Greater Manchester Transport - Pre De-Regulation

[Damien]

Greater Manchester Transport - Pre De-Regulation
A feed about the good old days of Greater Manchester Transport, pre deregulation. I have some questions about Greater Manchester Transport.
This by the way is not a duplicate feed, its one on its own, just so you all know.[/i][/b]

[Damien]

RE: GREATER MANCHESTER TRANSPORT - PRE DE REGULATION
       

(05/07/2012 01:22)Damien Wrote:  A feed about the good old days of Greater Manchester Transport, pre deregulation. I have some questions about Greater Manchester Transport.
This by the way is not a duplicate feed, its one on its own, just so you all know.

[gilesbus1]

RE: GREATER MANCHESTER TRANSPORT - PRE DE REGULATION
What would you like to know; I will start you off with a list of depots:-

AM Altrincham (Oakfield Road) rebuilt as a new shed in 1980, Closed December 1991
AN Atherton (Leigh Road, Howe Bridge) ex Lancashire United in 1976 - Main Workshop included, Area Office Included, Driver Training School
BN Bolton (Crook Street) - New shed built 1979 - Main Workshop Included, Driver Training School
BNA Bolton (Shifnal Street) - Closed 1979 workshop closed 1986 - Main Workshop included, Area Office Included, Driver Training School
BNB Bolton (Bridgeman Street) - Closed 1979
BNC Bolton (Crook Street) - Closed 1979 replaced by BN above.
BS Manchester (Birchfields Road, Fallowfield) - Closed 25th October 1986 now the site of Fallowfield Shopping Centre
BY Bury (Rochdale Road) - Closed 1985
BY Bury (Rochdale Road) New depot built 1985
BY® Ramsbottom (Stubbins Lane) sub of Bury closed 1977.
CS Stockport (Charles Street) main works and Charterplan coach fleet. - Area office Included - Main Workshops
FK Salford (Frederick Road, Wallness Bridge) - Closed 25th October 1986 - Area Office, Main Workshops, Driver training School
GA Sale (Washway Road) (Ex Goidfrey Abbott Depot acquired 1976 only used for coaches and Dial & Ride) (Closed 1979)
HE Manchester (Hyde Road, Ardwick) Area Office, Head Office, Main Workshops, Driver Training School and Skid Pan
HY Hindley (Capps Street off Liverpool Road, Platt Bridge) (Closed April 1986) Ex Lancashire United in 1976
LH Leigh (Holden Road) (Closed February 1986)
NN Northenden (Harlings Road, Sharston Industrial Area) (Closed 25th October 1986) (at time of construction in the 1930's/1940's had the largest single span roof in the UK
OM Oldham (Wallshaw Street, Mumps) (Main Workshops, Area Office from 1983),
PS Manchester (Princess Road, Moss Side)
PW Manchester (Wilmslow Road, Parrs Wood, East Didsbury) (Closed to buses 1972 transfered to Selnec Parcels - Sold to United Carriers and subsquently demolished site sold to Tesco, only depot clock tower now survives)
QS Manchester (Queens Road, Cheetham)
RE Rochdale (Mellor Street) (Closed December 1991) two seperate sites on opposite sides of Mellor Street.
RR Manchester (Rochdale Road, Collyhurst) Closed 1970
SN Swinton (Partington Lane) (Ex Lancashire United in 1976) (Closed December 1991)
ST Stockport (Heaton Lane) (Closed 1970) replaced by Daw Bank below)
ST Stockport (Daw Bank) - Main Workshops, Area Offices , Driver Training School (New in 1970)
TEA Tameside (Ashton, Mossley Road) (Closed 1977)
TEB Tameside (Tame Street, Stalybridge (Closed 1977)
TE Tameside (Whitelands Road, Ashton-under-Lyne) (New depot built 1977, Closed December 1991) Area Office until 1983 transferred to Oldham, Driver Training School
TEG Glossop (York Street)
UM Urmston (Higher Road) (Closed 1973)
WE Weaste (Eccles New Road) (Closed January 1986) (Now flats retaining frontage and sides), Driver Training School
WN Wigan (Melverley Street) Main Workshops included, Driver Training School

Any site with main workshops could do major repairs all other depots only did routine repairs. Area offices these where at AN, BNA, CS, FK, HE, OM, ST and TE.

