Transdev Yorkshire Coastliner

Friday 12 August 1994 (0807) - Blazefield owned Yorkshire Coastliner Limited 481 (C481 YWY) setting down in Westborough across the road from Scarborough railway station arriving as the 0720 service 843 from Malton. It was an Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Olympian fitted with higher backed semi-coach seating that was new in October 1985 to the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. In September 1987 WYRCC was privatised and the services from Leeds to the Yorkshire Coast that had been branded were branded ‘Yorkshire Coastliner’ passed to a new company with that name - a name and a company which went from strength to strength after privatisation. From its base in Malton the company continues to operate services from Leeds via Tadcaster, York and Malton to the coastal resorts of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington. Standing behind is East Yorkshire/Scarborough & District 232 (PNW 332W) having arrived from Pickering on service 128. It was a Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopard that was originally new to the London based Wallace Arnold subsidiary Woburn Garage (Evan Evans Tours) in April 1981. It was later transferred to the WA subsidiary Hardwick’s Services which EYMS acquired in 1987.

Friday 12 August 1994 (0807) - Blazefield owned Yorkshire Coastliner Limited 481 (C481 YWY) setting down in Westborough across the road from Scarborough railway station arriving as the 0720 service 843 from Malton. It was an Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Olympian fitted with higher backed semi-coach seating that was new in October 1985 to the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. In September 1987 WYRCC was privatised and the services from Leeds to the Yorkshire Coast that had been branded were branded ‘Yorkshire Coastliner’ passed to a new company with that name - a name and a company which went from strength to strength after privatisation. From its base in Malton the company continues to operate services from Leeds via Tadcaster, York and Malton to the coastal resorts of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington. Rear end advertising for Flamingo Land, a family fun park at Kirkby Misperton on the Malton to Whitby service 843.

Friday 12 August 1994 (approx. 0820) - Blazefield owned Yorkshire Coastliner Limited 481 (C481 YWY) travelling out of service along Royal Albert Drive in Scarborough heading to Peasholm Park to work the 0855 service 843 to Leeds. The bus had worked in on the 0720 service from Malton arriving near the Railway Station about 0810. I suspect the bus had deposited all its passengers upon arrival in town and the driver was filling in the layover time with a bit of sightseeing along the seafront! It was an Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Olympian fitted with higher backed semi-coach seating that was new in October 1985 to the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. In September 1987 WYRCC was privatised and the services from Leeds to the Yorkshire Coast that had been branded were branded ‘Yorkshire Coastliner’ passed to a new company with that name - a name and a company which went from strength to strength after privatisation. From its base in Malton the company continues to operate services from Leeds via Tadcaster, York and Malton to the coastal resorts of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington. The sea was very choppy here today with the waves crashing in. This part of the seafront is quite notorious for such weather. In the late 1800s the North Bay Pier was built close to this spot but a heavy storm in January 1905 destroyed the whole structure and the pier was not rebuilt. Later this day a lady had drowned here as she tried to rescue her dog from the sea. The sad irony was that the dog got out of the water alive but after being recovered from the sea by a RAF helicopter the lady had died when they reached the hospital.

Friday 12 August 1994 (approx. 0820) - Blazefield owned Yorkshire Coastliner Limited 481 (C481 YWY) travelling out of service along Royal Albert Drive in Scarborough heading to Peasholm Park to work the 0855 service 843 to Leeds. The bus had worked in on the 0720 service from Malton arriving near the Railway Station about 0810. I suspect the bus had deposited all its passengers upon arrival in town and the driver was filling in the layover time with a bit of sightseeing along the seafront! It was an Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Olympian fitted with higher backed semi-coach seating that was new in October 1985 to the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. In September 1987 WYRCC was privatised and the services from Leeds to the Yorkshire Coast that had been branded were branded ‘Yorkshire Coastliner’ passed to a new company with that name - a name and a company which went from strength to strength after privatisation. From its base in Malton the company continues to operate services from Leeds via Tadcaster, York and Malton to the coastal resorts of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington. The sea was very choppy here today with the waves crashing in. This part of the seafront is quite notorious for such weather. In the late 1800s the North Bay Pier was built close to this spot but a heavy storm in January 1905 destroyed the whole structure and the pier was not rebuilt. Later this day a lady had drowned here as she tried to rescue her dog from the sea. The sad irony was that the dog got out of the water alive but after being recovered from the sea by a RAF helicopter the lady had died when they reached the hospital.

