GM Buses South

[gilesbus1]

RE: GM Buses South
1451 NJA568W was new to Queens Road in Dcember 1980, later it moved to Charles Street when SOU's came about possibly via Stockport but can't be 100% sure about the latter.

In regards to Cahterplan in GMPTE days Warburtons of Bury, Lancashire Uniyed 's coach operatiosn and Godfrey Abbot where all bought out. Therefore seperate basis where maintained at Atherton and Bury for a handful of coaches, those at Atherton based outside the Workshops on the opposite side of the road to the main depot. Later everything was concentrated on Charles Street just after deregulation and under the Charterplan Banner.

Godfrey Abbot, Lancashire United and Warburtons all had diffrent versions of the Charterplan livery, eg LUT was Red and Yellow, Warburtons two tone blue and Godfrey Abbot Green and Brown.

Godfrey Abbot had been based at a seperate base on Cross Street in Sale but this closed with the failure of Ring & Ride in 1979 so everything was moved to Charles Street.

This isn't teh end of GMPTE's coaching story as many of you may not know GMPTE had the option to become the UK's largest coaching operator in the early 1980's when it had bidding rights which it didn't express on Shearings and Smith Hapopiway Spencers in the form of the holding company Pleasurama Group, how that might have fitted in isn't clear but the PTE would have also owned a portfolio of Hotels as well and garages in other area's of the Country as well as further garages in Wiogan (Where the drive though McDonalds is now) and Altrincham and a smaller shed at Levenshule and a further depot at Southport. To what might have been.