First Manchester 6004 (P304 LND) in Rochdale – 10 Dec 2000 (452-17)

Sunday 10 December 2000 – First Manchester 6004 (P304 LND), a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart SLF new in January 1997, seen in the now demolished Rochdale bus station.

I found it rather nice to see that First had re-established a Rochdale base with the ‘RE’ garage code.
Facing the need to reduce operating losses GM Buses had closed what had originally been the Rochdale Corporation Transport bus garage in Mellor Street (coded ‘RE’) after operations on 29 November 1991. Services were then covered from garages in neighbouring towns.

In 1998 First acquired the business of Pioneer Travel Bus and Coach, owned by John Whitehead, based in Smithy Bridge near Rochdale. With this expansion First established a base at Miall Street near Rochdale Railway Station.