Friday 12 August 1994 (approx. 0857) - Blazefield owned Yorkshire Coastliner Limited 481 (C481 YWY) heading up Columbus Ravine in Scarborough when working the 0855 service 843 from Peasholm Park to Leeds. It was an Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Olympian fitted with higher backed semi-coach seating that was new in October 1985 to the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. In September 1987 WYRCC was privatised and the services from Leeds to the Yorkshire Coast that had been branded were branded ‘Yorkshire Coastliner’ passed to a new company with that name - a name and a company which went from strength to strength after privatisation. From its base in Malton the company continues to operate services from Leeds via Tadcaster, York and Malton to the coastal resorts of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington. During this visit we stayed at the Columbus Hotel, a family run establishment, visible on the left. The building was typical of a style to be found in various parts of the resort that were constructed around the early 1930s. Over the years the facilities had evolved and adapted to accommodate en-suite facilities from their original ‘H & C in all rooms’ format. ‘H & C in all rooms’ itself having been a selling point from what went before that. It signified that the room had a washbasin with hot and cold running water so no having to queue for a communal bathroom. Re-forming the layouts to maximise the number of available bedrooms whilst creating the enhanced facilities often meant the bedrooms got smaller and perhaps fewer.

Friday 12 August 1994 - Blazefield owned Yorkshire Coastliner Limited 404 (K4 YCL) seen on Seamer Road (at Queen Margaret’s Road) in Scarborough when working the 1235 (from Peasholm Park) service 843 to Leeds. It was one of six Northern Counties bodied Leyland Olympians new in September 1992 which were numbered numbered 402-407 (L2-7 YCL). Fitted with high backed seating these were the first new vehicles purchased by Blazefield for Yorkshire Coastliner. From its base in Malton the company operates services from Leeds via Tadcaster, York and Malton to the coastal resorts of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington.

Saturday 13 August 1994 (approx. 0840) - Blazefield owned Yorkshire Coastliner Limited 413 (A213 SAE) seen in Columbus Ravine by Peasholm Park in Scarborough about to depart on service 843 to Leeds. It was one of a pair of Plaxton Paramount bodied Leyland Leopards acquired secondhand from Cheltenham & Gloucester Omnibus Company. New in October 1983 as C&G 2212/2213 the pair became YCL 213/214. From its base in Malton the company operates services from Leeds via Tadcaster, York and Malton to the coastal resorts of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington. The Scarborough terminus had moved from the town centre with services now extended down to this point closer to the North Bay seafront.

Saturday 13 August 1994 (approx. 0840) - Blazefield owned Yorkshire Coastliner Limited 413 (A213 SAE) seen in Columbus Ravine by Peasholm Park in Scarborough departing on service 843 to Leeds. It was one of a pair of Plaxton Paramount bodied Leyland Leopards acquired secondhand from Cheltenham & Gloucester Omnibus Company. New in October 1983 as C&G 2212/2213 the pair became YCL 213/214. From its base in Malton the company operates services from Leeds via Tadcaster, York and Malton to the coastal resorts of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington. The Scarborough terminus had moved from the town centre with services now extended down to this point closer to the North Bay seafront. In the background is what was once the North Bay Bathing Pool. Opened in the summer of 1938 the pool had a continental feel with underwater lighting and elevated arched terraces facing the south. From the 1980s until its closure around 2007 the pool was a succession of different water parks. The complex was demolished and the empty site is awaiting redevelopment.

Thursday 11 August 1994 – Some of the Blazefield Holdings subsidiaries include Yorkshire Coastliner and Ingfield-Northern Rose. 393 (C480 YWY), an Eastern Coachworks bodied Leyland Olympian fitted with higher backed semi-coach seating, was new to the West Yorkshire Road Car Company in October 1985 and was seen turning from Westborough to Valley Bridge Parade in Scarborough. The vehicle was quite likely working on the Yorkshire Coastliner service either on loan or on a through service from the Bradford area as an extension of the main Yorkshire Coastliner service from Leeds to Scarborough. The shrouded building in the background was the former Odeon Cinema at the time being converted to become the Stephen Joseph Theatre which opened in 1996.

Friday 12 August 1994 (approx. 1725) - Blazefield owned Yorkshire Coastliner Limited 408 (L8 YCL) seen setting down opposite Scarborough Railway Station as it arrived from Leeds on service 843. The vehicle, an Alexander Royale bodied Volvo Olympian new in October 1993, featured high backed coach seating and one-piece front windscreens. It had been displayed at the ‘Coach and Bus 93’ exhibition and was also used on a demonstration tour around Britain before entering service in January 1994. The lady with the large suitcase had just alighted for a stay at the Yorkshire coast.

Friday 12 August 1994 (approx. 1725) - Blazefield owned Yorkshire Coastliner Limited 408 (L8 YCL) seen setting down opposite Scarborough Railway Station as it arrived from Leeds on service 843. The vehicle, an Alexander Royale bodied Volvo Olympian new in October 1993, featured high backed coach seating and one-piece front windscreens. It had been displayed at the ‘Coach and Bus 93’ exhibition and was also used on a demonstration tour around Britain before entering service in January 1994. As a norm the rear panels of the Yorkshire Coastliner fleet display a large route map but this vehicle carries large ‘Royale’ lettering.

