The West Riding Automobile Company was formed as a subsidiary of the Yorkshire (West Riding) Electric Tramways Company, which was founded in 1904 to operate electric
tramway services in the area. However, by the 1920s, there was a decline in the use of tramways, and the West Riding Automobile Company was formed to operate bus services from its bases in
Wakefield and
Castleford. Twenty-two
Bristol 4-ton vehicles were purchased at a cost of £30,000, and services began in April 1922. The speed of changeover was rapid, with the Castleford tramway system being abandoned just three years later. The company purchased its rival J Bullock & Sons of
Featherstone in 1950, doubling the size of its fleet. and became part of the
National Bus Company on 1 January 1969. After local government reorganisation in 1974, the company worked with the
West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive which organised services in the area. As part of the
privatisation of the National Bus Company, West Riding was sold to Caldaire Holdings. In 1995, it was sold to
British Bus, West Riding was later rebranded as
Arriva Yorkshire. During its period of operation, West Riding has also had financial interests in a variety of other local operators, including Compass Bus, South Yorkshire Road Transport Company and Yorkshire Woollen. ==Vehicles==