West Riding 377 is a Leyland Lynx II and carries registration number J377 AWT. It was delivered in November 1991 and was part of the last order of the Lynx model for West Riding Buses, then part of the Caldaire Group. The Lynx was clearly favoured at the time with 130 being purchased, 46 of this number being to the mark II specification that were easily identified by the different front nose to that of the mark I version.

Mechanically the Lynx was a fine vehicle and extremely reliable. However, some bodywork defects developed in service and many examples had to be returned to Leyland for rectification work. When Leyland passed to Volvo Bus Group the Lynx was dropped and was replaced by the Volvo B10B.

377 had a very active life being allocated to Belle Isle Depot Wakefield. After a number of heavy years service, along with most other Mark II examples she was sent to Pickerings for a mid life refurbishment, the most noticeable change externally being the removal of the skirts around the bottom of the bus and wheel arch areas along with repainting into Arriva livery.

In February 2004 she was transferred to Castleford depot after some earlier Lynx had been withdrawn and by the following March she was withdrawn and sold to Fleetlink (Dealer) being then sold on to Midland Rider for further service. Clearly Midland Rider were happy with 377 and spent further money on refurbishment including re-upholstery and other matters to keep her in daily service until 2010 when she was withdrawn.

Steve Hurley spotted the vehicle for sale and acted swiftly to secure it and in September 2010 it returned to Yorkshire in full working order. 377 was then rallied throughout 2011 and has provided many free rides at Dewsbury Bus Museum events and running days. However, en route to be MOT’d in 2012 a fault developed with the Turbo and 377 had to be returned to storage whilst a part was located.

Having carried the West Riding green and cream chevron livery from new, 377 was to gain the accolade of being the last bus in the fleet to carry this livery and it is therefore fitting that she will be restored to this livery in due course.