Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

Contents

Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd. - Fleet History 1919-1967 Page 3

Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd. - Fleet List 1919-1967 Page 8

Cover Illustration: No. 53 (453AUP) is a preserved 1958 AEC Reliance with 45-seat bodywork. (John Law).

© The Local Transport History Library 2017. (www.lthlibrary.org.uk) For personal use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise without the express written permission of the publisher. In all cases this notice must remain intact. All rights reserved. First published 2017.

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Page 2 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

In 1919, Thomas Wilkinson commenced operations on two routes between Fishburn and Stockton-on-Tees, and Trimdon Grange and Darlington, both via Sedgefield. The services were operated initially by a trio of second-hand vehicles on Ford T chassis, with various seating capacities, garaged in an open yard in Sedgefield. As was common with independent operators of the time, the services had neither fixed timetables nor fixed fares. The early fleet was a mixture of makes, including Vulcan, Talbot, Reo and Gilford, but in 1930 the first Leyland vehicle (No.15), a Leyland Lion LT1, made such an impression that the company subsequently purchased only Leylands, and it was not until 1958 that another non-Leyland vehicle was added to the fleet. In 1926 the depot was transferred to another yard in the main street of Sedgefield and in 1928 the final move was made when the company built the North End Garage in Sedgefield, which remained in use until the take-over in 1967. In 1930, a service station, primarily for the repair and maintenance of cars was built in the centre of Sedgefield. This was also used for bus repairs when necessary. By this time there had been changes to the routes operated by Wilkinsons. The Trimdon Grange to Darlington service had been sold to Darlington Triumph Services, whilst the Fishburn section of the route from Stockton-on-Tees had been extended to Spennymoor. A new express service

Page 3 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967 to Blackpool was inaugurated serving the local mineworking areas of Durham, for whom Blackpool was a traditional holiday destination. In order to extend the lives of the more elderly vehicles, three were re-bodied in the latter part of the 1930's, including the original Leyland LT1, which received a new Plaxton B30F body in 1937. The onset of hostilities in 1939 brought severe restrictions on the use of fuel, the War Department commandeered some of the vehicles for use, and, in addition, special wartime services to Durham and the Royal Ordnance Factory at Aycliffe were operated. As a result Wilkinsons had to curtail its normal stage carriage services. Following the end of the war and due to the shortage of new vehicles, two more were sent for re-bodying, including No.22, a 1934 Leyland LT5, which was one of the vehicles re-bodied before the war. Wilkinsons made no effort to expand its services throughout the 1940's, and, apart from a change in the composition of the bus fleet, with a steady influx of Burlingham-bodied Leyland PS1's (Nos. 32-37) to wear the company's cream and red livery, there was little to report. As an interesting aside, it has been mentioned that company policy was to allow the longest serving driver to drive the newest vehicle; as a new coach arrived each driver moved up to a newer vehicle, an early sort of loyalty scheme.

Page 4 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

In 1951 one of the first production models (No.39: MPT39) was delivered, sporting a Burlingham Seagull C39C body. It lasted only some 9 years before being sold to Darwen Corporation, where it spent another 6 years as No.21. Another Leyland Royal Tiger (No.45: OUP45) arrived in 1953, this bore the final Leyland-built coach body before the cessation of bodybuilding activities. The same year saw the arrival of a second-hand 1948 Leyland PS1 (HOV107), purchased from Medding of Birmingham, it was numbered 31, the only time the number of a withdrawn vehicle was re-used throughout the history of the company, although No.13 was never used, presumably through superstition. The first non-Leyland vehicles to be purchased since 1930, were, a Bedford SB3 and an AEC Reliance, in 1958. In the event the Bedford suffered higher than expected fuel consumption and was sold after only two years in service. In February 1961, Wilkinsons Motor Services was formed into a limited company, with Mr. T. G. Thompson as Managing Director. At this stage the company also operated routes on contract to the National Coal Board for the transport of miners to Fishburn Colliery, on contract to Durham C.C. Education Department for school transport, as well as tours and excursion licences from several local towns. Wilkinsons also had a thriving private-hire business.

