604 (21104) Volvo B10BLE Northern Counties Paladin LF

In March 1997, a batch of five Paladin LF buses (P601-605 JBU) arrived in Manchester on an experimental basis. However, they proved unpopular, leading Stagecoach to continue purchasing Volvo B10M Alexander PSs and MAN 18.220 ALX300s as their standard single-deckers in Manchester.

Bought at an unusual time, in 1995, Henley’s (Plaxton’s parent company) acquired Northern Counties. The Paladin LF body was designed by Northern Counties for the Volvo B10BLE chassis, becoming their first low-floor vehicle and one of the first on offer in the country. The DAF SB220s arrived later and were all badged as ‘Plaxton Prestige’. However, these Volvo B10s were built under Northern Counties, thus technically retaining the Paladin LF name. Interestingly, 603/5 left the factory with Plaxton badges displayed on the front.

These buses were quickly transferred out of Manchester (late 1990s) and moved south to Cambridge, where 604 became their ‘304’ for Park and Ride work. Around 2003, they transferred up to the North East to Newcastle, where they were used on regular service work. In 2007, they moved to Stockton, where they remained for the rest of their working lives. 604 was then withdrawn and collected by the Wigan Transport Trust for preservation in March 2014, where it was stored until we bought it, and moved it to our yard in January 2025.

This unique survivor is one of only five built and the first low-floor buses for Manchester. It is also the third Volvo B10BLE to hit the streets of the UK, after P602 JBU (which was scrapped) and R460 VOP (a Wright Renown Demonstrator that is preserved). As it was built at Wigan’s Northern Counties Coachworks, we’re extremely proud to have her in the collection, as a testament to Wigan’s coach building history.