News items are listed here in chronological order, with the newest updates at the top

Wed 23rd April 2008 - Happy St. Georges' Day. On Sunday just gone, some of our members enjoyed a trip around Lincolnshire on 1807 and 5507. 1807 performed faultlessly, but the (ongoing) coolant problems with 5507 manifested theirselves again. This has been ongoing since her collection from a well known PSV repair premise in Rotherham, who may have had some involvement with 5507's original construction back in 1985... anyway, this didn't detract from an enjoyable day, though the problem clearly requires further investigation. This day was part of the Drive It Day (R) plans of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs.

Fri 4th April 2008 - the latest issue of Bus & Coach Preservation was published, which gave preliminary details of our proposed event on 19th July 2009 at Elland Road Stadium, to commemmorate various transport anniversaries. More information will appear on this website in due course.

Mon 10th March 2008 - on this date, 1705 and 2004 (D705HUA and E204PWY) moved from premises in Rotherham to undercover storage at a private location in the North Midlands.

Sat 23rd Feb 2008 - an electrician from Pocoelectric attended the premises where 1807 and 5507 are stored, in order to rectify several things: 1807 - fix the offside rear light fault which was identified during the Bradford Shop Hopper trip (this being an "under warranty" repair for the brand new rear lights that he had fitted in September. Apparently it was a simple earth fault. Also repaired were the connections (at the gearbox) serving both the reverse lights and the tachograph (a fault from when the new gearbox was fitted in December). Whilst there, it was noted that the stop switch (something that controls the brake lights, I think) was not brilliant and hence may need to be replaced in due course. 5507 - look at the windscreen wiper/washer fault that was apparent upon collection of 5507 from Unitec, Hellaby. This was diagnosed to a faulty Pneumatic Wiper Control Valve. A replacement part has been sourced, and will be fitted in a couple of weeks' time. Also to be attended to on that visit will be 5507's tachograph, which was also non-functioning when collected from Unitec. 1807 has been re-taxed for a year, and 5507 remains taxed until September.

Tue 1st January 2008 - apologies for the lack of updates recently. Things have been bubbling on behind the scenes. 5507 moved on Saturday 8th December 2007 to a new undercover storage unit in Lincolnshire. Here further rectification will be undertaken. 1807 has been fitted with a new gearbox. On Saturday 12th January 2008, all enthusiasts are invited on a ride around Bradford on 1807 - partly to road-test the new gearbox and partly to commemmorate her 22nd birthday in Feb 2008. All are welcome and the ride is free of charge, but please contact us by email (or telephone 08707 273434 and leave a message) jan2008tour@typg.org.uk to let us know who will be coming. Can pick up in Leeds, Wakefield or Bradford, and hope to include a look at some other preserved buses and a pub lunch aswell. The plan is to recreate some of 1807's former routes - principally the Bradford Shop Hopper 700 - as much as the current road layout will legally allow us to do. EDIT - Sat 12th Jan 2008 is also the occasion of a collectors fayre at Pudsey Civic Hall, so proposed route will be Leeds to Pudsey then Bradford - if anyone wants to meet 1807 Pudsey (or even just to get a ride from Leeds to Pudsey on something with an English body, not Wright or Alexander) please get in touch. The Pudsey event opens at 10:30, I plan for 1807 to be there at opening time, for maybe 45 minutes - if you do plan to join the tour please do contact as above. Please note that after 21:00 on Thurs 10th January, emails will not be checked again until Sunday or Monday. Please therefore telephone (and leave a voicemail with your number) instead.

Fri 5th October 2007 - TYPG were delighted to receive a mention in Land Rover Enthusiast in connection with our crusade to try and find some of the WYPTE/Yorkshire Rider staff cars/vans. We figured Land Rovers, given the care, attention and profile the marque receive, would be a good starting place. I hope to be able to scan the article in and link it, once requisite permission has been received. Today also the release of the new issue of Bus & Coach Preservation, which features an article on the premises in Rotherham where some of the TYPG collection are stored at - though the article focuses on South Yorkshire PTE Dennis Dominators. Also, please note that C807KBT (WYPTE 1807) should be attending the Bolton Abbey event on Sunday 14th October all being well.

