SELNEC PTE 219 (OND 736H) in Rochdale - 17 Jul 1972

Monday 17 July 1972 – One of the early creations of the SELNEC PTE (South East Lancashire North East Cheshire Passenger Transport Executive) after its formation (November 1969) was the Bolton to Stockport ‘Trans Lancs Express’ coach service. Initially former Manchester City Transport Plaxton Panorama bodied Bedford VAL coaches were employed which were subsequently replaced with Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied Seddon Pennine 4 coaches in the summer of 1970. 219 (OND 736H), new in July 1970, had a healthy load when seen picking up in the morning sunshine outside the General Post Office on the Esplanade in Rochdale (approx. 0812 I think).
The SELNEC buses in Rochdale were part of the PTE’s Northern area and carried the fleetname ‘Northern’ within a crimson/magenta whatever coloured lazy S logo. However, as may be seen here, the coaches on the ‘Trans Lancs Express’ carried the SELNEC name within an orange lazy S logo. Consequently the service was commonly referred to by the local populous as ‘the SELNEC’. ‘Are yer going ont SELNEC then?’