Wigan Album
Wigan Corporation Transport
15 CommentsPhoto: RON HUNT
Item #: 24249
Just noticed it even has the Latics song advertised on the side<g>
You could get on this bus at Abbey lakes and go right through to Standish, very handy if you had an appointment at the infimary.
I would say it's around 1974, soon after the merge with Greater Manchester Transport. The new type fleet numbers is on the front grille. Great photo, Ron.
Showing the new fleet no.sticker on the front, it looks as if the switchover from Wigan Corporation to GMPTE had taken place.
Those where the days!!!
Also has the "new" route number. It used to be "5" towards Standish and "7" towards Abbey Lakes if my memory serves me correctly.
The smell of the leather until they all got taken from us..
Leather..More like diesel and cig smoke, Alan.
5 & 5A to Standish - Pepper Lane or Graham Farm(?) if I remember rightly,
Wigan Corporation never allowed adverts on the side of their buses - lovely livery spoiled by tat !
The photos is probably fairly soon after the takeover by Greater Manchester Transport, as the conductor is still wearing the dark blue dust coat worn by Corporation crews. The GMT uniform was a beige / fawn type of colour.
True that Wigan Corporation buses did not carry advertising. As well as looking tatty, the GMT "Italian wine" placard conveniently covers up the "Ancient & Loyal" Coat of Arms of the County Borough of Wigan, displayed prominently on the sides of the top deck of Corporation buses.
Wigan Corporation drivers and conductors uniforms were Black, the Wigan Corporation emblem was always on the White panel, just under the advert sheet.
This would be around 1975, that is when GMT renumbered Wigan's routes. As with all Wigan Corporation buses, the bodywork was built in Wigan. In this instance by Massey in Pemberton.
Garry,the Wigan bus crews wore black in the cold weather and beigue/fawn was the summer uniform!
RE UNIFORM THE BLUE DUSTCOAT IS G M T WIGANS SUMMER UNIFORM WAS CREAM / RED TRIM LATER WAS DARK RED /RED TRIM G M T ALSO ISSUED GREY SHIRTS AS WIGAN DID NOT ISSUE SHIRTS