WEST RIDING 640 (BHL 682)

    Leyland PD2/1, chassis no. 483605

  Bodywork by Leyland (L27/26R)

  Date new: 1948

  This bus was delivered to the then

  independent West Riding Automobile

  Company Limited of Barnsley Road,

  Wakefield, towards the end of 1948. It

  was in a batch of 28 Leyland PD2/1s to

  arrive that year. numbered 619 to 646

  (BHL 661-688). It remained in revenue-

  earning service until 1967 when it was

  converted to a driver-trainer along with

  similar 634, 636 and 642. At this point it

  was given the new fleet number of A13.

  It remained in the training fleet until

  1975 when it was bought for

  preservation by the West Riding

  Wulfrunian Preservation Society, which

  became the West Riding Omnibus

  Preservation Society in 1981. They still

  own the vehicle to this day.

  There have been attempts at restoring

  the bus, each time progressing a little

  nearer completion. At the moment it

  lacks a driver's cab front window, an upper deck half-drop window, some material to re-upholster the seats, some floor covering, a few man-hours to put it all together, a lick of paint and - of course - finance! If you happen to have in your possession a half-drop opening window or a cab front window for a Leyland bodied PD2/1, then please CONTACT US.

The top picture shows the bus as A13 shortly before withdrawal in 1975, and the bottom picture shows the bus as it is today.

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