Some months ago we had plans to evaluate a stock Van Hool TX16 Astron with Moseley (PCV) Ltd, having previously sampled the lower height TX16 Alicron (B&CB issue 1190, 7 September 2012). Finding a mutually suitable date proved difficult and before we were able to conduct the test the coach was bought by Go Goodwins of Manchester. Hearing of the situation, Wes Goodwin offered to make the Astron available once it had been painted and prepared for his family’s Eccles based company and at the end of last month Andrew Fowler and I went to Manchester to try it out.