bodied
Leyland Leopard in 2009 In 1902, Robert Holt commenced a parcels delivery service in the
Rochdale area using a pony and cart. In 1904, Holt went into partnership with his younger brother Ernest and they established themselves as carriers trading as Messrs Holt Brothers. Additional ponies and carts were purchased, later followed by steam and motor lorries. In an attempt to earn additional revenue, when the lorries would otherwise be idle, interchangeable
charabanc bodies to enable the lorries to be converted into passenger pleasure vehicles at weekends. In May 1913 the first purpose-built charabanc entered service, a 28-seat
Dennis painted in a yellow livery with burgundy upholstery. When it arrived at the offices of Holt Bros in Rochdale a member of staff shouted "The Yellow Car has arrived!" This remark was the birth of the trading name Holts Yellow Cars. In November 1915, the company was incorporated as Holt Bros (Rochdale) Limited.
World War II caused the curtailment of a number of services, including the London express. In 1944, Maurice Edwards indicated his desire to sell his stake. In order that no additional borrowing was undertaken, which may have put the company into debt, the Manchester to Rochdale service was sold on 18 June 1944 to
Manchester,
Rochdale and Oldham Corporations. Blue Bird Tours,
Hollinwood was also acquired, including excursions licences from the Oldham area and a number of express services, including a
Hyde to
Cleveleys route, which was retained, although the Oldham to
Market Drayton service was sold to the
North Western Road Car Company. In 1959, Yelloway acquired three more operators, taking over the businesses of the Rossendale Division Carriage Company, Johnston Bros (Middleton), and Merriway Tours. In 1976 an agreement was reached with
National Bus Company that saw Yelloway relinquish its London express routes in return National Bus Company's interests in the Fylde Coast Pool were handed over to Yelloway, which became the sole operator on the routes. In October 1986, following
deregulation, Yelloway registered several stage carriage services in the Greater Manchester area and won contracts from the
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive. The last remaining vestige of the Yelloway express network was the Blackpool route through Oldham and Rochdale areas, but by late 1988 this too had gone. Greater Manchester and
West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executives cancelled contracts on several services because of poor performance. On 24 November 1988, the Yelloway was placed under the control of
Crosville Motor Services, which had just been purchased by ATL Holdings, along with the remaining contract work and the name disappeared. ==Museum==