Hulley's of Baslow

[m79900]

I believe 2 ex Hulleys buses are out tonight leaving Bakewell at 7pm. I don't have details, probably preserved vehicles. It is a sensitive moment up there, there are some fond memories of the firm and this is a celebration. Folks are upset.

Preserved?

 

[Teapot42]

Preserved?

It seems they can no longer use the existing fleet. No details which, or if they are actually ex-Hulleys vehicles.

It begins at Chesterfield Town Hall, not Bakewell BTW

 

[Trainman40083]

It seems they can no longer use the existing fleet. No details which, or if they are actually ex-Hulleys vehicles.

It begins at Chesterfield Town Hall, not Bakewell BTW

That will be the planned farewell tour.

 

[Teapot42]

Sounds like rubbish to me. Happy to be corrected however

I was told prior to all this kicking off that Go Coach owned the fleet.

While I'm no expert in these things, two factors suggest that it was not owned by Hulleys. Firstly, Andrews would not have bid for the work if they did not believe they could source vehicles, and how quickly they arranged to acquire them. As the administrator is tasked with getting the best return for all assets, it seems unlikely they were able to value and agree sale in less than 24 hours.

 

[SLC001]

Thanks for the correction, my mistake. My main point was to emphasise how upset locals are, some former employees who remember the good time with affection. It is a close knit community.

 

[Busmansholiday]

Drove for Hulleys part time back in the late 70's, early 80's so I understand.

Looked at one of my driving records, Saturday 16 December 1978, had ODL48 on the 11/12 (Bakewell Barlow), did a trip on the 2 to Tideswell with 400RRR then a Chesterfield on the 1 using Chesterfield 99. (look the vehicles up if you're young).

 

[Trainman40083]

Drove for Hulleys part time back in the late 70's, early 80's so I understand.

Looked at one of my driving records, Saturday 16 December 1978, had ODL48 on the 11/12 (Bakewell Barlow), did a trip on the 2 to Tideswell with 400RRR then a Chesterfield on the 1 using Chesterfield 99. (look the vehicles up if you're young).

Well I remember 400 and 402? RRR. Even 9022 R and Bristol FLFs

 

[Busmansholiday]

Could tell some stories, but not on a public forum....

 

[DDB]

Any news on the 271/272? If the Hulley journeys aren't filled in is the remaining service viable as the trains would have a MUCH better frequency than the bus for the parts of the route they overlap.

 

[richard13]

Austin Blackburn has bought back Go-Coach, but works as Engineering Director. I think the whole point of the ownership changes was that Austin could run a bigger combined bus fleet and someone else could run the business.

https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/austin-blackburn-buys-back-go-coach/
Kent-based Go-Coach has changed ownership, returning to being fully independent and locally owned.

The bus operator was acquired by Hulleys of Baslow in December 2023, but has now returned to Austin Blackburn’s ownership. Austin previously ran the business until December 2023 and completed a management buyout on 28 February 2025. Austin will continue in his role as Engineering Director.
A new Managing Director and other Senior management members will join the business ...

 

[Teapot42]

Austin Blackburn has bought back Go-Coach, but works as Engineering Director. I think the whole point of the ownership changes was that Austin could run a bigger combined bus fleet and someone else could run the business.

That's relatively old news as far as this thread is concerned!

Austin wanted to step back from managing the business, thus the sale to Alf Crofts. That obviously didn't work out, so I guess he's now looking for someone competent to run the business while he concentrates on the Engineering side.

 

[Trainman40083]

That's relatively old news as far as this thread is concerned!

Austin wanted to step back from managing the business, thus the sale to Alf Crofts. That obviously didn't work out, so I guess he's now looking for someone competent to run the business while he concentrates on the Engineering side.

Yes, and he didn't want to sell to a big group.

 

[AWK]

I was told prior to all this kicking off that Go Coach owned the fleet.

While I'm no expert in these things, two factors suggest that it was not owned by Hulleys. Firstly, Andrews would not have bid for the work if they did not believe they could source vehicles, and how quickly they arranged to acquire them. As the administrator is tasked with getting the best return for all assets, it seems unlikely they were able to value and agree sale in less than 24 hours.

