First Manchester yard at Miall Street, Rochdale – 10 Dec 2000 (452-25)

Sunday 10 December 2000 – 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 at the premises once used by Bee Line Buzz.

Before First acquired GM Buses North, GMBN was facing the need to reduce operating losses and had closed what had originally been the Rochdale Corporation Transport bus garage in Mellor Street (coded ‘RE’) after operations on 29 November 1991. Rochdale’s local services were then covered from garages in neighbouring towns - a practice continued by First until they established this base which was given garage code ‘RE’.

Two Wright bodied Volvo B10Bs are in this picture. Left is 544 (N544 WVR) and right is 517 (M517 PNA). Both new in 1995.