Friday 19 March 2004 - Yorkshire Coastliner, part of the Blazefield Group, operates services linking Leeds and York with the coastal resorts of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington operated from their garage in Malton which also features a small bus station. The property had originated with the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. As a boy when we travelled on the joint WYRCC/Ribble service X192 between Rochdale and Scarborough I always looked forward to the call the service made here. 429 (P429 UUG), an Alexander Royale bodied Volvo Olympian new in April 1997, seen parked at the bus station/garage property in Malton along with similar vehicle 435 (W435 CWX) which was new in June 2000.

Sunday 15 April 2007 (approx 1240) - Yorkshire Coastliner was formerly part of the Blazefield Group which is now owned by the French company, Transdev. Their services linking Leeds and York with the coastal resorts of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington are operated from their garage in Malton which also features a small bus station. The property had originated with the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. 455 (YJ05 FNO), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new March 2005, is seen at Malton. Note the addition of the Transdev name on the front fleetname. (Alongside is 411 (Y711 HRN), a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL new July 2001). The company operates 6 single deckers like this (450-455) and 14 double deckers. Ten of the double deckers are Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied and four are older Plaxton Presidents, all on Volvo chassis.

Saturday 15 July 2006 (0805) – Yorkshire Coastliner 409 (YK55 ATX), a Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL new in March 2006, seen setting down across the road from Scarborough Central Railway Station. It had just arrived as the 0720 service 843, the first trip of the day starting from Malton where the garage is based, and would terminate at Peasholm Park at 0813. It would have a long day ahead working the 0840 Scarborough-Leeds (1127); 1145 Leeds-Scarborough (1433); 1440 Scarborough-Leeds (1727); 1750 Leeds-Scarborough (2025); 2030 Scarborough-Leeds (2250); 2300 Leeds-Malton (0035). The mileage for the day would amount to close on 400 miles – each full run from Scarborough to Leeds being about 65 miles.

Saturday 12 April 2008 (0845 hrs BST) - Transdev now owns the Blazefield Group and with it Yorkshire Coastliner, which works services from the Yorkshire coastal resorts of Scarborough (service 843), Filey/Bridlington (service 845) and Whitby (service 840) to the conurbation around the city of Leeds, about 65 miles inland travelling via Malton (where the company garage is located) and the ancient city of York. These services have their origins with the former National Bus Company owned West Yorkshire Road Car Company. New since 1 March 2008 (when the ‘08’ licence plates commenced) Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL 412 (FJ08 BYK) takes on passengers in Columbus Ravine. Scarborough when working the 0840 service 843 to Leeds (due 1129). (Dean Rd crosses in the background)

Saturday 12 April 2008 (0850 hrs BST) - Transdev now owns the Blazefield Group and with it Yorkshire Coastliner, which works services from the Yorkshire coastal resorts of Scarborough (service 843), Filey/Bridlington (service 845) and Whitby (service 840) to the conurbation around the city of Leeds, about 65 miles inland travelling via Malton (where the company garage is located) and the ancient city of York. These services have their origins with the former National Bus Company owned West Yorkshire Road Car Company. New since 1 March 2008 (when the ‘08’ licence plates commenced) Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL 412 (FJ08 BYK) seen outside Scarborough railway station when working the 0840 service 843 to Leeds (due 1129). (A WA-Shearings coach and a charter coach were blocking the bus service 843 bus stop)

Saturday 12 April 2008 (0850 hrs BST) - Transdev now owns the Blazefield Group and with it Yorkshire Coastliner, which works services from the Yorkshire coastal resorts of Scarborough (service 843), Filey/Bridlington (service 845) and Whitby (service 840) to the conurbation around the city of Leeds, about 65 miles inland travelling via Malton (where the company garage is located) and the ancient city of York. These services have their origins with the former National Bus Company owned West Yorkshire Road Car Company. New since 1 March 2008 (when the ‘08’ licence plates commenced) Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL 412 (FJ08 BYK) seen outside Scarborough railway station when working the 0840 service 843 to Leeds (due 1129). (A WA-Shearings coach and a charter coach were blocking the bus service 843 bus stop)

Sunday 15 April 2007 (approx 1240) - Yorkshire Coastliner was formerly part of the Blazefield Group which is now owned by the French company, Transdev. Their services linking Leeds and York with the coastal resorts of Scarborough, Whitby, Filey and Bridlington are operated from their garage in Malton which also features a small bus station. The property had originated with the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. 440 (YD02 UNB), a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL new April 2002, still carries the old style livery. The company operates 6 single deckers (all new March 2005) and 14 double deckers. Ten of the double deckers are Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied (four new March 2004 and six new March 2006). The remaining four double deckers are Plaxton Presidents (one new 2001 and three new 2002), all on Volvo chassis. So, it is a very modern, and all low floor access, fleet.