Go Goodwins (Buses) - The End of an Era
On Friday 1st September 2017 Rotala Diamond took over the operations of Go Goodwins (Buses) Ltd t/a Little Gem Bus Company. This included the driving team, 18 service buses and the entire amount of TfGM public tendered services and numerous school bus routes. The deal is to be believed somewhere in the region of £1 million. Go Goodwins (Coaches) will continue to operate and have won the entire school contract portfolio off Arriva North West's Wythenshawe Depot. The takeover comes just short of a year since Go Goodwins rebranded it's service bus company as a revamp of GM Buses' 1980s icon "Little Gem".
33 EXG seen in Altrincham © Ant Dawson
33 EXG (YJ55 YHR) was the first of several Optare Solo's to hit the road as a 'Little Gem' back in October 2016. However the company have been running tendered services on behalf of Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) ever since 2009.
1013 FN07 DHE at Navigation Road Station © Ant Dawson
1013 FN07 DHE was the last bus bought by the company to carry the Little Gem identity, it also featured a striking advertisement for J. Davidson Scrap Metal. Several buses have come and gone but one that remained the entire duration of operation was Optare Solo WEZ 7833 (Y61 HBT). It was the first Optare Solo purchased by the company who have since gone onto to have somewhere in the region of 30+ of them over the last 8 years. WEZ 7833 has seen many liveries over the years from standard fleet to advertising the companies classic coaches, but a personal favourite was this in 2012 celebrating Her Royal Majesty's Diamond Jubilee.
WEZ 7833 seen at Showbus, Duxford Airfield in 2012 © Ant Dawson
Another type of vehicle used for a good period of time a couple of years ago was the Alexander Dennis Enviro200, some second hand and some brand new models. Optare Solo WEZ 7833 seen in the picture above was joined at the same event by at the time the brand new MX62 APO.
MX62 APO seen at Showbus, Duxford Airfield in 2012 © Ant Dawson
Rotala Diamond have become well established in the last couple of years within Greater Manchester. Originally taking over South Lancs Travel (SLT) in Atherton, they have since taken over Wigan Coachways and won tendered services within central Manchester and Salford. The acquisition of Go Goodwins (Buses) is a real statement of intent from them as they have already announced they are looking to expand even further within Greater Manchester, with the Eccles based firm just being the beginning.