Autumn delights in Hattersley as Greater Manchester Buses South returns to the scene in the form of Stagecoach E400 19532.

Tags:   Stagecoach Manchester 19532 MX09KTT Hattersley

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Greater Manchester Transport liveried E400 19470 has just left the Hattersley estate and is running along the A57 Mottram Road towards Hyde.

Tags:   Stagecoach Manchester 19470 MX58VBL Hattersley

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In late 2010, Stagecoach in South Wales received a pair of Marshall C39-bodied Dennis Darts from Stagecoach West, numbered 33562 and 33563.
The former was a standard 10.7m variant whilst the latter was a unique 11.3m SPD. Both had been new to Swanbrook of Cheltenham, whose workings on the jointly operated Gloucester to Quedgeley service Stagecoach purchased earlier that year with the two Darts.

Both spent most of the time in South Wales based at Blackwood depot, where they initially helped to replace the older former Islwyn Borough Transport fleet.

33562 retained her "SBK" plate throughout her time in South Wales. This is illustrated an April 2012 shot as she climbs Kendon Road in Crumlin when operating Service X18 (Newport-Risca-Crosskeys-Newbridge-Trinant-Aberbeeg-Cwm-Ebbw Vale), which Stagecoach inherited with the Glyn Williams business. She ended her days at Abba Scrap in Dowlais in May 2013.

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From memory, in 2011 Veolia Transport Cymru was operating five 06- and 56-plate 12.6m Optare Tempos from Treforest depot on what was then Service 600 (Aberdare-Mountain Ash-Abercynon-Pontypridd-Cardiff), and for which they carried appropriate branding on their corporate livery.

Unfortunately, they didn't last long because the company announced its phased withdrawal from operations in South Wales in 2011. Arguably a bit too long for navigating the narrow streets in some of the Cynon Valley towns, they were at least a step change from the assortment of Darts inherited with the Shamrock business.

This May shot from that year depicts 50256 (YJ56 WVT) emerging from Chapel Street in Pontypridd, Cardiff bound.

By November of that year, she was operating in Go-Ahead's Wilts & Dorset fleet.

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Versa YJ09 MKZ (Arriva Midlands 2981)

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