SELNEC PTE 6219 (TDK 319) in Rochdale - Nov 1972

November 1972 – The SELNEC PTE (South East Lancashire North East Cheshire Passenger Transport Executive) absorbed the Rochdale Corporation Transport undertaking in November 1969.

One of my favourite buses when at school was TDK 319, a Weymann bodied AEC Regent V that had been delivered to Rochdale Corporation with their fleet number 319 in December 1958. With SELNEC it took on fleet number 6219. It was the first of four similar buses (TDK 319-322) bought by the Corporation which were to be the last front engine/rear entrance buses purchased. Future double deckers were to be rear engine/front entrance Daimler Fleetlines.

Rochdale had purchased a number of Weymann bodied AEC Regent Vs starting in 1956 but unlike all the others which had open platforms 319-322 were fitted with platform doors. This tended to see them employed on the services out to other neighbouring towns when they were in their prime like service 19 to Bury.

As they got older they could be seen on the more local services and in this photograph TDK 319 was seen working on service 12A that ran from Rochdale Town Centre to Spotland (Daniel Fold).
It was seen here at the Daniel Fold terminus ready to return to the town centre.