GM Buses (former Rochdale Corporation) garage - 18 Oct 1991

Friday 18 October 1991 – Three Northern Counties bodied buses parked inside the GM Buses garage in Mellor Street, Rochdale. From left to right they are 8142 (GNF 17V), a Leyland Fleetline FE30AGR new in July 1980; 3290 (F290 DRJ), a Leyland Olympian ONLXB/1RZ new in September 1988; and 5305 (D305 JVR), a MCW Metrobus DR102/51 new in October 1986. The latter bus is fitted with higher backed seating and sports a colour scheme and branding for ‘GM Express’.

Rochdale Corporation Tramways established the site in 1904 replacing a smaller property in Entwistle Road near the town centre. These buses stand under one of the garage extensions carried out in the early 1960s.

Rochdale Corporation Transport continued with bus operation until the SELNEC PTE (South East Lancashire North East Cheshire Passenger Transport Executive) took over in November 1969. The SELNEC PTE became the Greater Manchester PTE (operating as Greater Manchester Transport) on 1 April 1974, the day that the Greater Manchester County was created.

In October 1986 in the lead up to privatisation Greater Manchester Transport was renamed GM Buses and became an ‘arms length’ operation of the Passenger Transport Executive.

Facing the need to reduce operating losses the Rochdale garage was closed after operations on 29 November 1991 with services covered from the garages in neighbouring towns.

The property was subsequently occupied by a fruit and vegetable wholesaler and, as far as I know, the terracotta lettering still remains as part of the building.