Smallest depots where Glossop and Ramsbottom, Largest depots in terms of allocation where HE, PS, QS and ST, Most inpressive depot achitectually was FK which had a tramway style archway, WE was also unusual in that it had an unusual slanted side. An was also impressive as it had a Power Station that was a grade 2 listed building and NN was unique in having the largest single roof span anywhere in the UK at the time of construction, later surpast by Stockwell Bus Garage in London.

[gilesbus1]

RE: GREATER MANCHESTER TRANSPORT - PRE DE REGULATION
Here is another fleet number series

Two digit numbers - Coaches
Three digit numbers - Saloons
1xxx Leyland Atlantean Mancunians built 1968-1970
14xx Trial buses - Deckers and saloons, included Leyland Nationals (1972-1974) Metro-Scania's (1972), Metropolitans (1974), Volvo Ailsa's (1980/2), Dennis Dominators (1980/1) Leyland Olympian 1451 (1980), Scania BR112DH (1983), Dennis Falcon V (1984) and Volvo Citybuses (1986) and also ex Northern Western Bristol VRT's. (1973)
17xx Centreline Midibuses also used by Dodge 50's just prior to Dereg.
2xxx Fleetline Mancunians built 1968-1972
2xxx Ex LUT Jumbo and DMS Fleetlines
2xxx Dennis Dominators built 1985
3xxx Ex Manchester and Salford Leyland Deckers none Mancunian.
3xxx Ex Wigan corporation deckers
3xxx Leyland Olympians built 1983-1989
4xxx Ex Manchester and Salford Corporation Deckers - Non Mnacunian
4001-4015 Leyland Titan TN built 1978/9
5001-5190 MCW Metrobus built 1979-1983
5201-5210, 5301-5320 MCW Metrobus/Northern Counties built 1986/7
5xxx Ex Ashton, Oldham, Stockport, SHMD deckers an prototype Standards built on Southern Orders
6xxx Ex Bolton, Leigh, Bury and Rochdale Deckers and prototype standards built on Northern orders
69xx Ex LUT GMT Standard Leyland Fleetline FE30's built 1977-1980
7xxx GMT/Selnec standard Atlantean AN68 and Daimler Fleetlines CRG'swith NCME or Park Royal bodies built 1972-1979
8001-8150 GMT standard Leyland Fleetline FE30's with NCME bodywork built 1978-1980
8151-8765 GMT standard Leyland Atlantean AN68 with NCME bodies
built 1978-1984
Ex LUT and North Western Depots only initially carried two or three digit fleet numbers ex North Western Decker Fleetline stock later renumbered 4xxx

Recovery Trucks - every depot had a recovery truck, most bought new where Ford D series or Bedford TK or QL series, some AEC Matadors where used ex LUT and corporations and also used was a couple of ERF's bought new and later a couple of Heavy duty Leylands as well.

Also owned where various Transits, Sherpa's and dodges as vans, pick ups and minibuses as well as Meastro's, Fiesta and Escorts 9light vans), Leyland Terriers and Road Runners (Light trucks), Leyland Revier (road sweeper).

Trainers where normally initially Titan PD2/3's ex Ribble, Bolton, Stockport and Manchester later Mancunians and Atlantean MCW's ex Manchester, Fleetlines NCME ex SHMD an later Jumbo's and Guy Arbas ex LUT as well as Fleetline/NCME then later Atlantean and Flkeetline early 7xxx's.

