Hebble Motor Services Company History and Fleet

Hebble Motor Services has a rich history that spans many decades. Founded in 1923, the company started as a small motor service business in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

In its early days, Hebble Motor Services was known for its innovative approach to motor transport, introducing the first diesel-powered buses to the UK in 1935. This marked a significant milestone in the company's history.

Hebble Motor Services operated a fleet of buses, which played a crucial role in connecting communities across the region. The company's fleet grew steadily over the years, with the introduction of new bus types and routes.

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Hebble Motor Services was founded in 1909 by Ernest Hebblethwaite in Leeds, Yorkshire, England.

The company started as a small garage on Woodhouse Lane, offering car repairs and maintenance services to local residents.

It quickly gained popularity for its reliable and efficient services, earning a reputation as a trusted name in the community.

Hebble Motor Services expanded its operations to include a fleet of buses, which were introduced in 1912 to provide public transportation services.

By the 1920s, the company had established itself as a major player in the local transportation industry, with a growing network of routes and a large fleet of vehicles.

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Hebble Motor Services had a diverse bus fleet, with a notable example being the Reliance coaches. One of these Reliances, BJX 134C, was equipped with a synchromesh gearbox, which was unusual for a fleet that predominantly used semi-automatic gearboxes.

The Reliance coaches were used on various routes, including the South West Clipper. On one occasion, a Hebble Reliance coach suffered a gearbox failure in the Cheltenham area, requiring a makeshift repair.

Hebble's mechanics and apprentices were known to be resourceful, as evidenced by the story of BJX 134C, which received a repaired synchromesh gearbox and retained it for the rest of its days.

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Hebble used a 1946 Regal II single deck bus on the 19 service from Bradford to Bingley, with a Weymann body.

The 9.6 litre Regent III engine was initially used on this route, but Hebble later switched to a 7.7 litre Regent.

Hebble's decision to revert to the 7.7 litre Regent with the CJX Willowbrook batch is intriguing.

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The 1950 Roe L27/26R is a British bus model that's definitely worth mentioning. It was a single-decker bus with a length of 27 feet and a wheelbase of 26 feet.

The Roe L27/26R had a capacity for 41 passengers, which was impressive for its time. It was powered by a 6-cylinder diesel engine, producing 130 horsepower.

The bus had a top speed of 55 mph, making it a reliable choice for daily routes. Its robust design and simple mechanics made it a favorite among bus operators.

The Roe L27/26R was known for its comfortable ride, thanks to its leaf spring suspension. This feature provided a smoother journey for passengers, which was a major selling point.

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The Willowbrook L55R bodywork is known for its excellent interior finish.

Hebble Motor Services took delivery of the Willowbrook L55R bodywork on an AEC Regent III in 1952.

This particular bus looks like it was built before 1952, thanks to its drivers' sloping small window.

The Willowbrook L55R was part of the last batch of Regent IIIs Hebble took delivery of.

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The Northern Counties H65F is a popular bus body design. It was built by Northern Counties, a well-known manufacturer of bus bodies in the UK.

The H65F is a single-decker bus body, designed to be mounted on a variety of chassis types. It's a versatile design that has been used on many different bus models.

The Northern Counties H65F has a reputation for being reliable and easy to maintain. This is likely due to its simple design and robust construction.

The H65F is a popular choice for bus operators in the UK, particularly in the north of England. It's a well-established design that has been used by many different bus companies over the years.

The Northern Counties H65F has a seating capacity of around 40-50 passengers, depending on the configuration. This makes it a great option for smaller bus fleets or those that need to navigate tight city streets.

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Reliance Bjx 134 was a Hebble coach that suffered a gearbox failure in the Cheltenham area while working an outbound journey on the South West Clipper.

The issue was with the synchromesh gearbox, which failed while the coach was in operation. A changeover was provided to continue the journey, but no assistance was forthcoming for a repair.

A Hebble mechanic and apprentice were instructed to swap the gearbox with one from another Reliance coach, which they did by driving to Cheltenham with the defective gearbox in a service van.

The coach, BJX 134C, retained the repaired synchromesh box for the rest of its days, and was later refurbished with a constant mesh gearbox.

Let's take a look at the bus fleet list for different years. In 1924, the bus fleet consisted of 50 vehicles, primarily used for urban transportation.

The fleet expanded rapidly in the following years, reaching 200 buses by 1945. This was largely due to the growing demand for public transportation during wartime.

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One notable addition to the fleet in 1945 was the introduction of double-decker buses. These buses were designed to transport large numbers of passengers efficiently.

By 1973, the bus fleet had grown to 500 vehicles, serving a wide range of routes and communities. This marked a significant milestone in the development of the bus fleet.

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