Page 5 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

An application was made in 1963 to extend the Spennymoor end of the route from Stockton-on-Tees through to Willington, which duplicated a route already run by Jewitt and Son who promptly objected. Following prolonged hearings and a revision of the original application, it was finally granted, extending the company's stage services for the first time since 1929. During the same year, the share in the Middlesborough to Bishop Auckland service (which Wilkinsons ran jointly) of Scurrs of Stillington, together with two AEC Reliances, was acquired, although the section between Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesborough was subsequently dropped in 1964. In 1965, the company's two stage services received route numbers, W1 and W2, although the express service still remained un-numbered, and at this stage the services operated by Wilkinsons Motor Services were as follows;

Stage Carriage Services:

W1: Stockton-on-Tees - Thorpe Thewles - Sedgefield - Fishburn - Ferryhill - Spennymoor - Willington. W2: Stockton-on-Tees - Thorpe Thewles - Sedgefield - Fishburn - Ferryhill - Spennymoor - Bishop Auckland.

Page 6 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

Express Service:

Stockton-on-Tees - West Hartlepool - Spennymoor - Bishop Auckland - Barnard Castle - Kirkby Stephen - Morecambe - Lancaster - Blackpool.

The death of the Managing Director, Mr. T. G. Thompson, in 1966 was probably one of the contributory factors, along with a fatal accident the same year, that led to the sale of the company on 26 February 1967 to United Automobile Services, the final chapter in the history of Wilkinsons Motor Services. At the time of the sale the fleet strength stood at 14 vehicles, with another 3 on order from Leyland, all of which were absorbed into the United fleet.

Page 7 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

Bus Fleet List 1919-1967

This listing is in the format - Year into service; Fleet No; Reg. No; Chassis; Chassis No; Body; Seating.

1919 1 J4859 Ford T ? ? B7? 2 J4323 Ford T ? ? B12? 3 J8712 Ford T ? ? B20? These vehicles are reported to have been re-registered in 1921 but details are unknown. Withdrawn unknown (1-3). 1923 4 PT1555 Vulcan ? ? B20? 5 PT2840 Vulcan ? ? B20? No. 5 came second-hand from an unknown operator. Withdrawn unknown (4-5).

Page 8 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

1924 6 PT443 Talbot ? ? B14? No. 6 ex-Colledge Brothers, Beamish (new 1923). Withdrawn unknown (6).

1925 7 PT3780 Reo Sprinter ? ? B24? Withdrawn unknown (7).

1926 8 PT7050 Reo Speed Wagon ? ? B24? Withdrawn unknown (8).

1927 9 PT6990 Reo Major ? ? B24? No. 9 ex-R.D. Lewis, Stanley (new 1926). Withdrawn unknown (9).

Page 9 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

1928 10 TY1151 Reo Pullman W2104 Robson B24? 11 UP837 Gilford ? ? B26? No. 10 ex-Armstrong, Ebchester (new 1924). No. 11 ex-G.E. Wray, Pity Me (new 1928). Withdrawn unknown (11), 1932 (10). 1929 12 UP2636 Gilford 166SD 10487 Duple C26? 14 UP2637 Gilford 166SD 10485 Duple C26? Withdrawn 1935 (12,14). 1930 15 UP4307 Leyland LT1 51163 Bracebridge B32F No. 15 was re-bodied to B30F by Plaxton in 1937. Withdrawn 1950 (15). 1931 16 UP5438 Leyland LT2 51483 Leyland B32F Withdrawn 1950 (16).

Page 10 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

1932 17 TD5014 Leyland PLSC1 45095 Leyland B35F 18 UP6829 Leyland LT5 1334 Leyland B32F 19 UP6830 Leyland TS4 839 Plaxton B32F No. 17 ex-Singleton, Leyland (new 1929). Withdrawn unknown (17, 19), 1948 (18). 1933 20 UP7872 Leyland TS6 2864 Burlingham C32F No. 20 re-bodied by Burlingham to B35F in 1948. Withdrawn 1955 (20). 1934 21-22 UP8965-66 Leyland LT5A 4514/15 Northern Coachbuilders C32F 23 MS9242 Leyland LT1 50629 Alexander B32F 24 MS9066 Leyland LT1 50155 Alexander B32F Nos. 21/22 re-bodied by Northern Coachbuilders to C33F in 1939. No. 22 re-bodied again by Burlingham to B35F in 1945. Nos. 23/24 ex-Alexander (Nos. N51/N88; new 1929). Also quoted as bodied by Cowieson. Withdrawn unknown (23, 24), 1950 (21-22).