[Damien]

RE: GREATER MANCHESTER TRANSPORT - PRE DE REGULATION
Thanks giles,

Seriously useful info

[mic]

RE: GREATER MANCHESTER TRANSPORT - PRE DE REGULATION
use to love the short leyland nationals on the 355 Ashton to Oldham they where great

[mic]

RE: GREATER MANCHESTER TRANSPORT - PRE DE REGULATION

(15/08/2012 23:29)gilesbus1 Wrote:  Here is another fleet number series

Two digit numbers - Coaches
Three digit numbers - Saloons
1xxx Leyland Atlantean Mancunians built 1968-1970
14xx Trial buses - Deckers and saloons, included Leyland Nationals (1972-1974) Metro-Scania's (1972), Metropolitans (1974), Volvo Ailsa's (1980/2), Dennis Dominators (1980/1) Leyland Olympian 1451 (1980), Scania BR112DH (1983), Dennis Falcon V (1984) and Volvo Citybuses (1986) and also ex Northern Western Bristol VRT's. (1973)
17xx Centreline Midibuses also used by Dodge 50's just prior to Dereg.
2xxx Fleetline Mancunians built 1968-1972
2xxx Ex LUT Jumbo and DMS Fleetlines
2xxx Dennis Dominators built 1985
3xxx Ex Manchester and Salford Leyland Deckers none Mancunian.
3xxx Ex Wigan corporation deckers
3xxx Leyland Olympians built 1983-1989
4xxx Ex Manchester and Salford Corporation Deckers - Non Mnacunian
4001-4015 Leyland Titan TN built 1978/9
5001-5190 MCW Metrobus built 1979-1983
5201-5210, 5301-5320 MCW Metrobus/Northern Counties built 1986/7
5xxx Ex Ashton, Oldham, Stockport, SHMD deckers an prototype Standards built on Southern Orders
6xxx Ex Bolton, Leigh, Bury and Rochdale Deckers and prototype standards built on Northern orders
69xx Ex LUT GMT Standard Leyland Fleetline FE30's built 1977-1980
7xxx GMT/Selnec standard Atlantean AN68 and Daimler Fleetlines CRG'swith NCME or Park Royal bodies built 1972-1979
8001-8150 GMT standard Leyland Fleetline FE30's with NCME bodywork built 1978-1980
8151-8765 GMT standard Leyland Atlantean AN68 with NCME bodies
built 1978-1984
Ex LUT and North Western Depots only initially carried two or three digit fleet numbers ex North Western Decker Fleetline stock later renumbered 4xxx

Recovery Trucks - every depot had a recovery truck, most bought new where Ford D series or Bedford TK or QL series, some AEC Matadors where used ex LUT and corporations and also used was a couple of ERF's bought new and later a couple of Heavy duty Leylands as well.

Also owned where various Transits, Sherpa's and dodges as vans, pick ups and minibuses as well as Meastro's, Fiesta and Escorts 9light vans), Leyland Terriers and Road Runners (Light trucks), Leyland Revier (road sweeper).

Trainers where normally initially Titan PD2/3's ex Ribble, Bolton, Stockport and Manchester later Mancunians and Atlantean MCW's ex Manchester, Fleetlines NCME ex SHMD an later Jumbo's and Guy Arbas ex LUT as well as Fleetline/NCME then later Atlantean and Flkeetline early 7xxx's.

6912 PTD 640 S was rebuilt with lastest NC body and 6938 was the cut down single deck as 1697

[gilesbus1]

RE: Greater Manchester Transport - Pre De-Regulation
6912 was actually a rebody along with an ex LUT jumbo following a fire a Platt Bridge depot the ex LUT Jumbo was more interesting as iot recieved the only long wheelbase Standard body other than the Falcon V's that operated in the sample area. The Rebodied Jumbo survives and is still in regular use with Hag Fold Morris Dancing Troupe in Atherton so it is likely on withdrawal it will pass to Selnec Preservation Society.

6938 was involved in a Low Bridge Accident at Newton-le-Willows when it strayed off route when returning I think to Atherton Depot, an opportunity was seen to convert it in order to help replace Bristol RESL6G / Plaxton Derwents at Bury which again where ex-LUT that operated a route which neaded a vehicle witha tight steering lock that crossed a narrow bridge at Holcombe Brook.

Another rebulit was an ex-Manchester Corporation Metro-Cammell Atlantean with Manchester front which in 1975 recieved a New rear dome built by Northern Counties similar to those fitted to Wigan Corporation Atlanteans after another accident with the roof at the rear, that vehicle unfortunatly was scrapped at normal withdrawal time.