A Step in Time Part 26! Preserved GM Buses MCW Metrobus/Northern Counties 5208/C208FVU

Recorded date - 23/10/2022
Preserved GM Buses 5108/C208FVU
MCW Metrobus/Northern Counties
Manchester Transport Museum 80s Flashback Event Shuttle
Welcome to another episode in this multi part series where we experience what it was like back in the day when step entrance buses were still in use by featuring a bus from the old days whether it be in preservation or still in use with an independent company. Part 26
6 takes us for a ride on C208FVU.
The sole survivor of a batch of ten Cummins L10/Voith MCW Metrobuses with Northern Counties 72 seat bodywork that were new to the Greater Manchester PTE in July 1986 is 5208/C208FVU, the batch were painted in the coral, orange, red and brown livery for use on the Trans-Lancs Express service 400. The Northern Counties bodied versions of the Metrobus were nowhere near as common as the Metro-Cammell bodied versions but GM Buses ordered a number of buses over the years with the NC bodywork, It passed to GM Buses North when GM Buses was split in 1993 then to FirstBus with the GM Buses North business in 1996. It has been preserved in the Museum of Transport and after the completion of a lengthy restoration a few years ago it made an appearance at the 80s Flashback event last year where it did a few runs between the Museum and Manchester City Centre as well as a couple of runs to/from Swinton. It's recorded on a shuttle from the City Centre to the Museum.

[@Redmanb11]

I certainly remember when these were used on the 17 between Manchester and Rochdale 😊