United Automobile Services
Encyclopedia
United Automobile Services or United, as it was commonly known, was a major provider of bus services across the North East and North Yorkshire for 80 years or more. Nationalised in 1948, until broken-up and privatised in the late 1980s, the company provided bus-services across England's widest geographical area, stretching from Berwick on Tweed on the Scottish border, south to Filey
in East Yorkshire.
, Suffolk in 1912, with two routes, one in Suffolk and one over 200 miles away between Bishop Auckland and Durham. During the 1920s the company expanded in Norfolk and south Lincolnshire, and in Northumberland, Co. Durham and North Yorkshire. In 1929 control passed to the Tilling Group, the London and North Eastern Railway
and B.A.T., and in 1931 the new owners split off the East Anglian operations into a separate company, Eastern Counties Omnibus Company.
United also started the East Midland Motor Company. This came about through the desire to expand. One of their managers, W.T. Underwood, was sent to Clowne
(near Chesterfield
) to set up a bus company in his own name. The Underwoods company later became East Midland.
United was nationalised in 1948, and controlled first by the British Transport Commission
, from 1962 by the Transport Holding Company
, and in 1969 by the National Bus Company.
The company ran vehicles from their head office in Darlington and garages across their area, including Durham, Hartlepool, Whitby and Peterlee amongst others. Most of those vehicles were Bristol
s with Gardner engines and ECW
bodies, the LH
and VR
being common vehicles. Another vehicle commonly used was the Leyland National
. United were one of only three operators (and the only English operator) to buy the Bristol REMH 12 metres (39.4 ft) coach chassis. These 35 vehicles, which had Plaxton Panorama Elite III
49-seat coach bodywork, were delivered between 1971 and 1975.
During the mid 1980s, after deregulation, a large number of Mercedes-Benz
and Dodge S56 minibuses were purchased by United for use on new 'town' services in many areas,some replacing existing United 'big bus' services and others on brand new services which were highly competitive with local authorities existing routes (notably the Darlington and the Hartlepool networks). Most were branded with names such as Roadranger (Darlington
), Clipper (Whitby
), Hoppa (Hartlepool
) and Panther (Peterlee
) amongst others. Most routes ran to a Hail and Ride
system and after some initial controversy,these services were successful for United, particularly in Darlington.
To prepare for privatisation, the Northumberland and Scarborough areas were separated off into two new companies, Northumbria Motor Services and Scarborough & District, in 1986, the latter then being transferred to East Yorkshire Motor Services
. In 1990, the Cleveland and Middlesbrough operations were renamed Tees & District, with the Stockton depot operating as TMS (Teesside Motor Services). United was purchased by the Caldaire Group, then North East Bus, then Cowie, which was renamed Arriva
on April 2, 1998, with North East Bus becoming Arriva North East
(with several vehicles, including a batch of nine new Dennis Dart
s, donning the new livery in late 1997).
In 2002, Optare Delta
4019, still painted in United colours, ran free journeys on a variety of services operated by the company as a celebration of United's 90th anniversary, and also as the 'last United bus', being repainted into Arriva livery immediately after. The 'last United bus' statement was not entirely accurate as there were still some Optare MetroRider
s in service in United livery at the time, though bearing 'Roadranger' fleetnames rather than 'United', as well as several scrap Optare Vecta
s in United and TMS liveries and a withdrawn Leyland Olympian
in Tees livery which was not removed until 2007.
NDL769G, and Bristol LS 304GHN. Other preserved United vehicles include Bristol LS Saloons (BU2 and BU250) Bristol L5Gs FHN 833, LHN 823, and HHN 202-in the livery of subsidiary company Durham District Services, 2 AEC Matador
s HSK 687 and NGY 380 towing lorries, and one towbus WHA 237H in Tees livery. Bristol VR
s WHN 411G (first United VR), APT808W and PAJ 829X (the last United VR), Leyland National
s XUA73X (in West Yorkshire livery) and EPT 879S, Bristol LHs GUP 907N and AHN 611M, Bristol RE
s SHN 80L . United's open-top RE PHN 178L also survives but is not preserved. There are many survivors of United vehicles abroad, including up to 6 Bristol Lodekka
s, and a few Bristol VR
s and Bristol KSWs. Peter Collinson was a driver many years, initially based at Hartlepool, then Peterlee depots.
Filey
Filey is a small town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the borough of Scarborough and is located between Scarborough and Bridlington on the North Sea coast. Although it started out as a fishing village, it has a large beach and is a popular tourist resort...
in East Yorkshire.
