First Pioneer yard in Rochdale – 5 May 2002 (482-19)

Holiday Monday 6 May 2002 - First Group acquired Pioneer Travel in the late 1990s continuing to use their yard and workshops on Miall Street close to Rochdale railway Station. Additional land for parking was later obtained in adjacent Hare Street.

Through the yard gates is KRJ 133V, an ERF tow truck in the First Greater Manchester Buses orange and blue scheme carrying the First Pioneer name. Also in the view are two former Thamesway Reeve Burgess bodied Mercedes-Benz Vario buses in a state of being dismantled for spares. On the left is H305 LPU which was new to Thamesway in November 1990 as their 305, later renumbered 585, and right is F251 NJN that had been new to Eastern National in December 1988 as their 0251.