SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Geordie exile my dad was definately not havin me on. There were many fitters and mechanics at the scene at the time. I asked my dad and he was at middleton depot at the time and his gaffer asked him to go and recover a broken down bus at the terminus.It took him three trips to find it. The first time he couldn't find anything and returned to the garage and carried on. He was sent out again still he could find no bus to recover again he returned to the garage. Then his boss came over (who was called outhwaite) and said is anybody going to sort the bus out. My dad said there is no bus and his boss said there was. So my dad went to look for it again and this time he saw a small crowd of people gathered around the bus - which was stuck in the flats- . So I think there are many credible witnesses. My dad was photographed with the bus for the newspapers. Apparently the re are quite a few photos somewhere and I am trying to source them.

Perhaps it's worth contacting the YEP? The Yorkshire Diary section (published on a Saturday) seems to be the obvious choice as they like to reprint these odd or unusual stories from years gone by.

Aye, I remember Ronnie Outhwaite, who was the Engineering Supervisor at Middleton. I was there until it shut in 86', then had to go to that Crematorium called Torre Road ................ Which flats was it? We had a few buses embedded in houses, and bridges over the years.

It was Cottingley Heights/Towers buffaloskinner, and was a nearly new 33' dual doorway Atlantean.

buffaloskinner wrote: Aye, I remember Ronnie Outhwaite, who was the Engineering Supervisor at Middleton. I was there until it shut in 86', then had to go to that Crematorium called Torre Road ................ Which flats was it? We had a few buses embedded in houses, and bridges over the years. Beware Buffaloskinner ex S/I at MG and ex Torre manager is reading this and watching you. I could think of worse names to call TRG cheers.

Hi all,I have been trying to find out if any info exists on this matter.The only thing I can find is that the 0n the 5th February 1973 the terminal point at Cottingley was changed and buses ran via Cottingley Mount and Cottingley Vale.This brought the buses in close proximity to the blocks of flats.

I have been in touch with a very accurate and knowlegeable guy who has corrected my original account in another thread.The date of the incident was 17th June 1974 and the Atlanrean involved was nearly new 553. Seemingly it was not caused, as I wrongly remembered, by an air pressure failure with standing too long, but by a loss of air pressure after a tortuous reversing performance after taking the wrong route to the terminus. The bus was on service 54 Cottingley to Meanwood. The bus was, of course , operating out of Middleton Depot as suggested above.    

Whilst not doubting you for one minute I am a bit puzzled as to the loss of air pressure.Air brakes are HELD OFF by the pressure and come on if the pressure drops.This is why a bus cannot move until the air pressure is built up to approx 75ib per sq ins.The failure of a spring brake as used on these buses could cause the problem, but not a loss of pressure

Terrym wrote: Whilst not doubting you for one minute I am a bit puzzled as to the loss of air pressure.Air brakes are HELD OFF by the pressure and come on if the pressure drops.This is why a bus cannot move until the air pressure is built up to approx 75ib per sq ins.The failure of a spring brake as used on these buses could cause the problem, but not a loss of pressure Point taken and agreed Terry but I think the gist of this weird case was that it had lost the gears due to the air dropping, and I heard that the driver revved up flat out to rebuild it but with the gear lever still in first and handbrake lever off. Presumably gears returned and handbrake released at the same time, causing the bus to leap forward and "fly the moat" before he knew what was happening. It was all "hearsay" to us lot North of the river at Headingley but that's how I remember it, and I suppose its lost in the past now.Keep looking for you on the Promenade when at the coast - have you grown a beard and a 'tache' or summat ??    

Hi Chris,No longer on the road now but still working for the same bus company.