Friday Flashback ~ March 2009

This week's Friday Flashback moves on to March 2009 with most of the second part of the month spent in the Manchester area.

We start with a picture from 16th of March with Swift Taxis' Optare Solo 109 YK55 ENL in Gorleston High Street with the 600 Vauxhall Station to the James Paget Hospital service. Named Swift Snipe, it moved on to Simonds of Bottesdale in October 2010 where it has been re-registered SIJ 82

Once a very common sight in Great Yarmouth were members of the Shearing's fleet of coaches. This is Plaxton bodied Volvo B12M 816 MX06 ANR pictured on Marine Parade on 17th

The rest of the photos show independents in the Manchester area. With former JP Transport vehicles in the First Eastern Counties fleet, I thought I should include Dennis Dart SLF P2 JPT passing Shudehill Bus Station in Manchester on 26th. JPT operations ceased in April 2014, with the business, including 41 buses and most staff, passing to Stagecoach Manchester

The following day we see Bluebird Bus & Coach Alexander Dennis Enviro200 DD56 BLU at Oldham Bus Station. Following the acquisition of the business by Stagecoach in 2012 it became their 36075

The next day we were at Ashton-under-Lyme Bus Station and observed Speedwellbus' Plaxton Beaver bodied Mercedes Benz O814D R506 YWC. New to Stagecoach Selkent in December 1997, it transferred to Stagecoach Manchester in October 2003 with Speedwellbus acquiring it in February 2009. Speedwellbus was founded in 2002 and ceased ten years later due to financial problems and was also close to having its licence revoked.

Roy