Whilst I agree with the latter, and indeed there is logic there, DVLA records show no new V5C (Vehicle logbook) has been issued for some of the Hulleys fleet since they were first purchased by Hulleys, many predate the current Owner (Mr Croft) and certainly not since the Holy Union between Hulleys and Go Coach. A change of registered keeper would result in a new V5C being issued (as would things such as changing the revenue weight or the colour of the vehicle).

I've quickly run the older Solos and E200s through DVLA online and most have a last V5C issue date around the time Hulleys acquired them, some back as far as 2011.

However, the Evoras had a new V5C in February 2024 and I can't see a logical reaspn why.

DVLA online records usually updated numerous times a day, it is pretty much real time information. If the Hulleys fleet had been sold to Go Coach any time up to 28th Feb this year when that operator became independent from Modeldart Ltd, there would be V5Cs issued to reflect that. For the majority of the Hulleys fleet, there haven't been.

What could be more likely is at some time just before the announcement was made to staff the Hulley's vehicles were sold to Modeldart Ltd (same owner as Hulleys but different legal entity and has not ceased trading) and the paperwork for this is still in Royal Mail's hands heading to Swansea. Modeldart Ltd has then sold the vehicles onwards?

 

[Teapot42]

Whilst I agree with the latter, and indeed there is logic there, DVLA records show no new V5C (Vehicle logbook) has been issued for some of the Hulleys fleet since they were first purchased by Hulleys, many predate the current Owner (Mr Croft) and certainly not since the Holy Union between Hulleys and Go Coach. A change of registered keeper would result in a new V5C being issued (as would things such as changing the revenue weight or the colour of the vehicle).

Colour rarely if ever seems to be updated. Most Hulleys vehicles that came to them second hand are not shown with the current colour scheme.

I don't know if this is different for buses, but West Yorkshire police have this to say:

A registration document (V5) is not proof of ownership. The registered keeper should be the person who is actually using / keeping the vehicle and this is not necessarily the owner of the vehicle or the person who is paying for it.

If that does apply (or someone mistakenly thought it applied) then the vehicles could be sold without a new V5 being issued as Hulleys were still using them.

 

[Mwanesh]

The 55 is the Stagecoach 97 route .The one that went via Hasland was the 96 till they were renumbered

 

[Trainman40083]

The 55 is the Stagecoach 97 route .The one that went via Hasland was the 96 till they were renumbered

I remember the 96/97 etc being Trentbarton Buses routes.

 

[Teapot42]

The 55 is the Stagecoach 97 route .The one that went via Hasland was the 96 till they were renumbered

At what point were they renumbered? Looking at the old timetables on Transpire, I can see variations of the 55 through Wingerworth, but not on beyond Clay Cross. I did notice on Saturday that many of the bus stop flags still had the old numbers on, and you can see this from Google Street View. Wingerworth is the 97 and 98, while past Hardstoft becomes the 96. I'm sure I saw all three at one point, but don't have time to follow the whole route on streetview to find it.

The other thing you notice from Transpire is just how many services used to head out along Chatsworth Road towards Baslow in the past. Not every day, so possibly not significantly more frequent than now, but I'd imagine to more destinations.
The 1988 map is here for example.

 

[chessie]

At what point were they renumbered? Looking at the old timetables on Transpire, I can see variations of the 55 through Wingerworth, but not on beyond Clay Cross. I did notice on Saturday that many of the bus stop flags still had the old numbers on, and you can see this from Google Street View. Wingerworth is the 97 and 98, while past Hardstoft becomes the 96. I'm sure I saw all three at one point, but don't have time to follow the whole route on streetview to find it.

The other thing you notice from Transpire is just how many services used to head out along Chatsworth Road towards Baslow in the past. Not every day, so possibly not significantly more frequent than now, but I'd imagine to more destinations.
The 1988 map is here for example.

Hope someone does step in to take on the 55, it might go a long way around but its surprisingly quite well used between Tibshelf - Alfreton and Clay Cross in the opposite direction.