Sun 23rd September 2007 - after the report (below) about receiving unwanted email, we have recently received three emails I can describe only as fascinating. The first was from the owner of D707HUA, informing us that the vehicle is alive and well, being used as a camper van. The second was informing us that F615XWY (Leyland Tiger/Plaxton coach) was possibly available for sale, and the third a simply fabulous list of ancillary vehicles, complied from years of observations from the mid 1970s onwards. These have now been listed on our Fate spreadsheet. As always, we have responded back to these people, however if anyone has sent TYPG an email and not received a reply, the chances are that one was written, but technology didn't allow the reply to reach you. If you have emailed us and not received a response, please do email again. Gremlins have possibly been at work...

Mon 10th September 2007 - over recent weeks, our group has been receiving a number of emails. For the benefit of anyone considering sending us an email, please note that at the present time, none of our members require male performance enhancement products, nor are we looking to meet Russian ladies (though if they would like to come over to our vehicles I am sure they will be made welcome, and this goes for all visitors in general), cheap Microsoft software, investments in African money embezzelment plans, nor do our good ladies require giftcards for high street stores in the US, unless of course you will be providing flights. Anyone who wants to email us about any other topic, particularly buses of WYPTE, is warmly directed to the contacts page.

Sun 9th September 2007 - 5507 attended Meadowhall today, and barring a slight coolant leak, it was a successful trip.

Fri 7th September 2007 - 1807 passed its class V MOT today, and has also been taxed. It is planned that 5507 will be at Meadowhall tomorrow (Sunday 9th September), and that one or both of them will be at the following events: Bolton Abbey Sunday 14th October, South Yorkshire Transport Trust open day, Rotherham, Sunday 21st October, and Huddersfield Nocturnal Heart of the Pennines on Sunday 28th October 2007.

Thu 30th August 2007 - today 5507 passed its class V MOT, and is taxed from 1st September 2007 onwards. Rectification efforts now focus on 5515 and 1807, with 2004 and 591 likely to see some attention over the coming months also.

Thu 23rd August 2007 - today 5507 failed its fourth MOT, despite the brakes having passed when the repairer did a brake test after undertaking further repairs, but all being well tomorrow morning the repairer and the MOT tester are to look at it together. In better news, 5515's accelerator was freed off this afternoon, so this just needs a couple more little jobs attending to, and is then ready for MOT also.

Mon 20th August 2007 - 1807 failed its fourth MOT today, we urgently require an offside rear brake drum, is anyone able to help?

Tue 14th August 2007 - no news is good news, the work on both 1807 and 5507 is well advanced, and both should be MOTd very soon. 5507, as befits a great lady built to cruise the motorway network at 70mph, has already failed three MOT tests but further work is being undertaken. A date for everyones' diaries - Sunday 21st October 2007 will see an open day being held at premises in Rotherham, at which some of our vehicles and those of the South Yorkshire Transport Trust are located. This will give a unique opportunity to see vehicles that are not yet restored, such as WYPTE 7140 (CWU140T) and our own 1705, as well as to ride on those that are. One plan (and about the only authentic way that WYPTE vehicles can be used in the South Yorkshire area) is to use 5507 (and possibly 5515) together with authentic SYPTE coach seated Dennis Dominators on a recreation of part of the X32/X33 White Rose Express routes along the M1. This short demonstration ride will run from the unit to junction 35 (Thorpe Hesley) then down to junction 34 (Meadowhall), calling at the interchange, then back to the unit. A leaflet about the event can be downloaded here.

Thu 9th August 2007 - today was not a good day. 5507 failed an MOT, and 5515 was unable to go for its MOT due to a seized accelerator pedal. As 5515 is the only vehicle in the present collection whose tenure is not secure, this issue will be considered with the other factors in making a decision whether or not to reactivate her.

Thu 14th June 2007 - both 1807 and 5507 are well on their way to reactivation. 5507 has had new outriggers fitted and a couple of other jobs done, 1807 has received a complete new exhaust system, some new air pipes and a valve, a clean-out of the air system and is due tomorrow to have a steam clean of the underneath, following which both vehicles will be MOTd, which is also something that is planned for 5515 in due course.

