First manchester using odd re-paints

[James268]

I see it less so now, but from october-december 2013 first manchester Oldham and Bury depots were using lots of plain painted buses. Mainly plain green/white or purple with first stickers.

Anyone know the reason?

I thought it'd be due to lack of stock, but surely they would be branded up with 'normal' first colours.

 

[BurtonM]

They've been getting a lot of buses in from elsewhere lately, perhaps that's what it was. Pioneer got some Plaxton bodied buses from the West Country lately, they came up here in the old First livery with ads for University of West England on them! They were swiftly repainted into lilac though.

 

[mbonwick]

Sounds like the heritage repaints they did;
Manchester City Council - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jongraham890/11072865713/
Salford City Council - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jongraham890/9663518627/
Bury Corporation - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jongraham890/10611646606/
Rochdale Corporation - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jongraham890/9663527207/
Oldham Corporation - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jongraham890/11072253684/
Bolton Corporation - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jongraham890/11154249015/
Ramsbottom Urban Development Corporation - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jongraham890/11154249015/

Although the Lilac does just sound like the new Firstgrou livery; http://www.flickr.com/photos/85000178@N05/11028062005/

 

[Polo Mint]

I think what you may be seeing is the heritage fleet.

They have a few buses painted in old paint schemes from First Manchester predecessors.

 

[BurtonM]

I forgot about those!
It disappoints me slightly that there's no SHMD, SELNEC, GMT or GM Buses North liveries, as it'd be quite nice, and they'd have a full set then, pretty much! Perhaps a Stockport one for the ex-Finglands depot too?
Bluebird used to have a SELNEC liveried bus as a pastiche to their founder, but the Stagecoach merger put paid to it.

 

[mbonwick]

I wouldn't be surprised if Stagecoach did a SELNEC livery when the fleet settles down over the nex few years, but for now the main priority is getting some sort of decent reliability out of the Bluebird vehicles!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I wouldn't be surprised if Stagecoach did a SELNEC livery when the fleet settles down over the nex few years, but for now the main priority is getting some sort of decent reliability out of the Bluebird vehicles!

They might do a SELNEC one though probably they'd be more likely to do an Ashton, Stockport, Manchester or North Western one? They have much more history than something that was only around for 5 years. However, an enthusiast manager might fancy such an homage

 

[BurtonM]

There already is a Manchester one - it's First's. It even had the Wright stylised 'W' panels filled in for the crest on the front.

Orange and cream was around more than five years if you consider that GMT used it until the early '80s.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

There already is a Manchester one - it's First's. It even had the Wright stylised 'W' panels filled in for the crest on the front.

Orange and cream was around more than five years if you consider that GMT used it until the early '80s.

First don't have monopoly on the MCT livery. After all, when BMMO had their centenary, First, Stagecoach and Arriva all painted vehicles in red.

The white and yellow appeared in 1969 but think it began to be replaced with orange and brown from 1979 with Titans and Metrobuses etc

 

[mbonwick]

They might do a SELNEC one though probably they'd be more likely to do an Ashton, Stockport, Manchester or North Western one? They have much more history than something that was only around for 5 years. However, an enthusiast manager might fancy such an homage

20940 is already in North Western RoadCar livery; http://www.flickr.com/photos/xbu17s/4470841459/

 

[BurtonM]

First don't have monopoly on the MCT livery.

Never said they did, just meant they possess a bus in the MCT livery.

Now I come to think about it I haven't seen any of the heritage buses of late, and I'm in Manchester daily, it's mostly Enviros I see in the city now.

 

[madannie77]

First don't have monopoly on the MCT livery. After all, when BMMO had their centenary, First, Stagecoach and Arriva all painted vehicles in red.

The white and yellow appeared in 1969 but think it began to be replaced with orange and brown from 1979 with Titans and Metrobuses etc

The Leyland Titans were the first to feature a brown skirt in 1979, although the depth of the skirt was less than that eventually applied to the rest of the fleet. The first MCW Metrobuses were painted orange and white but in a non-standard application. The brown, orange & white livery for the whole fleet was introduced in late 1980.

Original Titan livery & standard livery on an Olympian:

http://madannie.smugmug.com/Buses/Greater-Manchester-1980s/i-wjbWh6q

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Never said they did, just meant they possess a bus in the MCT livery.

Now I come to think about it I haven't seen any of the heritage buses of late, and I'm in Manchester daily, it's mostly Enviros I see in the city now.

No, understand that, but I was just saying that just because First have painted one in MCT colours, that doesn't preclude Stagecoach from having one too

Didn't know there was a NWRCC one painted, albeit it is a training vehicle. Of course, Stagecoach could also have a Wigan Corporation one too. First could also rustle up an LUT one as well!!!

 

[Sandy Drew]

First could also rustle up an LUT one as well!!!

Like this one... http://www.flickr.com/photos/152182...drz-arW3pb-dfTSJd-c3KDtJ-bET2Sy-bWTNwL-9No6Hv

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Like this one... http://www.flickr.com/photos/152182...drz-arW3pb-dfTSJd-c3KDtJ-bET2Sy-bWTNwL-9No6Hv

Cheers for posting. For some reason, this one had escaped me. And it's in proper LUT country too!

 

[Tetchytyke]

Like this one...

Shame they couldn't apply the fleet name straight!