Huddersfield

HUDDERSFIELD  CORPORATION MOTORBUSES
HISTORY OF HUDDERSFIELD CORPORATION TRANSPORT BUSES & PHOTOGRAPHS by  Roy Brook  and  John S. Hinchliffe	Huddersfield Passenger Transport Group

1920 MOTORBUSES

Although the Corporation first obtained powers to run motor bus services within the confines of the County Borough in 1913, the incidence of the Great War prevented any immediate development. In 1920 powers were granted to run buses outside the Borough along a number of specified routes. The first solid-tyred buses, a single decker and an open top double-decker were purchased for £1625-4-10 and £1659-7-4 from the local firm of Karrier Motors Ltd, St. Thomas’ Road, Huddersfield later that year and the operation of a service from Paddock Head to Golcar (Town End) via Milnsbridge and Scar Lane using the single decker commenced on 18 December, 1920. Travel between Paddock and Huddersfield and return was by tramcar.

The double deck vehicle was put into service between Bradley tram terminus and the Ravensthorpe tram terminus of the Yorkshire (Woollen District) Electric Tramways Ltd, as from 16 March, 1921, and during the following three years new routes were opened up as follows:- Moldgreen to Kirkheaton, Honley to Holmbridge, Honley to Jackson Bridge via New Mill, and Lockwood to Netherton, later extended to Meltham.

These shuttle services were connected with the centre of town by tramcar, apart from the first journeys out in the morning and the last journeys back in the evenings. 1922 saw the first one-man operated buses, although the use of these later ceased.

The first experiment in running motor buses over the tram routes into town took place as from 22 March, 1924, when the Kirkheaton service was extended from Moldgreen to Byram Street in the town centre. Following the success of this, all the other services were similarly dealt with by early 1925. A protective fare was imposed over the section of route covered by the tramcars. The motor bus fleet was increased to provide these additional services, the vehicles being largely provided by Karrier. The early single deck buses seated 30, but later acquisitions could accommodate 20, 30, 32 and 36 passengers. 1925 saw the first buses fitted with pneumatic tyres.

1922 COMPETITION

Olympia (later Baddeley Bros) ran services in the Holme Valley from 1922 competing with the Corporation trams (to Honley) and buses, Olympia had earlier provided services from the Smithy  to Rastrick and Brighouse.

The late 1920s found the Corporation faced with intense competition from various privately-owned buses which ran into Huddersfield over routes already covered by both Corporation tram and bus services. These operated on the return-ticket system, their passengers having to be in possession of a return ticket to travel out of Huddersfield. The problem was partially solved when the Corporation acquired the ‘Blue & White’ bus service and vehicles owned and operated by Bowers of Hinchliffe Mill. ‘Blue & White’ had operated a service from Marsden. An agreement was then drawn up between the Corporation and Joseph Hanson & Sons Ltd (later Hanson’s Buses Ltd) for the joint operation of certain Come Valley services to Marsden, Slaithwaite and Heights (Linthwaite) and these commenced on 12 January, 1929.

All the Corporation buses had, up to now, been accommodated in Great Northern Street and Longroyd Bridge tram depots but the growing fleet required new accommodation as some vehicles were of necessity parked outside at night. A new garage with 5000 square feet of floor space adjacent to Great Northern Street tram depot and capable of holding 70 buses was opened on 26 September, 1928, as part of the celebrations to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the Borough.

1925 INTER TOWN SERVICES

On 22 August, 1925, the first inter-urban bus service was inaugurated between Huddersfield and Halifax via Elland and operated jointly by Huddersfield Corporation, Messrs 0. & C. Holdsworth and Halifax Corporation, although in later years only Huddersfield and Halifax operated the service. The second through service connecting Huddersfield with Dewsbury began on 15 March, 1926, and was operated jointly with Yorkshire (W.D.) Electric Tramways Ltd, whilst through running, jointly with Hebble Motor Services Ltd, from Huddersfield to Bradford started on 6 December, 1927. Huddersfield had previously commenced their service on this route as far as Bailiff Bridge on I January, 1926. Bradford Corporation later participated in the joint service.

1961 CORPORATION BUSES

     The first motor bus service operated solely by Huddersfield Corporation since 1930 commenced on 9 November, 1961, in replacement of trolleybuses on the West Vale route.

Eight double deck buses by Leyland with front entrance bodies by Chas. H. Roe Ltd were acquired for the conversion. These were followed by 16 similar vehicles during 1962 and early 1963 for use in replacing the trolleybuses on the Town-Marsden route. The colour scheme used on these buses was chosen, in the first instance, to enable passengers on the new West Vale bus route to differentiate between a Corporation and a JOC bus (the latter on the Halifax joint service as far as Elland) as a higher fare scale applied on the JOC routes. The front of each Corporation bus was painted cream in a similar manner to the trolleybuses - although on the motor buses the cream was also extended to the upper deck panel, Like later trolleybuses, these buses did not have ‘HUDDERSFIELD’ on the destination blind this was replaced with ‘TOWN CENTRE’ none of the 24 Leyland PD3’s or the 6 J.O.C. PD2’s or the 18 J.O.C. AEC Regent V’s survived into preservation

1961 CORPORATION BUSES

     The first motor bus service operated solely by Huddersfield Corporation since 1930 commenced on 9 November, 1961, in replacement of trolleybuses on the West Vale route.

