Wigan Album

A lot of people where devastated when this place shut.

That's right Steve, infact every Wiganer should have been devastated, Northern Counties were proud bus body builders here in the UK and for abroad...every bus operater would have known or had dealings with the Enfield St works. They put Wigan on the map in the bus industry.

Neil Turner and co weren't devastated, according to the lads that worked there they did nothing to help them.

Don't forget the fire engines they used to make as well.

Wasn't it exciting to see one of these chassis being driven on the motorway by a man in goggles !!

Sometimes Steve, people get the blame but it has nothing to do with them. Buying cheaper from abroad or other locations could be the key. Years ago that would have been a Leyland bus chassis from Lancashire, not a Volvo from Sweden on that delivery trailer.

The closure had nothing to do with Turner and co, but they did nothing to try and stop it.

The type of chassis was down to the customers preference. If they thought Volvo was better quality, more reliable, then they would pay more, if Volvo did cost more.....that is.

The sad irony is that Wigan is now full of Stagecoach Alexander Dennis bodied buses. Alex/Dennis and Northern Counties where both part of the now defunct TransBus company.

Was the reasons given, the reason why the Santus Company, in Powell Street, suffered the same fate?

Alexanders was always way behind NC when it came to appearance and buld quality and after all these years, thanks to Brian souter, they ended up buying NC and shutting it down because they knew they wouldn't have a chance in getting any London contracts as long as NC was going.

Maggies deregulation caused the closure wasn`t she great.

The closure was down to the owner of stagecoach buying out a competitor, who made most of the buses in London, and then shutting it down and moving to Scotland, plus they got a lot of help, reduced rent, rates, etc, because they were expanding and creating more jobs.

Who drove that truck