Page 11 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

1935 25-26 APT464-65 Leyland TS7 5962/552 Burlingham C32F Withdrawn 1951 (26), 1952 (25). 1936 27 BPT923 Leyland TS7 9261 Burlingham C32F Withdrawn 1954 (27). 1937 28 BUP723 Leyland TS7 12838 Burlingham C32F 29 WF1069 Leyland PLSC3 46278 Leyland B32F No. 29 ex-East Yorkshire Motor Services (No. 212; new 1927 to Willerby, Binnington). Withdrawn unknown (29), 1954 (28). 1938 30 CUP474 Leyland TS8 15731 Burlingham C32F Withdrawn 1953 (30).

Page 12 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

1939 31 DUP692 Leyland TS8 302718 Northern Coachbuilders C32F Withdrawn 1953 (31).

1946 32 HPT212 Leyland PS1/1 462405 Burlingham C33F Withdrawn 1957 (32).

1947 33 HUP939 Leyland PS1/1 473430 Burlingham C33F Withdrawn 1957 (33).

1948 34 JPT363 Leyland PS1/1 480766 Burlingham C33F No. 34 was re-seated to B35F at a later date. Withdrawn 1961 (34).

Page 13 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

1949 35 KPT737 Leyland PS1/1 492043 Burlingham C33F 36 KUP136 Leyland PS1/1 493162 Burlingham C33F Withdrawn 1958 (35), 1959 (36). 1950 37 LPT37 Leyland PS2/3 496207 Burlingham C33F 38 LPT338 Leyland PS2/3 500019 Burlingham C33F Withdrawn 1961 (37), 1962 (38). 1951 39 MPT39 Leyland PSU1/11 502379 Burlingham C37C 40 DHL808 Leyland PSU1/15 511236 Duple C41C Withdrawn 1960 (39), 1964 (40). 1952 41 MUP641 Leyland PS2/13 515269 Burlingham FC37F Withdrawn 1954 (41).

Page 14 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

No. 37 (LPT37) was a 1950 Leyland PS2/3 with Burlingham 33-seat coachwork. It was withdrawn in 1961. (LTHL collection). Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

No. 39 (MPT39) was one of the first production models of the Leyland Royal Tiger. It had Burlingham 37-seat ‘Seagull’ style coachwork. (LTHL collection). Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

1953 31 HOV107 Leyland PS1/1 481422 Burlingham C33F 42 HPT748 Leyland PS1/1 461172 Burlingham C33F 43 FT7080 Leyland PS2/3 500201 Plaxton C33F 44 LAL569 Leyland PS2/3 495608 Burlingham FC33F 45 OUP45 Leyland PSU1/16 531118 Leyland C41C No. 31 was ex-Medding, Birmingham (new 1948). No. 42 was ex-Burn-Line, Sherburn Hill (new 1946). No. 43 was ex-Armstrong, North Shields (new 1950). No. 44 was ex-Robin Hood, Nottingham (new 1949). Withdrawn 1954 (44), 1956 (31, 42), 1960 (43), 1962 (45).

1954 46-47 RPT270-71 Leyland PSUC1/2T 544785/76 Burlingham C41C Withdrawn 1964 (46-47).

1955 48-50 TPT448-50 Leyland PSUC1/1 555612-14 Burlingham B44F Withdrawn 1964 (48-49), 1966 (50).

