The number of Leyland Atlanteans in service in West Yorkshire has been dwindling by a rapid rate with only 6 left in service in Leeds at the time this page was introduced. With the Atlantean not expected to see many months further service the time has come to look back at the 39 year history of the Atlantean within the Yorkshire Rider (and predecessors and successors) fleet.

June 1965
The Leyland Atlantean first appeared on the streets of Leeds in 1965 when Leeds City Transport purchased 10 bodied by Weymann, numbered 331-340 these entered service between June and August 1965, the last vehicle 340 was under production when the Weymann factory was closed, it was then finished by Metro-Cammel-Weymann and wasn't delivered until October 1966. Withdrawn 1978-1981

December 1966
A further fifteen of the same type of Leyland Atlantean were purchased by Leeds from late 1966, as mentioned above by this stage the bodies were now built by Metro-Cammel-Weymann and this brought with it a new style of bodywork. Withdrawn 1978-1980

March 1967
Bradford City Transport purchased their first Atlanteans in 1967, like the Leeds examples these were also built with Metro-Cammel bodies. These buses were renumbered 2256-2270 on formation of WYPTE in 1974. Withdrawn 1978-1981

September 1968
More deliveries of Atlanteans occured in Autumn 1968 with a batch of 30 this time bodied by Park Royal which was a fairly similar body design to the MCW body bought previously. Withdrawn 1980-1981

October 1968
Further Atlanteans numbered 286-300 were delivered to Bradford in late 1968 and carried the same MCW bodies as on their earlier deliveries. For the record numbers 271-285 between the two Atlantean deliveries were Daimler Fleetlines which Bradford prefered as no more Atlanteans were puchased here until 1971, in fact immediately after this order of Atlanteans, Bradford returned to purchasing halfcab double deckers. Withdrawn 1980-1981

January 1970
No Leyland Atlanteans were purchased in 1969 but in 1970 a large delivery of the now famous Roe body style which continued for all forthcoming Leeds City Transport and WYPTE deliveries. The Leeds deliveries featured low driving position, dual doors, square destination display and panoramic windows. 210 were purchased in total of which there were 40 in this years batch, those up to number 405 arriving in January and February 1970 and then the remainder being delivered in July 1970. Withdrawn 1980-1984

September 1970
Following the registration letter change in August large deliveries of Leeds standard Atlanteans continued with a further 40 arriving. All vehicles passed to WYPTE in 1974 and numbers 434 and 465 were still in service by the formation of Yorkshire Rider in October 1986, 434 was withdrawn in January 1987 and 465 was withdrawn in February 1987. Withdrawn 1982 to 1987

July 1971
Bradford turned to the Atlantean again in Summer 1971 and bought 30 bodied by Alexander, like Leeds deliveries these also came with dual doors. All passed to WYPTE and were renumbered 2441-2470 in 1974, all were withdrawn by 1986 with 2448, 2453, 2462, 2464-6, 2468 and 2469 lasting until Deregulation when they were withdrawn and none passed to Yorkshire Rider. Meanwhile in Halifax and Huddersfield their standard deliveries were of Daimler Fleetlines. Withdrawn 1981 to 1986

September 1971
A further 30 arrived with the K registration in 1971. All vehicles passed to WYPTE in 1974 and a significant number were still in service by the formation of Yorkshire Rider in October 1986, those that passed to Yorkshire Rider were numbers 467/8, 470-6/8, 480-8 and 490-3 but all were withdrawn by late 1988. Withdrawn 1982 to 1988

January 1973
No Atlanteans were purchased in 1972 but a further 100 were bought throughout 1973 and 1974, they were the first of the new AN68/2R Atlantean and were to the standard Leeds Roe body style. Numbers 576/8/81/3/5-95 were actually delivered after the formation of WYPTE with 581/3/6-89/92-5 being new in the MetroBus PTE livery. All except 518, 523, 526, 533, 548 & 554 were still operated by deregulation day in October 1986 and passed to Yorkshire Rider with many being repainted into Yorkshire Rider livery. Following deregulation some of these batches were operated by Kinsley depot in Wakefield for ths first time. The last four Leeds Atlanteans were 580, 587, 589 and 590 lasted until the 31st March 1993, the day they had to be withdrawn or be fitted with new safety features on their centre doors. Withdrawn 1985-1993

