Ellen Smith

Say Rochdale and many bus enthusiasts will immediately think of Yelloways with it's smart fleet of AEC Reliance coaches but this Lancashire town could boast a second much smaller quality Independent Coach Operator but this time with a strong bias towards Leyland in it's fleet of thirteen vehicles. Indeed not only did the coaches carry those gorgeous pressed-metal cat badges there was a painted leaping leopard on the sides too like this short example with the first version of the Plaxton Panorama Elite body. Unlike Yelloways the name Ellen Smith has survived as after the firm was taken over by them it became the coaching arm of Rossendale Transport, itself now one of the few remaining former Municipals not gobbled up by the big boys..