History
United was founded in LowestoftLowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
, Suffolk in 1912, with two routes, one in Suffolk and one over 200 miles away between Bishop Auckland and Durham. During the 1920s the company expanded in Norfolk and south Lincolnshire, and in Northumberland, Co. Durham and North Yorkshire. In 1929 control passed to the Tilling Group, the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
and B.A.T., and in 1931 the new owners split off the East Anglian operations into a separate company, Eastern Counties Omnibus Company.
United also started the East Midland Motor Company. This came about through the desire to expand. One of their managers, W.T. Underwood, was sent to Clowne
Clowne
Clowne is a village and civil parish in the Bolsover district of Derbyshire, England. It forms part of the Bolsover constituency. Clowne lies north east of Chesterfield and south west of Worksop. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Clune...
(near Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
) to set up a bus company in his own name. The Underwoods company later became East Midland.
United was nationalised in 1948, and controlled first by the British Transport Commission
British Transport Commission
The British Transport Commission was created by Clement Attlee's post-war Labour government as a part of its nationalisation programme, to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport in Great Britain...
, from 1962 by the Transport Holding Company
Transport Holding Company
The Transport Holding Company was a British Government owned company created by the Transport Act 1962 to administer a range of state-owned transport, travel and engineering companies that were previously managed by the British Transport Commission ; it came into existence on 1 January...
, and in 1969 by the National Bus Company.
The company ran vehicles from their head office in Darlington and garages across their area, including Durham, Hartlepool, Whitby and Peterlee amongst others. Most of those vehicles were Bristol
Bristol Commercial Vehicles
Bristol Commercial Vehicles was a vehicle manufacturer of in Bristol, England. Most production was of buses but trucks and railbus chassis were also built....
s with Gardner engines and ECW
Eastern Coach Works
Eastern Coach Works Ltd was a bus and railbus body building company based in Lowestoft, England.-History:The company can trace its roots back to 1912, when United Automobile Services was founded in the town to run bus services. United began a coach building business at the Lowestoft site in 1920...
bodies, the LH
Bristol LH
The Bristol LH was a bus chassis built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles in Bristol, England. Nearly 2,000 were built between 1967 and 1982 in a variety of sizes and body types, including some as goods vehicles.-Models:...
and VR
Bristol VR
The Bristol VR was Bristol's rear-engined bus chassis, designed as a competitor to the Leyland Atlantean and Daimler Fleetline.-Development:...
being common vehicles. Another vehicle commonly used was the Leyland National
Leyland National
The Leyland National is a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall...
. United were one of only three operators (and the only English operator) to buy the Bristol REMH 12 metres (39.4 ft) coach chassis. These 35 vehicles, which had Plaxton Panorama Elite III
Plaxton Panorama Elite
The Plaxton Panorama Elite was a successful design of coach bodywork built between 1968-1975 by Plaxton of Scarborough, Yorkshire, England. A wide-doorway variant called the Plaxton Elite Express was also built. Collectively, they are commonly referred to as the Plaxton Elite.It was preceded by the...
49-seat coach bodywork, were delivered between 1971 and 1975.
During the mid 1980s, after deregulation, a large number of Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
and Dodge S56 minibuses were purchased by United for use on new 'town' services in many areas,some replacing existing United 'big bus' services and others on brand new services which were highly competitive with local authorities existing routes (notably the Darlington and the Hartlepool networks). Most were branded with names such as Roadranger (Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
), Clipper (Whitby
Whitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
), Hoppa (Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
) and Panther (Peterlee
Peterlee
Peterlee is a new town in County Durham, England. Founded in 1948, Peterlee town originally mostly housed coal miners and their families.Peterlee has strong economic and community ties with Sunderland and Hartlepool.-Peterlee:...
) amongst others. Most routes ran to a Hail and Ride
Hail and ride
Hail and Ride is a concept in public transport in the United Kingdom. Generally, it refers to boarding or alighting a mode of public transport by signalling the driver or conductor that one wishes to board/alight, rather than the more...
system and after some initial controversy,these services were successful for United, particularly in Darlington.
To prepare for privatisation, the Northumberland and Scarborough areas were separated off into two new companies, Northumbria Motor Services and Scarborough & District, in 1986, the latter then being transferred to East Yorkshire Motor Services
East Yorkshire Motor Services
East Yorkshire Motor Services is a large bus and coach operator which operates throughout Kingston upon Hull, the East Riding of Yorkshire, the North Yorkshire coast and the North York Moors. In and around Scarborough, EYMS operates as Scarborough & District Motor Services...