September 1974
Following the creation of the West Yorkshire PTE a new style of Atlantean was developed and became the standard delivery over the next seven years with 361 delivered in total. The style was very similar to the Leeds standards although a new style of destination display and standard sized windows were fitted along with only one door. A new numbering sequence from 6001 upwards was introduced and 80 arrived with the N registration, all for Leeds although four intitally ran for Calderdale for a short time. The reason for the mixed up registrations being because the first forty were ordered by Leeds City Transport. During this time Bradford district opted for the less successful Scania Metropolitan. 6070 was withdrawn after being damaged by fire in 1984 but the rest all passed to Yorkshire Rider with vehicles being spread throughout the operating area after this change, particularly to Bradford with wholesale withdrawals starting in the mid 90s. On the 1st September 1995, 6001/5/58/61/4/8/74 passed to Leeds City Link, 6015/7/24/7/30/2/3/7-40/3-5/7/50 passed to Bradford Traveller and 6073 passed to Kingfisher Huddersfield. 6030 and 6040 were the last two of this batch, being withdrawn in July 1998 from Bradford. Withdrawn 1984-1998

August 1975
Further Atlanteans arrived with P registrations and again were all new to Leeds district, all passed to Yorkshire Rider and moved around between depots. Wholesale withdrawals began in the mid 90s and from September 1995 only four were still operated with 6113/6-8 passing to Leeds City Link, the last one was 6116 which was withdrawn by Quickstep Travel in January 1999. Withdrawn 1991-1999

May 1977
Calderdale and Kirklees began to receive Leyland Fleetlines during 1976 meaning no Atlanteans were delivered, but more of the same arrived in 1977 with 55 being delivered with R and S registrations, this year though the deliveries were split between Leeds and Bradford. 6126 was withdrawn with fire damage in 1984 but all others were still around in 1986 and passed to Yorkshire Rider. Wholesale withdrawals began in the mid 90s and on the formation of the new operating units in September 1995, 6127/8/30/2-4/40/2/4/6/7, 6156-9/61/3/4/7/9/71/4/5 passed to Leeds City Link, 6150/2/62/5/73/6 passed to Bradford Traveller and 6172 passed to Kingfisher Huddersfield. The last three were 6156/8/67 which were withdrawn by First Leeds in August 1999. Withdrawn 1984-1999

May 1979
Deliveries focused on Fleetlines for Kirklees and Calderdale again in 1978 meaning the next Atlantean deliveries wern't until May 1979. A small batch of T reg buses were delivered to Bradford and Leeds. All passed to Yorkshire Rider and from September 1995 6177/8/80-3/5/7-91 were allocated to Leeds City Link and 6176/86 to Bradford Traveller. Withdrawals had begun in 1995 and the last two were 6182 and 6190, after being withdrawn from Leeds they operated for a short time in Halifax, finally being withdrawn in May 2002 and February 2002 respectively. Withdrawn 1995-2002

December 1979
More Atlanteans arrived in late 1979 but these were different from earlier designs in that they had a higher driving position with a less shallow front windscreen, also there was a revised staircase and seating layout. These were delivered to Bradford and Leeds, 6235 was destroyed in the 1984 Torre Road fire but all the rest passed to Yorkshire Rider in 1986 and from 1995, 6208-19, 6222/3/5-34/6-9/41-51 were operated by Leeds City Link, 6192/3/7, 6203/4/7/21 by Bradford Traveller and 6194-6/8-202/5/6/20/4 by Kingfisher Huddersfield. Large withdrawals began in the late 90s and 6214 and 6216 are still operated by First Leeds from its Cherry Row depot. Still Operated

August 1980
A large number of Atlanteans arrived during the W registration period and were new to Leeds, Bradford and for the first time Huddersfield, although some older Atlanteans had also been transferred here prior to this time. 6281 was withdrawn after being damaged by fire in 1984. All the others passed to Yorkshire Rider and from 1995, 6253-68/74-8/83, 6301-11 were with Leeds City Link, 6279/80 with Quickstep Travel, 6269-73/82/5/6/8-300, 6312-4/6 with Kingfisher Huddersfield and 6284/7, 6317-26 with Bradford Traveller, wholesale withdrawals began in the late 90s but 6254/6 and 6310 are still operated by First Leeds from Bramley depot. Still Operated

August 1981
The last batch of Atlanteans delivered new to the PTE arrived in 1981 and were again spread between Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield, future orders changed to the Leyland Olympian. In 1995, 6327-35/40-51 were allocated to Leeds City Link, 6336/7/52-61 with Bradford Traveller and 6338/9 with Kingfisher Huddersfield, withdrawals began in the late 90s and by now only one remains, 6329 with First Leed at their Bramley depot. Still Operated

