Tuesday 30th March 2010:

A blast from the past today as an ex-GM Buses bus returned to Dobcross. 5120 (SND 120X) is an MCW Metrobus, built in 1982 and restored to late 1980's livery by owner Mark Amis, a native of Lees but now living in Bristol. Mark brought his bus up for the Spring Transport Festival last weekend, and before taking it back down to the West Country spent today recreating scenes from the past in various old haunts the bus would have operated in. 5120 would have been seen regularly in Saddleworth during the years it operated from GM Buses Tameside depot.

 Despite GM Buses having passed to First and Stagecoach more than ten years ago, people were still putting their hand out to try and stop Mark's bus, and drivers and other staff from Stagecoach were pleased to see an old friend return ... in fact, one inspector in Piccadilly suggested Mark might like to do a turn in service with it!

Jon Brierley