SELNEC PTE 6196 (NDK 996) and 6182 (NDK 982) in Rochdale - Sep 1972

September 1972– The SELNEC PTE (South East Lancashire North East Cheshire Passenger Transport Executive) absorbed the Rochdale Corporation Transport undertaking in November 1969. Between 1956 and 1959 the Corporation purchased 55 Weymann bodied AEC Regent Vs numbered 268-322 which all passed to SELNEC becoming their 6168-6222.
Two examples seen here were parked on the Smith Street bus park in Rochdale town centre – on the site which later became the bus station. 6196 (NDK 986) and 6182 (NDK 982) were new to the Corporation as fleet numbersd 296 and 282 respectively.
The Corporation’s route number system incorporated quite a few letter suffixes. Service 17 operated to Manchester via Castleton travelling out of town along the whole length Drake Street. It was supplemented with service 17T which travelled via Tweedale Street and terminated at the Rochdale boundary at Chesham Avenue, Castleton. 6196 displays the blinds for the latter. The Norden service had two variants between the town centre and Spotland Bridge. Service 11A travelled via Spotland Road and service 11C travelled via Mellor Street.