November 1987
Jumping ahead to 1987 and following deregulation Yorkshire Rider found itself with a shortage of double deckers so turned to the second-hand market and bought many Atlanteans and Fleetlines from Greater Manchester. 6401/2 were purchased in late 1987 from GMPTE and the 6402-23 during 1988 from GM Buses. All were operated by Yorkshire Rider Leeds. 6401/2 were withdrawn in 1991 and 6403-22 were withdrawn in 1993 and 1994. 6423 continued in service and was transferred to Bradford, finally being withdrawn in June 1998. Withdrawn 1991-1998

December 1989
More second-hand Atlanteans were purchased in 1989 with 12 being purchased from London Sovereign. These buses were new to London & Country and carried their style of Roe bodywork. All except 6427 actually entered service with West Yorkshire Road Car at their Leeds Roseville Road depot. Following this depot's closure, all joined 6427 at Bramley depot and continued to operate with Yorkshire Rider Leeds. 6424 was the first to be withdrawn in May 1993 and all others passed to Leeds City Link in 1995. 6429 was withdrawn in October 1996 following an accident. Frequent withdrawals began in late 1998 and some were transferred to Rider York. The last to be withdrawn was 6428 which after being repainted into Leeds City Link livery a few months earlier was withdrawn in October 2000. Withdrawn 1993-2000

April 1997
Yorkshire Rider turned again to second-hand Greater Manchester Leyland Atlanteans in 1997. 6436-6439 were purchased in April 1997 and entered service with Kingfisher Huddersfield from June 1997, 6440-6442 with Bradford Traveller from June 1997, 6443-50 with Kingfisher Huddersfield from September 1997, 6451/2 with Bradford Traveller from October 1997, 6453 with Kingfisher Huddersfield from February 1988 and 6454-6 with Kingfisher Huddersfield from September 1998. 6451/2 were the first to be withdrawn in November 1998, the last two were 6452/5 which passed to Leeds in April 2003 but were withdrawn at the start of June 2003. Withdrawn 1998-2003

August 1999
Following the takeover of Optional Bus, First Quickstep acquired six of their Leyland Atlanteans, they were originally new to London & Country and carried Park Royal or Roe bodies, the same as 6424-35 acquired ten years earlier. All six entered service in September. 6458 was transferred to York in January 2000 with 6460/2 following in April 2000, 6461 was the first to be withdrawn in March 2000 and 6457/9 followed in September 2000, 6458 in August 2001 and 6460/2 in September 2001. 6462 returned to Leeds and operated occasionally for a few further months. Withdrawn 2000-2001

December 1999
Three further ex-Manchester Atlanteans were acquired in December 1999. They operated on loan before this date but were then officially acquired and entered service in York repainted into their two tone green livery. 6463 was the first to be withdrawn in August 2000 with 6464 following in September 2001 and 6465 in October 2001. Withdrawn 2000-2001

April 2000
Rider York took over York Pullman's bus services in April 2000 and also purchased eight of their buses, one of which was a Leyland Atlantean which was used on a school service and was repainted into York livery. Also acquired was their York City Tour but instead of taking their open top vehicles, First York sourced two open top Atlanteans from within FirstGroup, 6467 came from First Manchester and 6468 from First Mainline, both were repainted into a new blue livery for the open top tour. 6466 was withdrawn in July 2001, 6467 in February 2002 and 6468 in March 2002. Withdrawn 2001-2002

May 2000
Following the acquisition of extra schools services in Huddersfield, 5 Atlanteans with East Lancs bodywork were transferred from First Hampshire and operated in their red livery. These were only operated for a short time and were withdrawn in September 2000. Withdrawn 2000

February 2001
Yet another selection of former First Manchester Atlanteans were acquired in 2001. The first six entered service with First Huddersfield although it took until March 2002 for 6479 to enter service. 6480 never entered service. The first to be withdrawn was 6479 in May 2002 followed by the rest between March and June 2003 which were the last Atlanteans in the Huddersfield fleet. Withdrawn 2002-2003

Total Number Operated

Number by body type

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Copyright West Yorkshire Buses Website 2002-2004, Resources used during the completion of the list includes the PSV Circle History of WYPTE and Metro Transport News. Last revised: January 28, 2007.