Christmas 2006 Conundrum

Christmas time, so time for a quiz. I have chosen something that has me utterly confused.

Why has 6033 (GUG560N) acquired an automatic rear number box of some form, and can anyone provide a picture which shows whether the front and/or nearside destination indicators were of similar style?

It is probably more known that 7523 (CUB523Y) and 7539 (CUB539Y) had Transign destination equipment fitted (which as far as my memory tells me, was front, nearside and rear).

Can anyone confirm that the two MCW's did indeed have rear number boxes? Sadly all three vehicles are razorblades now (unless anyone knows otherwise) but this is one of surprisingly few quirks that the WYPTE had. Did any other vehicles get non-standard destination equipment during WYPTE days? I am aware that in early Yorkshire Rider days, some Olympians (5055 rings a bell) received the dot matrix destination blinds (as per the 8000 series Scanias that were then being introduced) - does anyone have a complete list?

If I get some good responses to this, I would like to feature them on this page, so if you email me, please advise whether or not you would like your name quoting on this page. If this quiz is popular, I might try some others occasionally - quiz@typg.org.uk

Responses received so far:

Paul wrote: "As a kid, I seem to remember 6033 in service in Bradford in the 80s with the electronic route number feature. I am pretty sure it had a similar feature on the side too, but not sure about the front. My records show it entered service in Leeds but was transferred to Bradford on 2.10.86. The pic on your site must be mid-80s. It is on route 72 making it difficult to know if it was allocated to Bradford or Leeds at the time as it was a shared route between the two divisions. I have front offside pics of 6033 in service in the first WYPTE livery, and also in Yorkshire Rider livery, but both pics show it with normal blinds.I have a rear shot of 7539 and can confirm it had a rear electronic number display. Also one on the nearside. I will upload this to the group after writing this message! The vehicle was actually badly damaged by fire whilst with the PTE in 1984. It was sold in 1986 and rebodied and I believe spent some time in service with London Transport. I don't have any info on 7523. The Olympain with the electronic display was definitely 5034. I have a picture of it with the display confirming this. Pic is a bit blurred though, but at least it's some evidence! It is pictured in Yorkshire Rider livery, but reverted to normal blinds at some point in the 90s."

Simon wrote: "wasn't 6033 the one that got the auto gearbox?"

Gaz wrote: "5034 did have the electronic display destination. It was a one liner. e.g "LEEDS BUS STN 72" It lost it's blind in 1992 when crashing into a canopy at Morrison's Supermarket in Horsforth, Leeds. Ripped the front of the bus. Totally smashed up the dest box. Also the top deck front. Remember this cos I was there on the bus when it crashed. It was on 81 HoltPark to Pudsey. It then got the roller blinds!"

Dave wrote: "I've no idea about 6033: it's news to me. But notice that it's on route 72 (to Bradford): was this bus actually allocated to Bradford then (? Just post 1986 regulation, perhaps?), and did they do this monstrous act to it?"

Martin wrote: "Hi, I seem to recall that Halifax Fleetline 7091 was fitted with electronic route numbering when it was fairly new, on the front and nearside. The one on the nearside was a large box in the window, replacing the traditional wind up variety above the window. These were removed in its latter days. I recall this from the 508 when it was a joint service between Halifax and Leeds."

So no firm answers to why 6033 received this at the rear (and possibly the side) though we can assume it was an experiment that didn't receive wholesale implementation. A side picture of 6033 (and indeed any pictures of 7091, 7523 and 7539) would be most welcome. Regarding the Olympians, was it just 5034 to receive an electronic front screen, or did any others get this also? Re the MCWs, an early 80s stockbook I have lists 7523 and 7539 as those with Transign equipment, but a photo of 7540 would be useful to confirm that it didn't (7539 and 7540, along with 7512, 7513, 7515-7519 and various Olympians were of course sold in 1986). Please do keep responses coming, on this or any other subject!

We are proud for our modest, modern vehicles to be affiliated to the Aire Valley Transport Collection which is one of the region's premier collections of historic vehicles, ranging in age from 1919 to 1987.

Please make your selection from the menu to the left, or click a vehicles' image to view its own webpage.

All content is copyright Transport Yorkshire Preservation Group 2004-2006, excepting photographs and articles whose copyright may lie elsewhere. All external linked sites are the copyright and responsibility of their respective owners. Transport Yorkshire Preservation Group nor any of its associates, members or vehicle owners can take any responsibility for any issues arising out of your perusal of this website or any reliance upon the contents. Errors and Omissions Excepted. Please use the contact us page in respect of any queries or if you have any issue with content on here. The site is created entirely using HTML coding.