. In 1990, the Cleveland and Middlesbrough operations were renamed Tees & District, with the Stockton depot operating as TMS (Teesside Motor Services). United was purchased by the Caldaire Group, then North East Bus, then Cowie, which was renamed Arriva
Arriva
Arriva plc is a multinational public transport company owned by Deutsche Bahn and headquartered in Sunderland, United Kingdom. It has bus, coach, train, tram and waterbus operations in 12 countries across Europe, employs more than 47,500 people and services over 1.5 billion passenger journeys each...
on April 2, 1998, with North East Bus becoming Arriva North East
Arriva North East
Arriva North East is a division of the transport group Arriva. It is a major provider of bus services around north east England, alongside Stagecoach North East, and Go North East...
(with several vehicles, including a batch of nine new Dennis Dart
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
s, donning the new livery in late 1997).
In 2002, Optare Delta
Optare Delta
The Optare Delta is a single-decker bus body produced for the DAF SB220 chassis. They were built in a factory in Leeds. They are known for their distinctive sloping front window.-Production:...
4019, still painted in United colours, ran free journeys on a variety of services operated by the company as a celebration of United's 90th anniversary, and also as the 'last United bus', being repainted into Arriva livery immediately after. The 'last United bus' statement was not entirely accurate as there were still some Optare MetroRider
Optare MetroRider
The Optare MetroRider was a midibus built by Optare between 1989 and 2000. Optare based the original design on the MCW Metrorider after Optare bought the rights following a decision by MCW to end bus production. This model also replaced the less successful StarRider.The MetroRider was an integral...
s in service in United livery at the time, though bearing 'Roadranger' fleetnames rather than 'United', as well as several scrap Optare Vecta
Optare Vecta
The Optare Vecta is a single-decker bus body produced for the MAN 11.180/11.190 chassis. Most were built on the 11.190 variant. Only two were based on the less powerful 11.180, both being K-regs for Reading...
s in United and TMS liveries and a withdrawn Leyland Olympian
Leyland Olympian
The Leyland Olympian was a double-decker bus built by British Leyland/Leyland Bus in the United Kingdom from 1980 to 1993. It was the last Leyland bus model in production before the demise of Leyland Bus.-Construction:...
in Tees livery which was not removed until 2007.
Preserved United vehicles
There are a number of former United buses which survive in preservation, several of which are owned by the Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society, these being Bristol K5G GHN189, Bristol L5G LHN860, Bristol LHBristol LH
The Bristol LH was a bus chassis built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles in Bristol, England. Nearly 2,000 were built between 1967 and 1982 in a variety of sizes and body types, including some as goods vehicles.-Models:...
NDL769G, and Bristol LS 304GHN. Other preserved United vehicles include Bristol LS Saloons (BU2 and BU250) Bristol L5Gs FHN 833, LHN 823, and HHN 202-in the livery of subsidiary company Durham District Services, 2 AEC Matador
AEC Matador
The AEC Matador was an artillery tractor built by the Associated Equipment Company for British and Commonwealth forces during the Second World War.AEC had already built a 4 x 2 lorry, also known as the Matador ....
s HSK 687 and NGY 380 towing lorries, and one towbus WHA 237H in Tees livery. Bristol VR
Bristol VR
The Bristol VR was Bristol's rear-engined bus chassis, designed as a competitor to the Leyland Atlantean and Daimler Fleetline.-Development:...
s WHN 411G (first United VR), APT808W and PAJ 829X (the last United VR), Leyland National
Leyland National
The Leyland National is a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall...
s XUA73X (in West Yorkshire livery) and EPT 879S, Bristol LHs GUP 907N and AHN 611M, Bristol RE
Bristol RE
The Bristol RE was a rear-engined single-deck bus chassis built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles from 1962 until 1982. It is widely considered the most successful of the first generation of rear-engined single-deckers....
s SHN 80L . United's open-top RE PHN 178L also survives but is not preserved. There are many survivors of United vehicles abroad, including up to 6 Bristol Lodekka
Bristol Lodekka
The Bristol Lodekka was a low-height double-decker bus built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles in England.Bristol manufactured over 5,200 Lodekkas from 1949 to 1968, as a standard double-deck vehicle for the UK state-owned bus sector. With all examples bodied by Eastern Coach Works in Lowestoft, they...
s, and a few Bristol VR
Bristol VR
The Bristol VR was Bristol's rear-engined bus chassis, designed as a competitor to the Leyland Atlantean and Daimler Fleetline.-Development:...
s and Bristol KSWs. Peter Collinson was a driver many years, initially based at Hartlepool, then Peterlee depots.