A modern classic has made its restored debut in Manchester, reports Nick Larkin
The first low-floor double-decker delivered to Stagecoach outside London has been restored by the company after being donated to the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester.
Alexander ALX400-bodied Dennis Trident T612 MNF was delivered to Stagecoach Manchester in May 1999. The following month the bus visited the museum for display during a weekend for people with disabilities to demonstrate the future. Almost 22 years later the bus would become part of the museum collection.
Not only did Stagecoach Manchester donate the bus, but the team at Hyde Road depot has restored it into original Stagecoach ‘stripes’ livery. The completed vehicle was handed over in a presentation on 26 November, attended by members of the team at Stagecoach Manchester who had carried out the work. the bus. T612 MNF was also used at the museum’s two-day Christmas Cracker event the following weekend.
Chairman Dennis Talbot explained that the search had been on for a vehicle from the low-floor era and the museum approached Stagecoach Manchester after being made aware of T612 MNF in 2019, when the bus was still in use as a driver trainer and route learning vehicle.
The Trident was collected in January 2021, wearing Stagecoach ‘beach ball’ livery but earlier this year returned to Stagecoach Manchester’s Hyde Road depot for repaint into its original Stagecoach ‘stripes’ guise.
“We are very grateful to Stagecoach Manchester for donating this historically significant bus and carrying out this superb restoration, said Dennis at the handover. The bus is definitely bringing some younger members into the museum,” said Dennis.
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