There was a 95, 96, 97 and 98

95 - Chesterfield - Wingerworth
96 - Chesterfield - Alfreton via Hasland, Temple Normanton, N Wingfield, Pilsley, Tibshelf, Newton
97 - Chesterfield - Alfreton via Wingerworth, Hepthorne Lane, Pilsley, Stonebroom, Shirland
98 - Chesterfield - Alfreton via Wingerworth, Hepthorne Lane, Clay Cross, Morton, Stonebroom, Shirland

Most areas got an at least a combined service every 30 mins but it started to be scaled back circa 18 years back, today as it stands many of these areas have no service

 

[ChrisC]

I remember the 96/97 etc being Trentbarton Buses routes.

They were both routes which Trent Barton inherited from Midland General when Midland General were taken over by Trent in 1972. I‘ve just been looking at maps of Midland General routes and I hadn’t realised just what a comprehensive network of services they ran around all the villages now served by the 55. As well as numerous routes between Alfreton and Chesterfield there were also routes between Mansfield/Sutton in Ashfield and Chesterfield via these villages and also Clay Cross. I hadn’t realised that even The Comet was also originally a Midland General Route. The routes now operated by Stagecoach between Alfreton and Matlock were also Midland General.

I was aware of Midland General having a very extensive network of routes from Nottingham out to Ilkeston, Heanor, Ripley and Alfreton but hadn’t realised they ran so many routes north of Alfreton. All very interesting but perhaps something for another nostalgia thread.

 

[Flange Squeal]

This video by YouTube user 'And More Central' might be of interest of forum users. They have spent the last four years working for Hulleys, latterly as a driver for the firm, and was filming one of their semi-regular videos to mark the end around when the message came through that things were ending sooner than expected. It certainly captures the emotion from someone who was directly affected by the demise of the company. The main content starts at around the 2min 43sec mark.

 

[JKP]

Andrew’s have now confirmed timetables they are operating. The 257 runs hourly ex Sheffield 0700 to 1700 then 1830 and ex Matlock 0655 to 1755 Monday to Saturdays. No Sunday service though.

 

[MotCO]

Yes, and he didn't want to sell to a big group.

I thought Go-Ahead / Metrobus might have been a good fit.

 

[Llandudno]

Andrew’s have now confirmed timetables they are operating. The 257 runs hourly ex Sheffield 0700 to 1700 then 1830 and ex Matlock 0655 to 1755 Monday to Saturdays. No Sunday service though.

The 257 runs between Sheffield and Bakewell not Matlock.

 

[JKP]

The 257 runs between Sheffield and Bakewell not Matlock.

Whoops. My mistake. Sorry.

 

[Trainman40083]

They were both routes which Trent Barton inherited from Midland General when Midland General were taken over by Trent in 1972. I‘ve just been looking at maps of Midland General routes and I hadn’t realised just what a comprehensive network of services they ran around all the villages now served by the 55. As well as numerous routes between Alfreton and Chesterfield there were also routes between Mansfield/Sutton in Ashfield and Chesterfield via these villages and also Clay Cross. I hadn’t realised that even The Comet was also originally a Midland General Route. The routes now operated by Stagecoach between Alfreton and Matlock were also Midland General.

I was aware of Midland General having a very extensive network of routes from Nottingham out to Ilkeston, Heanor, Ripley and Alfreton but hadn’t realised they ran so many routes north of Alfreton. All very interesting but perhaps something for another nostalgia thread.

Re your comment about the Comet being a Midland General route. If I remember correctly, it was the route 44 that was run jointly between East Midland (from Chesterfield depot) , Midland General (Alfreton depot) and Trent Motor Traction (Derby depot).. It stuck to the main A61, well South of Alfreton (I never caught it North of there).

 

[duncombec]

I believe 2 ex Hulleys buses are out tonight leaving Bakewell at 7pm. I don't have details, probably preserved vehicles.

It seems they can no longer use the existing fleet. No details which, or if they are actually ex-Hulleys vehicles.

Pictures appeared on the Hulleys Enthusiasts Facebook group of two Portuguese (Madeiran?) B10Ms. Being from the other end of the country I haven't seen these on "the scene" before, so don't know who owns them. A reasonable crowd, it seems, from an interior picture.

