Decided to attend the event and pick up some more diecast model buses for the collection so hopped on the 0911 train and into Manchester then hopped onto the Metroshuttle 2 to Victoria and onto the 2 free shuttles to the museum. I was also suppressed to see a MCCW I had photographed back in 2012 at Gaws end under restoration sitting there outside the museum gave me a bit of a surprise
Optare Solo SR EV
Had a ride on YJ60KCF operating Metroshuttle 2 service which took me to Victoria Station to link up with the museum shuttle. There a nice little vehicle and are quite fast rattle free and super quiet and smooth riding quality. These are fitted with leather seats and next stop information giving the service a boost and make it quite smart and innovative for a Solo. Driver was friendly and helpful when I ran for the service along with an old couple and the bus was clean and tidy on the outside quite smart from the iffy First bus company these seemed the most well kept vehicles in the fleet from the rest of the fleet I saw out n about in Manchester.
The seats where comfortable and smart looking complimenting the clean and tidy interior and next stop information was helpful to know when to press the stop button and was loud clear and precise with a easy to read display and route information on the screen was well presented. The trip was great and no niggles in the bus to write about so id give this a 10/10 and would expect more o these around
Leyland Olympian Northern Counties
A member of the museum fleet Greater Manchester Transport B65PJA was looking quite smart and tidy as it pulled up for the first journey of the day to the museum from Victoria. It was clean and tidy and well presented in its livery and looked the part in Manchester as we boarded from the front on this. The interior was well presented in its preserved state and I sat upstairs which was a clear all round view of the city as it powered its way home. It sounded great and the ride was good the seats slightly worn here n there but confortable for there age. The staff where nice and friendly and played a nice role in its running a suggestion was maybe donation buckets on the machines to aid towards there upkeep and running costs but other than that a superb vehicle. I would give this a 9 1/2 / 10 but its a piece of nostalgia to ride on
Leyland Titan PD3/14 East Lancs
A member of the museum fleet Greater Manchester Transport KJA871F was looking quite smart in its Manchester livery clean and tidy on the outside but worn out and tired on the inside the seat cushions falling apart and tired looking. The vehicle sounded ace as it made the trip from the museum to Victoria and looked like it was back home doing service works surrounded by so many old architecture and building around Manchester. The ride was great to experience the vintage vehicle and be able to see what it was like for passengers when these where out in daily service. I felt rear platform vehicles are quite cold in the winter being all open and noticed the driver had his own little cubicle up front to drive from next to the engine. The museum staff where friendly and even got a wave from the driver which I waved back so this is a 9/10 the open config rear platform puts me of full marks in winter time