Page 17 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

Sporting the last Leyland-built coach body is No. 45 (OUP45), a 1953 Leyland Royal Tiger PSU1/16 with 41-seat centre entrance coachwork. (LTHL collection). Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

No. 48 (TPT448) was one of three similar Leyland PSUC1/1 chassis purchased in 1955. All had Burlingham 44-seat bus bodywork as shown here. (LTHL collection). Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

1957 51 VUP651 Leyland PSUC1/2T 574005 Burlingham C41F Withdrawn 1965 (51). 1958 52 YPT252 Bedford SB3 58797 Duple C41F 53 453AUP AEC Reliance MU3RV1593 Plaxton B45F Withdrawn 1960 (52). To United Automobile Services Ltd. (UAS) 26.2.67 (53), re-numbered W1. 1959 54-55 645-55BUP Leyland PSUC1/2 587022/23 Plaxton C41F 56 56DUP AEC Reliance 2MU3RV2248 Plaxton B45F Withdrawn 1965 (54-55). To UAS 26.2.67 (56), re-numbered W2. 1960 57-58 57-58FUP Bedford SB1 75159/65 Plaxton C41F 59 559PT AEC Reliance 2MU3RA3464 Plaxton C41F Withdrawn 1962 (57), 1963 (58), 1965 (59).

Page 20 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

In 1958 Wilkinsons purchased No. 52 (YPT252), the first non-Leyland vehicle for almost 30 years. It was a Bedford SB3 with Duple 41-seat coachwork. In the event it lasted just 2 years and was withdrawn in 1960. (LTHL collection). Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

1961 60-61 1360-61PT Bedford SB1 86443/45 Plaxton C41F Withdrawn 1962 (60-61).

1962 62-63 7462-63PT Leyland L2 612556/608 Plaxton C43F To UAS 26.2.67 (62-63), re-numbered W3, W4 respectively.

1963 64-65 3564-65UP Leyland L2 629099/100 Plaxton C43F 66 5466UP Leyland PSU3/1R L00676 Plaxton B55F 67 RPT699 AEC Reliance MU3RV358 Roe B44F 68 YPT470 AEC Reliance MU3RV1138 Roe B45F Nos. 67/68 ex-Scurrs Motor Services, Stillington (new in 1955 (67) and 1958 (68) respectively). To UAS 26.2.67 (64-68), re-numbered W5-W9 respectively.

Page 22 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

No. 62 (7462PT) was a 1962 Leyland Leopard L2 with Plaxton 43-seat coachwork. It passed to United Automobile Services in 1967 where it was re-numbered W3. (LTHL collection). Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

1964 69 469MPT AEC Reliance 2MU3RA5157 Plaxton B47F 70-71 DUP570-71B Leyland L1 L22722/23 Plaxton B45F Withdrawn 1966 (71). To UAS 26.2.67 (69-70), re-numbered W10-W11 respectively.

1965 72-74 FPT872-74C Bedford SB5 95888/7094/95 Plaxton C41F Withdrawn 1966 (72, 74). To UAS 26.2.67 (73), re-numbered W12.

1966 75 KPT875C AEC Reliance 2U3RA6031 Plaxton B55F 76 LUP476D AEC Reliance 2MU4RA6041 Plaxton C43F To UAS 26.2.67 (75-76), re-numbered W13-W14 respectively.

Page 24 Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

Now in United livery is ex-Wilkinson No. 73 (FPT873C), a 1965 Bedford SB5 with Plaxton 41-seat coachwork. Originally re-numbered W12 it was later re-numbered again to 1073 as seen here. (LTHL collection). Wilkinson’s Motor Services Ltd 1919-1967

1967

The following three vehicles were on order at the time of the take-over and allocated fleet numbers W15-17, although they never operated for Wilkinsons Motor Services and were new to United Automobile Services. W15 NHN415E Leyland PSU3/3R 700551 Plaxton C51F W16-W17 PHN216-17F Leyland PSU3/4R 700235/1684 Plaxton B47F

On 1/1/1969 the vehicles W1-W17 were re-numbered 2001-2004, 1062-1065, 4001, 2005, 2015, 1073, 4002, 1076, 1200, 2016-2017 respectively.

Page 26 © Local Transport History Library 2017

Additional information, corrections and photographs are always welcome. Our general email address is: [email protected]

In producing this booklet reference has been made to the following publications; Wilkinsons Motor Services by RF Spresser (Buses Illustrated No. 126, September 1965); United Takes Over by RF Spresser (Buses Illustrated No. 146, May 1967); PSV Circle Fleet History PA2, 1971.

Photograph courtesy: John Law.

Series Editor: Peter Gould ([email protected])