Sun 20th May 2007 - outriggers sourced (I have contact details, should other groups need) and fitted, the return of 5507 is now expected imminently.

Sat 28th April 2007 - no news yet re outriggers... but do not worry, we will somehow find a solution.

Fri 20th April 2007 - 5507 (which is presently at Optare Hellaby for work to be done) received a set-back to its restoration, in that the chassis outriggers were condemned as beyond repair, and that they couldn't really be welded; they would have to be replaced. If anyone can assist, these are the outriggers (on both sides) that are immediately in front of the rear axle. Hopefully we can source from somewhere, but enquiries with Leyland Bus, Volvo Bus & Coach and various others have so far drawn a blank. Leyland Olympian Chassis Outrigger wanted!!

Sunday 4 March 2007 - a minor update to the website, together with an updated fate list.

Friday 23 February 2007 - today, Transport Yorkshire Preservation Group Ltd became a legal entity, a not-for-profit company (company limited by guarantee) registered number 06125986. This is a vital step in ensuring that our vehicles can exist with a secure, long-term future, and opens up all sorts of future possibilities - not least the opportunity for everyone to get involved with donations. More about this in due course.

Thu 25 January 2007 - I was reminded today that there are some preserved WYPTE vehicles that have thus far never received a mention on this site (no, not the NBC buses of West Yorkshire Road Car, West Riding, Yorkshire Woollen and Yorkshire Traction to carry verona green - though they will come) but trains - or rather the class 141 railbuses. 141113 (the former 141012) has just been repainted into the WYPTEs post-deregulation red and cream livery at the Midland Railway Centre - its owning group the Llangollen Railcar Group have pictures on their site. In addition, 141108 is in service at the Colne Valley Railway (Essex) and 141103 (in service) and 141110 (spares) are at the Weardale Railway. I should also mention that I found on fotopic some pictures of 141001 in original blue livery. I used to love these, and they are so bus-like that they deserve to be on this site. Now a favour - I am trying to do a complete list of all DMU vehicles to carry to MetroTrain fleetname (whether on BR blue, blue and grey, or verona green livery). Cars of at least class 101, class 108, class 110 and class 141 got this. I'd be particularly interested if any sets in plain blue (or the white with blue band) got this branding.

Fri 5 January 2007 - due to the assistance of First York, we were able to collect 5515 30771 D515HUB, to be used principally as a source of spares for 5507... at least that was the plan. It appears to have a pretty good body on it, so it may well see some use this summer. This vehicle was the final Leyland Olympian on site at First York, the penultimate vehicle, ECW bodied A686MWX (New as York-West Yorkshire 3835, then WYRCC 1835, Yorkshire Rider 5194 and FirstGroup 30679) has also entered preservation, locally in North Yorkshire. The collection of 5515 was not without incident, as first of all the batteries were flat, and secondly it overheated on the A1(M) and then the aforementioned batteries wouldn't start it again - for any other owners of preserved buses, Autohome offer a reasonably priced recovery scheme which 5515 was able to benefit from on this occasion. It was thought that a coolant hose had perished, however the side of a motorway was not the place to investigate such things.

Thu 28 December 2006 - We have set a christmas Conundrum concerning 6033 GUG560N - any ideas?

Sat 23 December 2006 - our group has been accepted as a member organisation to the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs - this is an organisation who campaign nationally and within Europe for the promotion and continuation of the historic vehicle movement. Also I must wish everyone reading this a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.... what will 2007 bring for us? A Leeds Jumbo back on the road is unlikely, but hopefully 1807 and 5507 will be flying the flag for preserved WYPTE vehicles. There are also exciting changes planned for the structure of our group... more later.

Wed/Thur 29th/30th November 2006. 1807 MOT time. Various work was carried out on the Wednesday, with the vehicle heading for MOT on Thursday morning. Halfway to the test centre, then handbrake decided to come on itself... and the vehicle was swiftly pulled to the side of the road. Breakdown crews attended, and the relevant air pipe replaced. A few hundred yards down the road, it did it again. Fortunately the breakdown crew came back, and after further investigation established that the exhaust silencer had a hole, and the hot gas was melting the air pipes. The vehicle was safely towed back to its storage location, and work is now underway to source a new exhaust silencer.

