POT HOLE 1 MANDYs TYRE 0 PLUS MANCHESTER BUSES

 After several weeks trying to get a suitable day to catch up with the Manchester bus scene today seemed to be a very suitable target and Mandy wanted to come so we could meet up at lunch time. I wanted to cover both north and south routes separately so I could get the new Stagecoach buses plus then concentrate on Go Ahead and Rotala / Diamond.We didn't get far, in the gloom and mist of early morning rush hour we were hurtling towards a famous pothole on Plumley Moor Road boxed in by traffic opposite and behind, bang down we went and the tyre burst. Phoning the RAC isn't the easiest of experience but I walked 2.5 miles home and got my IQ out and the tyre inflater not knowing at this stage that is was futile. By the time I got bak to Mandy the RAC had rang back and were due in about twenty minutes, Mandy decided that I should carry on in my car and she would ring later to update me.I got into Manchester in not bad time for the back end of the morning rush hour and parked in a new multi story near Piccadilly.

Basically other than the sun trying to break through everything went according to plan and the sun ebbed away in the afternoon at Shudehill. It wasn't a clear division but really the first hour did include all the 69 Stagecoach reg buses plus a few Diamonds and Go North West but for the best of the new operators certainly the second half had a lot going for it. Masses of photos as well as about 2.5 hours of film. I've downloaded the material ready to edit. Mandy got the new tyre via the RAC man and we've put a claim in for the cost of renewal. I'm still busy scanning the old cine films, I'm having my first attempt at 2 400' reels at the same time which if you have followed the story requires splitting them into two then rejoining, I try to use an existing joint so only take away a frame or two. All is going well just about although its a bit like a juggling act if the phone goes. I'm trying to get through the London reels so I can start on a London Country special. I've still got Bus Spot Ultra Widnes / Runcorn to do though. Tomorrow I'm down in Shrewsbury, the little IQ is jammed packed with items for the OTA. Anyway lets get to the meat, here is a start on the shots from Manchester today.