LATEST NEWS

Site updated 4th November 2025 

What has been updated, Latest News, Events 2026, Press Release, Name Change, Contact details.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/avtg/

(Updated 13th October 2025 with the 19th Yorkshire Dales Running Day)

To view the photo site of West Yorkshire Road Car Co, then please click on the link below (All photos from Alex Lawson collection)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wyrcc/

(Updated 29th August 2025)

***** Press Release *****

Supporters and followers of the Aire Valley Transport Group should note that, following on from the granting of charitable status to the groups collection of vintage transport related items, the group will from the 1st November operate as West Yorkshire Transport Heritage Trust.

We now occupy a building in Keighley so that most of the collection can be housed in one place and eventually the aim is to open to the public and have open days so that those items which are in the collection which are being restored and those which rarely venture out onto the public highway can be viewed in an undercover environment, with a cafe, shop and toilets.

Our present Facebook pages and website will be either renamed or discontinued and the name West Yorkshire Transport Heritage Trust adopted, with links from our old media to the new for those who already follow us under the AVTG banner, the website address will continue being www.avtg.co.uk

We look forward to having an opening event in April 2026, which will be heavily publicised nearer the time, and we hope that you will continue to follow our progress on our new media presence. Hopefully this venture will carry on the good work which in the past has seen us have a very successful running day in Skipton, which this year was well supported by both enthusiasts and members of the general public keen to ride on a wide selection of vintage buses.

Now in our 24th year of existence, it is hoped that these recent developments will enable us to continue with the work we have achieved so far in a better environment and with better facilities whilst allowing public access to the collection which hitherto has not been possible due to its various scattered locations.

The events for 2025 have finished, which gives the team more time to prepaire the museum for the grand opening on April 26th 2026.

If you would like to join the team then please contact us via the following email wytransportheratigetrust@gmail.com

Further news can be found on the groups Facebook page. 

www.facebook.com/groups/975897892536783

The 19th Yorkshire Dales Running Day was held on Sunday 12th October 2025. We had  a very busy event, with a large amount of people travelling on the vintage buses and with a long que waiting to board them most of the day. A massive thanks goes to all the marshalls, stewards, drivers and conductors together with all the vehicle owners and finally to everyone who supported us. The 20th Yorkshire Dales Running Day will be held on October 11th 2026.

Please keep calling back for further updates.

HAP985 is a 1953 Bristol KSW6G with ECW H33/27R which entered service with Brighton, Hove & District Omnibus Company Llmited in July 1953.

Purchased by members of the West Yorkshire Transport Heritage Trust in March 2024 and arrived at the depot after a long drive up from the South Coast on 18th March 2024. It made it's debut at the 18th Yorkshire Dales Running Day on 13th October 2024.

Maudslay Regal III HHP755 is an AEC, rebadged for unknown reasons as a Maudslay, it has Duple FC33F bodywork new in 09/48 to Greenslades Tours.

Purchased by members of the West Yorkshire Transport Heritage Trust in December 2021 it arrived at the depot on December 23rd 2021. The coach made it's debue at the 17th Yorkshire Dales Running Day on October 8th 2023.

Albion Valiant CX39N  HUP236 was one of 3 new Albion Coaches to Economic / E.W. Wilson as No.7 in May 1949. It has Associated Coach Builders C33F body, and was withdrawn in 1964. Purchased by West Yorkshire Transport Heritage Trust in December 2022.

The coach made it's debute at the 17th Yorkshire Dales Running Day on October 8th 2023.

The Haworth 1940's Weekend was held on May 20/21st 2023 and as usual we provided a vintage bus service between, Haworth (KWVR) Railway Station and the Bronte Parsonage car park. 3 vintage buse were used both days carring over 4000 passengers. 

***** 2024 EVENT CANCELLED *****

It is always pleasing to receive a complement on either vehicle turnout or a job well done, but last weeks job perhaps brought the bus preservation movement into a better light than that normally presented at many rallies. The ultimate accolade was to receive this letter from Clarence House thanking us for our efforts. This helped to alleviate the disappointment of not being able to provide our Leyland Lion for the job due to mechanical problems which developed on the way to Haworth. A quick substitution of GWT 630 which was sent out to fulfill the Royal duties.

To see an expanded view of the letter then please click on the link below.

LETTER FROM THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL (27kb)

On Sunday July 2nd 2017 we hosted a special event at KWVR Ingrow Railway Station to celebrate the 90th Birthday of newly restored ex Blythe and Berwick, Leyland Lion. KW1961 There was a small display of prime half cab ex West Yorkshire buses, with the KWVR running a vintage train compiled mainly of ex Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway rolling stock. The day was blessed with hot sunshine all day which saw a large numbers of visitors to view this historic day.

After 80 years in exile Ex Blythe and Berwick of Bradford (taken over by West Yorkshire Road Car) Leyland Lion PLSC3 of 1927 (KW1961) has returned to it''s home town, this is properly the oldest motor bus preserved in the area. This gem been acquired by members of the West Yorkshire Transport Heritage Trust.

Work has finished, her first outing was to Ingrow Railway Station on July 2nd 2017 where a small display of prime buses celerbrated her 90th birthday.

Following the unexpected death of member Keith Leighton who owned Ex Bradford AEC Regent III HLW159 this has now been sold to group members Alex & Greg Lawson and David Hudson, for continuing preservation in Bradford City Transport livery.