Eight double deck buses by Leyland with front entrance bodies by Chas. H. Roe Ltd were acquired for the conversion. These were followed by 16 similar vehicles during 1962 and early 1963 for use in replacing the trolleybuses on the Town-Marsden route. The colour scheme used on these buses was chosen, in the first instance, to enable passengers on the new West Vale bus route to differentiate between a Corporation and a JOC bus (the latter on the Halifax joint service as far as Elland) as a higher fare scale applied on the JOC routes. The front of each Corporation bus was painted cream in a similar manner to the trolleybuses - although on the motor buses the cream was also extended to the upper deck panel, Like later trolleybuses, these buses did not have ‘HUDDERSFIELD’ on the destination blind this was replaced with ‘TOWN CENTRE’ none of the 24 Leyland PD3’s or the 6 J.O.C. PD2’s or the 18 J.O.C. AEC Regent V’s survived into preservation

1967 CO-ORDINATED SERVICES

The trolleybus services on the Brackenhall-Lockwood, and Riddings-Newsome South routes were abandoned on 13 July, 1966, and replaced by Corporation motor buses. A new plan for the co-ordination of these services with certain JOC routes followed this conversion, but it was not until 6 April, 1967 that the new proposals were put into effect. New through services were then introduced as follows, worked jointly by the Corporation and JOC buses: Newsome South-Rastrick-Brighouse-Bailiff Bridge. Meltham-Netherton- Riddings-Deighton. Holme/Parkhead/Holmfirth- Brackenhall. These new services provided improved cross-town facilities.

1968 END OF THE TROLLEYBUSES

The decision made in October, 1962, resulted in the replacement of all trolleybuses with motor buses, and between the years 1964 and 1968 the Corporation purchased 26 Daimler buses with Roe bodies, and 22 with East Lancs bodies. To these were added 32 Daimler ‘Fleetlines’, again with Roe bodies to complete the fleet at 104 vehicles. The Corporation also purchased from the JOC 2 elderly railway-owned 1947 AEC Regent buses with Park Royal bodies for peak period use and repainted them in the new Corporation style with cream fronts.

The trolleybuses were gradually withdrawn continuing in February, 1964, with the Birkby—Crosland Hill route (extended into Balmoral Avenue), until on 13 July, 1968, electric traction ended.

1969 END OF THE J.O.C. & PURCHASE OF HANSONS BUSES

On 1 October, 1969, the Corporation acquired the share in the JOC then held by Amalgamated Passenger Transport Ltd, and the stage carriage services and vehicles used thereon of Hanson’s Buses Ltd, and henceforth these were operated by the Corporation.

Upon the takeover of Hanson s buses on 1 October, 1969, return tickets were available to Oldham (to July 1970) and Colne Valley High School (to 2 December, 1970).

1970 EXPANSION OF ONE MAN OPERATION

On 5 March, 1970, the first all-day double deck one-man service was introduced on the Almondbury route, and has since been considerably extended. Several of these services were on the auto-fare system which was extended further by W.Y.P.T.E.. Buses used on the auto-fare system were usually dual door Daimler Fleetlines one of which until recently was still in use by the childrens centre in Huddersfield former bus 4146 Bus fares were decimalised as from Sunday, 21 February, 1971, one week after the general introduction of decimal currency.

The last development of any note by the Passenger Transport Department was the official opening of the new Upperhead Row Bus Station on 26 March, 1974, although it did not become operational until the following December.

 1974 END OF HUDDERSFIELD CORPORATION TRANSPORT

    With the reorganisation of local government as from 1 April, 1974, the control and

 ownership of all municipal passenger transport in West Yorkshire passed to the West

 Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.

Buses soon appeared in the new livery of Verona Green and Buttermilk bearing the PTE logo of ‘WY’ in the form of a Yorkshire rose edged in black. At first each of the four districts of Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Huddersfield had their district name alongside the rose, and the Huddersfield based vehicles sported the legend ‘Metro Kirklees’. Former Huddersfield Corporation buses could still be seen in Huddersfield’s red livery in the early nineteen eighties. Two of these buses built by Daimler 4472 former Huddersfield 472 a CVG6-30 with East Lancashire body, the other 4473 former Huddersfield 473 a Fleetline with C.H.Roe body are now preserved.

Huddersfield Passenger Transport Group