Coach firm unveils latest model

Vincent Burke, business development manager at Yelloways, holds the model.

An iconic local coach company is having one of its newest vehicles re-created as a limited edition model.

Yelloways, based in Chadderton and now owned by Courtesy Coaches, has been ferrying day-trippers and holidaymakers for over 70 years.

Now toy-makers Hornby, which merged with die-cast model-car makers Corgi last year, has produced 1,500 limited edition models of the company’s 2005-6 Starliner coach.

Vinnie Burke, business development manager, said: “Hornby contacted us about 12 to 18 months ago asking if they could make a model of the new Yelloways coach.

“We sent them photos of the coach which has been turned into a scale reproduction at a scale of 1:76. The model is a limited edition with between 1,300 and 1,500 buses produced and will retail at £24.99.

“Yelloways is a big thing in Oldham and Rochdale, and people have a lots of memories, such as day excursions, with Yelloways.

“Hornby approached us because Yelloways is an internationally-known brand and people are very keen on it.”

Models have previously been made of the company’s distinctive yellow coaches and are now widely traded on the Internet.

Mr Burke believes there will be a big demand for the new models from fans of the Yelloways brand and the vehicles themselves.

He said: “It’s the old name, it brings back lots of memories and people want to buy them for their parents who used to go to the seaside on our coaches.

“In fact, Mark Brook, Courtesy Coaches managing director, was bought a model of the Yelloways 1967 coach 16 years ago by his now wife, Michelle, who said he liked the model so much that he bought the company.

“It is a coup for us to have this.

“Not many coach companies in the North West have been approached by Hornby and asked to have their vehicles reproduced.”