An experiment that didn't quite work - Greater Manchester Transport 1355
At the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester, on 15/16 October 2016 we'll be holding our 'Big Orange' event, commemorating the era of orange buses in the region. The weekend will feature a book signing and at least two Greater Manchester-era buses that will be launched for the occasion. So please come along, you'll be very welcome - more details at www.gmts.co.uk.
When SELNEC Passenger Transport Executive was created in 1969, it had a brief to not just operate buses but to explore and improve public transport in Greater Manchester. This led to many experiments - some were successful and were adopted widely, such as improved electrical arrangements, improved cab design and windscreens designed to keep dirt off the driver's wing mirrors. Others were less successful, though with lessons learned.
In 1973, SELNEC bought two Mercedes 0305 buses with coachwork by local company Northern Counties of Wigan. Mercedes buses were very unusual in the UK at the time, and SELNEC wanted to look at Mercedes' ideas. Also, at the back of the mind of the fleet engineers, Leyland now had a virtual monopoly of bus building in the UK and this made made companies nervous, especially as Leyland's model line-up and its 'take it or leave it' attitude were less than ideal.
The pair of Mercedes were not failures, but they remained the only pair in the fleet and didn't last as long as a standard bus would - spare parts were difficult to stock for these 'odd men out' and drivers also tended to prefer the types they were more familiar with. So they remained 'might have been' buses, based in Oldham and leading uneventful lives until withdrawal.
If you'd like to know more about the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester and its collection of vintage buses, go to www.gmts.co.uk.
An experiment that didn't quite work - Greater Manchester Transport 1355
At the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester, on 15/16 October 2016 we'll be holding our 'Big Orange' event, commemorating the era of orange buses in the region. The weekend will feature a book signing and at least two Greater Manchester-era buses that will be launched for the occasion. So please come along, you'll be very welcome - more details at www.gmts.co.uk.
When SELNEC Passenger Transport Executive was created in 1969, it had a brief to not just operate buses but to explore and improve public transport in Greater Manchester. This led to many experiments - some were successful and were adopted widely, such as improved electrical arrangements, improved cab design and windscreens designed to keep dirt off the driver's wing mirrors. Others were less successful, though with lessons learned.
In 1973, SELNEC bought two Mercedes 0305 buses with coachwork by local company Northern Counties of Wigan. Mercedes buses were very unusual in the UK at the time, and SELNEC wanted to look at Mercedes' ideas. Also, at the back of the mind of the fleet engineers, Leyland now had a virtual monopoly of bus building in the UK and this made made companies nervous, especially as Leyland's model line-up and its 'take it or leave it' attitude were less than ideal.
The pair of Mercedes were not failures, but they remained the only pair in the fleet and didn't last as long as a standard bus would - spare parts were difficult to stock for these 'odd men out' and drivers also tended to prefer the types they were more familiar with. So they remained 'might have been' buses, based in Oldham and leading uneventful lives until withdrawal.
If you'd like to know more about the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester and its collection of vintage buses, go to www.gmts.co.uk.