Sunday 12th November 2006 - more website work has been done, with lists of surviving pre-WYPTE buses being included on our vehicles page to complement the existing WYPTE vehicles fate list. Also new are a page on four Leeds City Transport vehicles in need of TLC, and a page detailing more modern single deck vehicles, which may one day enter preservation.

Sunday 5th November 2006 - the website has had a major makeover, principally in response to constructive criticism in Buses magazine. There is now a full menu down the left hand side of the pages, which I hope will make navigation much easier. Our group also gained mention in Bus & Coach Preservation, with questions being posed in one issue, and a reply from ourselves being published in a following issue. The issues at hand were Leeds City Transport coach 10, and various regulations affecting preserved buses and their legal operation.

Vehicle update: 5507 failed MOT with a small chassis problem and inoperative screenwash, these items are being attended to presently. 2004 has a current MOT, however is now off the road awaiting a body repair. 1807's MOT expires in December, so arrangements are being made to take that for test soon - this vehicle is also midway through being repainted, a task that will be completed in the spring. 1705 is out of service, awaiting our being able to find someone able to do car-type bodywork at a reasonable cost. 591 is also waiting for its 'tomorrow' to come.

Sunday 8th October 2006 saw three WYPTE/Yorkshire Rider vehicles in attendance at the Bolton Abbey event - here is a picture of 45, 8534 and 2004 side-by-side.

Sunday 10th September 2006 is the Meadowhall event, 2004 and 5507 are planned to attend.

Friday 1st September 2006... ooops we've done it again... Mercedes 811D Optare Star Rider 2004 (E204PWY) has been saved by our group, and two of our members enjoyed a faultless trip up from MasterTravel in Welywyn Garden City.

Thursday 27th June 2006... 1807 has now been fitted with a new tachograph (visually almost identical to its original equipment, but an automatic one) which is fully calibrated (the same work was done a few weeks ago to 5507) meaning that both vehicles are fully legal on the road (being under 25 years old means that there are no exemptions from tachograph regulations are there are for vehicles over 25 years old). There is a chance that both could appear at Greenhead Park on 13th August 2006.

Friday 9th June 2006... anyone on any of the local area yahoogroups (linked from our links page above) might have guessed that something was up, as by the Wednesday of this week I was posting that the last Leyland engined former WYPTE bus was about to be withdrawn... by Thursday morning I had posted that that would be its last full day of service, and that it would work on the Friday morning and get withdrawn (in the event it did a school board on the Thursday, serving Holy Rosary Primary School and Boston Spa High School, followed by a morning on route 51, final working being Morley-Leeds)... by Friday afternoon I was in the office at Bramley, followed by the driving seat of former WYPTE Optare bodied Leyland Olympian 5507 30765 C507KBT - not only Leeds' last WYPTE Leyland-engined bus, but also Optare's first double decker - yes, it has been preserved, and joins our other early Optare bodied buses 1705 and 1807 - many thanks to all concerned, particularly the staff and management of First West Yorkshire Ltd. 5507 will receive its own page in due course, in the meantime there is (by chance) a picture of it in as-new condition on http://www.typg.org.uk/verona.html

Sunday 2nd April 2006 - 1705 and 1807 were moved around their storage location in connection with floor cleaning. A fault of 1705's (engine stopping randomly) was cured whilst it was being moved.

Thursday 30th March 2006Winnie-Pig the Guinea Pig goes for her operation today. UPDATE - she's recovered just fine.

Saturday 18th March 2006 - pleased to report that a private individual has secured Atlantean 6214 for preservation - our chairman was invited along to photo the vehicle as it moved to its new home (a private site) where it has seen next to 6168 which the owner also owns.

Saturday 4th March 2006 - 591 and 574 were started up and moved around the (private) site where they are stored today.

Sunday 19th February 2006 - no news really, its the winter time! Couple of requests for info from me though, on the vehicles page near the bottom - can anybody help?

