It had to happen but i thought i would have to wait longer.....3rd March 2009 Yeadon

It appears the Scania Decker flag is left to the "Black Prince 3" following the sidelining of the remaining native examples ( 8015/20 31092/7 ). The best looking one externally is shown here on Easterly Rd, Oakwood with a service 50 from Seacroft to Horsforth. As this route no longer interworks with the 40 there is no necessity for 100% guidewheel / lowfloor vehicles on this route anymore. Living on borrowed time now though.. it makes a fine sight in the welcome sun.

Almost certainly the first ever Bristol VR in the new Skipton bus station. Former Eastern Counties RAH260W seen calling for a toilet stop whilst on delivery to a private owner from Perth to Norwich via Blackpool ! on 6th March 2009. Its last operator was Bankfoot Buses, Perth.

The first Strider preserved...8th March 2009

Bike V Scania ? 36922 leaves Leeds on the 5th March 2009 on the 50 at Oakwood.

Harrogate took this "extra" 36 Volvo from Lancashire during early 2009 to enhance reliability for the fleet. Transdev should remember where Blazefield excelled..i cant help but notice its slipped a little of late..anyway 2765 makes the peak hour detour to Leeds City Sq on 16th March 2009

Whilst yesterday saw the end of an era..today saw more new vehicles entering service. 37681 is seen here at White Cross with the 07.55 Leeds - Guiseley White Cross 33 its very first journey on its very first day in use. 18th March 2009

Halifax took a small number of these Volvo Olympians during March to aid Leyland replacement. New to Centrewest in London they were quite high spec when new with tinted windows one of the features. The 503/76 seem to be their grounding in routes at the moment as shown here with 34047 near Queensbury. Notice the Wright`s Volvo closing in on the shot ! 19th March 2009

4021 (60959 ) at Holme high above Holmfirth 19/03/09 ( a wonderful route ). Now down to penny numbers are these original Yorkshire Rider Lances within the fleet. 4001 is one of them - a place in preservation ?

A wonderful end to a wonderful week of fine weather...Sunday 22nd March 2009 and a couple of hours sun during the afternoon finds 37684 5 days old with a 33 bound for Otley at Rawdon.

X class at work...24th March 2009

8403 ( 61047 ) makes a now very rare appearance on the X84 at Burley in Wharfedale on 24th March 2009 at "The Malt" corner.

37670 in perfect conditions - 24th March 2009

61088 leaves Otley with some Firstgroup corporate blossom starting to appear. This is one of two remaining original Striders at HP garage ( 61084/8 ) still operational, now very rare to be seen on the 33. With 4 brand new leather seated single deckers waiting for 01st April before taking to the road at HP, it must surely mean the end for these two survivors ? Otley 28th March 2009

61115 ( 8637 ) on the 90 at Troydale on Sunday 29th March 2009 one of the last booked Strider turns on a Sunday for Bramley depot.

By mid-April there were only 2 bus seated Scania Striders of the original 35 left in use. 8623 & 8634 as shown here living on borrowed time on one of the scenic sections of the Ring Rd between Harrogate and Wetherby Rd...its not only the daffs which are fading. Withdrawls of the Superbus examples has just started with 8644/49 just pulled up. 16th April 2009

The Welsh Green Dragons ? 17.04.09

8634 ( 61112 ) at Horsforth on the Ring Rd 16th April 2009 this is 50% of the current bus seated Striders with FWY !

8623 - 61101 just clinging to life as the last bus seated Scania Strider still operating with FWY seen at Bradford on the X11 Friday 08th May 2009

Hunslet Park 40662 - 3297 was withdrawn on 26th May 09 its tax & O disc was removed and it was parked up. However a shortage of smaller vehicles resulted in it being re-instated the next day ! Living on the edge it is pictured here in suburban Horsforth on the local circular town route on the 27th. This is the last Plaxton bodied Dart still active in Leeds with First, 40632 being the last Alexander one at Bramley.

Following a "small vehicle" shortage at Hunslet Park, some maverick resourcing came up with 50318 from Halifax on loan during 28th May 2009. Here it is working the 966 at Rawdon with a paper destination as the blind could not be programmed in time.

With solo availability still low at Hunslet Park, 40632 - 3263 was borrowed on 30th May 2009 ( as it was not required for the service 80 which runs M - F only ) from Bramley depot. Here it is seen on the last duty of the day the 19.52 Menston - Otley 967 on Bradford Rd, Otley. This is now the last Dennis Dart in the Leeds fleet following the withdrawal of 40662 - 3297 the previous day.

Working of the year ? 69372 departs Leeds with the 17.00 Leeds - Otley 757 on 01st June 2009 when Hunslet Park had to dig deep for loan vehicles. Its sister 69378 was on the No2s to Middleton the same evening... More loans pictures to follow ! Thx as ever D

61123 - 8645 arrived at Hunslet Park on 01st June 2009 from Bramley on loan. It was used on the No 1s during the pm peak. The following day it saw all day use on the 33 out to Otley and Guiseley. We believe this is the first time a superbus strider has been used on these routes. Here it is seen passing through Menston with the 10.36 Otley - Leeds enjoying its very own Indian Summer.