West Yorkshire Road Car Co Ltd and Keighley - West Yorkshire Services Ltd timetable : 2 October 1932 : rear cover - advert issued by Edward Standing, Harrogate
One of the many regional bus and coach companies that, at this date, were flourishing in the UK as motorised road passenger transport grew in post-WW1 years. The West Yorkshire Road Car Company would grow into and become the dominant operator in large areas of West and North Yorkshire until it was merged into the National Bus Company in 1969. The WYRCC had its origins in the Harrogate Road Car Co of 1906 that started with steam buses before petrol engined vehicles took over. In 1924 they concern was absorbed by the larger Tilling and BAT group and in 1927 the name was changed to West Yorkshire to reflect its wider operational area as the company grew as well as acquiring smaller local operators.
In 1932 agreement was reached with Keighley Council to create a joint company that acquired the assets and operations of Keighley Corporation Transport and was known as Keighley-West Yorkshire Services Ltd. Keighey Corporation had itself a fascinating history featuring trams and early trolleybuses that were replaced by motor buses. The Keighley agreement survived until Keighley Council was merged into the new Bradford City Council in 1974 when the municipal share passed to the nationalised industry. West Yorkshire also completed a similar agreement with York City Council. Also at around this time the 'Big Four' railways started to take shareholdings in the up-coming bus and coach industry, to help protect themselves against competition. In 1948 Tillings sold out to the Government and so West Yorkshire Road Car passed to the control of the British Transport Commission.
The timetable booklet runs to nearly 300 pages and includes many trunk routes still operated today, although at nothing like the frequencies seen here, and many rural operations now long gone. The map is fascinating, showing both the core routes and the longer distance coach services, several of which were operated as part of regional joint 'pooling' operations. It is interesting in that the map design and style is very LNER being similar to the railway company's own timetable maps and this includes railway routes and 'interchange' stations.
Various commerical adverts appear, the finest being the back cover that shows a tea packet for Edward Standing Ltd., family grocers of Harrogate, the town where the head office of West Yorkshire was based. The front cover also makes mention fo the famous Charles Roe Ltd of Leeds, major bus and coach bodywork builders.
West Yorkshire Road Car Co Ltd and Keighley - West Yorkshire Services Ltd timetable : 2 October 1932 : rear cover - advert issued by Edward Standing, Harrogate
One of the many regional bus and coach companies that, at this date, were flourishing in the UK as motorised road passenger transport grew in post-WW1 years. The West Yorkshire Road Car Company would grow into and become the dominant operator in large areas of West and North Yorkshire until it was merged into the National Bus Company in 1969. The WYRCC had its origins in the Harrogate Road Car Co of 1906 that started with steam buses before petrol engined vehicles took over. In 1924 they concern was absorbed by the larger Tilling and BAT group and in 1927 the name was changed to West Yorkshire to reflect its wider operational area as the company grew as well as acquiring smaller local operators.
In 1932 agreement was reached with Keighley Council to create a joint company that acquired the assets and operations of Keighley Corporation Transport and was known as Keighley-West Yorkshire Services Ltd. Keighey Corporation had itself a fascinating history featuring trams and early trolleybuses that were replaced by motor buses. The Keighley agreement survived until Keighley Council was merged into the new Bradford City Council in 1974 when the municipal share passed to the nationalised industry. West Yorkshire also completed a similar agreement with York City Council. Also at around this time the 'Big Four' railways started to take shareholdings in the up-coming bus and coach industry, to help protect themselves against competition. In 1948 Tillings sold out to the Government and so West Yorkshire Road Car passed to the control of the British Transport Commission.
The timetable booklet runs to nearly 300 pages and includes many trunk routes still operated today, although at nothing like the frequencies seen here, and many rural operations now long gone. The map is fascinating, showing both the core routes and the longer distance coach services, several of which were operated as part of regional joint 'pooling' operations. It is interesting in that the map design and style is very LNER being similar to the railway company's own timetable maps and this includes railway routes and 'interchange' stations.
Various commerical adverts appear, the finest being the back cover that shows a tea packet for Edward Standing Ltd., family grocers of Harrogate, the town where the head office of West Yorkshire was based. The front cover also makes mention fo the famous Charles Roe Ltd of Leeds, major bus and coach bodywork builders.