Friday 23rd December 2005 - 1807 successfully passed its class V MOT, meaning that it can attend rallies and other events next year (once VED is taken out). The current PLG tax disc expires on New Years Eve, so the vehicle has been SORN'd (the acknowledgement arriving on Christmas Eve - and already showing on Vehicle Licensing Online) and should be retaxed later in 2006. The inspection however revealed several advisory jobs that need to be attended to sooner rather than later. Our MOT was carried out at the Hellaby premises of Optare Ltd and remedial work to the exhaust manifold (after failing the first MOT two days before was kindly carried out by MTC Commercials of Rotherham.

Sunday 18th December 2005 saw Yorkshire Rider 1700 (Volkswagen LT55/Optare City Pacer DP21F) D901MWR return home to Yorkshire from an independent operator in Devon - two of our members assisted its new owner with the drive back home - pictures and a small gallery are here

8th December saw a towtruck acquired by one of our members - although not a local vehicle, and hence not part of the group, this vehicle is expected to play an important part in the recovery of any of our vehicles which may break down from time to time. Pictures in the new year.

What will Christmas, and a new year, bring for our group, and the preservation of ex- Leeds City Transport/West Yorkshire PTE/Yorkshire Rider vehicles? Only time will tell, but there are a couple of cards up our sleeve, being played very discreetly...

I have updated the Rallies page with details of 2006 events that are known to me as of November 2005.

December 2005 sees the 100th anniversary of motorbuses in Leeds (the first route being up Headingley Lane/Otley Road and thence to Alwoodley) - sadly however this occasion will go unmarked. Maybe the coming years may bring about more open days/rallies/events for West Yorkshire, and Leeds in particular?

Further to the above, due to the Manchester Museum being booked up with visitors, we in fact travelled to the museum with the Sheffield 388 Group - 388 being Volvo B55/Ailsa Truck and Bus/Van Hool McArdle LWB388P - though the group also own PSJ825R, which was our transport for the day. 388 itself is under very heavy restoration in Sheffield. I would like to say a big thank you to Gareth, the little bloke whose name I don't know, and the members of the 388 Group for making us all so very welcome.

1807 is due to visit Dewsbury Bus Museum on Sunday 13th November and possibly the Manchester Christmas Cracker event in December before probably having a couple of months rest.

1807 and 45 attended the Bolton Abbey event along with 8995WY 8656 61134 from First Leeds and many other preserved buses - pictures are here. 45 then attended the Huddersfield Halloween event and is now in retirement for the next few months for extended maintenance and, possibly, a new livery. Can you, however, spot the minor changes that 1807 was sporting at this event?

A webpage about the history of the Verona Green and Buttermilk livery has been set up here and more detail about surviving West Yorkshire PTE vehicles can be found here.

1807 successfully attended the Meadowhall Transport Rally last Sunday, its next day out is scheduled to be Sun 9th October at the Bolton Abbey event.

1807 will now unfortunately not be going to the Heaton Park rally on Sunday 4th September 2005, this is due to the vehicle having an oil leak. It is however hoped that it will be able to attend the Sheffield event the weekend after - for more information see our Rallies page.

After much effort, our members/friends, Michael Highman, Martyn Bryant, Richard Lamb and James Fairchild, have prepared a list of all former WYPTE vehicles, which can be found on our group web server here. This is prepared using information available on the DVLA's new Vehicle Enquiry website. The bad news is that, unless anyone knows otherwise, there are no Northern Counties bodied WYPTE Fleetlines left, very few Metrobuses, and the last surviving Leyland Tiger/Duple dual purpose bus has recently entered one of the Barnsley yards to be broken up. A Metro-Scania was preserved, then subsequently scrapped. Most of the coaches have gone... the Ailsa was scrapped some years ago... there are some bits of good news though.

1807 went on a trip around Leeds on 3rd August, including returning home (see 1807 page for pics).

31st July 2005 1807 successfully made it (there and back) to Sandtoft TrolleyBus Museum where a very enjoyable day out was had by our members.

Please can I have peoples' opinions on my Plaxton Mini Supreme webpage please.

end July 2005 - welcome to this new website!