I was told prior to all this kicking off that Go Coach owned the fleet.

As others have said, that seems unlikely, unless there was some "on paper" moves that left things in a precarious position after the "divorce". However, there have been an equal number of rumours at both ends - naturally different - as to how certain things were financed, particularly in regards to the departed E200 MMCs (I think it is now reasonably evident that claims they weren't suitable for the local roads can be filed under "imaginative").

Austin Blackburn has bought back Go-Coach, but works as Engineering Director. I think the whole point of the ownership changes was that Austin could run a bigger combined bus fleet and someone else could run the business.

Not quite, unless I'm misreading your use of "run". In talks given before the "marriage" (which I appreciate are easier to hear in the South-East than from Derbyshire), Austin has never hidden that he is an engineer by heart and the bus operation was bordering on accidental. The aim of the sale was for him to be able to take a step back from the operational side of the business, whilst still working with the engineering side. It was wound up at the time of the sale, but there was a separate "BusDoctor" business, focussed purely on repairs and maintenance.

Whatever happened, there appears to have been a pretty catastrophic breakdown in relations reasonably early on, and as things developed, despite the desire to step back, Austin wasn't prepared to see the business he'd built up from nothing disappear from underneath him.

Austin will continue in his role as Engineering Director.
A new Managing Director and other Senior management members will join the business ...

Austin wanted to step back from managing the business, thus the sale to Alf Crofts. That obviously didn't work out, so I guess he's now looking for someone competent to run the business while he concentrates on the Engineering side.

I believe there is already a preferred candidate, and the planned "stepping back" will go ahead - albeit with a closer local eye on the finances.

I suspect the entirety of the true story is known only until two people whose names begin with A, who will tell it to their own benefit, and anything else is little more than speculation. Even other "respected names" will be reliant on what one or the other party has told them, or be clouded by their more generally held opinions on the authorities and institutions involved.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Pictures appeared on the Hulleys Enthusiasts Facebook group of two Portuguese (Madeiran?) B10Ms. Being from the other end of the country I haven't seen these on "the scene" before, so don't know who owns them. A reasonable crowd, it seems, from an interior picture.

They were brought over in October last year and have only had chance to do a couple of events so far this year, although more are planned. You can follow the group behind them on Facebook “Riding with Rodoeste”.

 

[Steve440]

Well to say they Officially went under today according to TC info, a new company has already been registered to start operating from tomorrow surprisingly:

Traffic Commissioners got a new application today

20 Vehicles

Trading Name: Baslow Motor Services

Trading Address:
Calver Rd, Baslow, Bakewell DE45 1RP

Operators Address:
Calver Rd, Baslow, Bakewell DE45 1RP

Transport Manager (s):
Alf Crofts

 

[Hyebone]

Pictures appeared on the Hulleys Enthusiasts Facebook group of two Portuguese (Madeiran?) B10Ms. Being from the other end of the country I haven't seen these on "the scene" before, so don't know who owns them. A reasonable crowd, it seems, from an interior picture.

Yes! It was a good time. I was on MD-72-37 last night. See my photo attached.

Well to say they Officially went under today according to TC info, a new company has already been registered to start operating from tomorrow surprisingly:

Traffic Commissioners got a new application today

20 Vehicles

Trading Name: Baslow Motor Services

Trading Address:
Calver Rd, Baslow, Bakewell DE45 1RP

Operators Address:
Calver Rd, Baslow, Bakewell DE45 1RP

Transport Manager (s):
Alf Crofts

Ha! The plot thickens.

 

[Mwanesh]

Well to say they Officially went under today according to TC info, a new company has already been registered to start operating from tomorrow surprisingly:

Traffic Commissioners got a new application today

20 Vehicles

Trading Name: Baslow Motor Services

Trading Address:
Calver Rd, Baslow, Bakewell DE45 1RP

Operators Address:
Calver Rd, Baslow, Bakewell DE45 1RP

Transport Manager (s):
Alf Crofts

Would not surprise me .Popping up under a new name