Thirteen of the original North Western Road Car Company’s vehicles formed the centrepiece of the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester’s celebration of the historic company’s centenary on April 22/23. North Western lasted 49 years, from April 1923 to March 4, 1972, when the National Bus Company (NBC) sold the bulk of the business to Selnec PTE and divided the rest of its bus operations between its Crosville and Trent companies. The coaches passed to National Travel (North West), where the North Western name was incorporated for a time into the then newly introduced white National livery. NBC revived the name when it split Ribble into smaller businesses in 1986.
Seven preserved North Western vehicles offering rides were Alexander-bodied Daimler Fleetline 174 (DDB 174C), all-Leyland Titan PD2/1 224 (CDB 224), 1946 Bristol L5G single-decker 270 (BJA 425), new with a Brush body but rebodied by Willowbrook, 1968 Marshall-bodied Bristol RESL6G 299A (KJA 299G), 1936 Leyland Tiger TS7 380 (JA 5515), rebodied by Windover, 1939 Bristol K5G double-decker 432 (AJA 152) rebodied by Willowbrook and 36ft long Alexander Z-type Highlander-bodied Leyland Leopard 916 (VDB 920) whose original registration is on a private car.
