here at Ang Mo Kio in Singapore during November 2006. In typical SBS Transit fashion this bus was on a duty board opearting from 05.20 until 00.30. They work em hard but look after em well..!!

Soon to be no more.....One of the largest bus stations in Western Europe, Six buses, and not one passenger in this shot taken one wet Feb evening !! Built in 1968-69 it was a master design in its day even the edges are functional, in that they protect car bumpers from crashing against a vertical wall in the upper car park ! In years to come they will probably look back and wish they had saved it......

Kent - The garden of England. Well there can`t be many more picturesque depot approach roads than this. T162 arrives back at Apple Pie Farm near Benenden deep in Kent ( one of Hams outstations )after its school run in the high summer of 2006. Hams excel at vehicle presentation.....

It could only be Harrogate...and a sign that Spring is here ? First Bradford Roe Olympian 30762 or 5504 makes a rare arrival at the town with the 11.15 Bradford - Harrogate 653 service on 8th March 07.

I generally find a good design changes little over its production life...one such design must be the Alexander PS body now maturing into a modern classic surely ? Happy on anything from express, interurban, city, or rural work as shown here. The PS became Stagecoach groups standard body for many years...L631TDY is a true southern bus new to Stagecoach South in June 1994 and seen here operating from Andover depot. The vehicle has just come down the country lane from East Cholderton into Amport deep in the Hampshire countryside on service 1 before heading back to its home town during June 2006.

The day the music died...........Chase ended its long association with nationals at 18.45 on Saturday 28th April 2007 when operations ceased as route passed to Arriva. It was the last operator to run the vehicle on normal stage carriage service in any number. After a hard days work they await their future on the last evening. Thanks must be paid to all the staff at Chase & Arriva for making the last day something special....The day the rattle died..

Right place..right time..right bus ! I had been thinking about this shot for some time beforehand. Although i needed the sun out, no wind for the reflection on the water and an interesting bus at the right time of the day ! It all came together on Friday 08th June 2007 as former Black Prince 64808 skirts Chalker Reservoir between Addingham and Skipton with the 13.55 Leeds - Skipton X84 which is First Leeds longest route.

The village of Advie 16 miles North East of Grantown receives a bus service a couple of times a day from Aviemore. The bus is unable to go any further than the reverse point shown due to the River Spey. W747NAS is only one of a small number of Volvo B10BLE`s with this ALX body made - it was new to Highland in the summer of 2000. As usual its not the bus which makes the photograph..but the scene..

Yorkshire Coastliner 484 a Plaxton Leyland Leopard comes through one of the arches at Castle Howard - this was a vehicle i was very fond of throughout its life. As with most Leopards it changed its spots a few times...it was new as GWU560T to West Yorkshire RCo and had about 9 lives in all...it finally died in Suffolk a couple of years ago.

A part of the world i love.. the Highlands of Scotland. Its the 23rd August 1988 i rode on this leopard from Fort William to the pier at Corran just off the A82 where i jumped off for this quick photograph. The bus used to drop papers and mail ( nearside on the floor ) for the ferry accross to Cluvullin and even further West before departing for Oban. I was only 14 and the bus 7 years old ! The CAS/W Leopards were my favourite.

One of my favourite bus bodies - in one of my favourite locations. Stagecoach NW R943XVM leaves the Lune Gorge with a service for kendal during June 2008.