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A major expansion of Mr Wilson's business took place in 1949. The Labour government elected at the end of the Second World War nationalised many of the country's major industries. The coal mines were taken into public ownership in 1947, and railways, power and gas followed in 1948. It was widely expected that the road passenger transport industry would follow, and many bus operators were pessimistic about future opportunities in Britain. Bob Store, the owner of Reliance Motors in Stainforth, decided to sell up and emigrate to Australia. Evidently, Mr Wilson was prepared to bank on the future, since he bought the business. His younger brother John, who had been employed as a driver now became managing director of R. Store Ltd., and Reliance Motors, together with its shop, petrol pump and Stainforth premises became a subsidiary of Blue Line.
The name Reliance was retained and appeared on some new vehicles right up to the end. The pale emerald green and blue Reliance livery could be seen on the last surviving pre-Blue Line Store vehicle well into the 1960's, though repaints and new Reliance vehicles from this time wore a pale blue and dark blue reversal of the Blue Line colours. When the first Reliance thirty-foot long double-decker arrived in 1957 it was painted in Blue Line colours but bearing the Reliance fleet name. This may have been an error, but it set the precedent for all subsequent new deliveries.
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