BMMO Service 422 Question

Bus and Coach operations, and timetables for The Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO — Midland "Red" Motor Services).
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AdamH
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BMMO Service 422 Question

Post by AdamH » 11:18 Wednesday 12th October 2016

While looking at the Service 420 timetable at Knightwick when I discovered the newspaper cutting of the new bridge (link to forum post) I noticed Service 422 which was advertised as running between Leominster, Bromyard, and Worcester. However, when I looked at the times I noticed it ran as Service 420 between Bromyard and Worcester.

I'm guessing passengers were required to change buses at Bromyard but the timetable doesn't say if through fares were available or not, so does anyone know if this was the case? Also, some 420 journeys that appear to be connecting were short-workings that didn't come from or go to Hereford, so would those have been operated with the same bus and crew but with the number changed?

I'm also guessing the route would have been operated by Hereford depot, but I can't see any reason why Ludlow or Worcester couldn't have gotten in on the act...

Any info would be welcome.

JustinTyme
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Re: BMMO Service 422 Question

Post by JustinTyme » 19:53 Wednesday 12th October 2016

I've checked my BMMO timetables and faretables.

In 1948 and 1950 the 422 timetable was titled "Leominster, Bromyard and Worcester" but also had the sub-title "Change at Bromyard". The 1957 timetable does not have that note but the journeys are clearly connections. It could be that short workings of the 420 were interworked with the 422, but to be honest I don't know.

The 1957 422 faretable shows through fares all the way to Worcester. By 1967, not surprisingly, through fares beyond Bromyard were not available.

I believe Hereford garage started the 422 and that Ludlow later joined in.

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AdamH
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Re: BMMO Service 422 Question

Post by AdamH » 20:36 Wednesday 12th October 2016

Thanks for that. My earliest timetable for the area is October 1955 and there is no mention of changing buses, but looking at the times it is obvious to me as someone "in the trade" that they would have to. I wonder how the general public who had no interest in schedules would have coped in understanding? I'm surprised BMMO didn't make it clearer.

I have also found a list of services from 1932 that show it only running between Leominster and Bromyard, but alas I don't have a full timetable from that era so can't comment on how things were done before the war.

JustinTyme
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Re: BMMO Service 422 Question

Post by JustinTyme » 19:53 Friday 14th October 2016

Well, it looks like Bromyard - Leominster started in 1926, Fridays only, numbered 311 and operated by Hereford garage. It was renumbered 422 in the big BMMO 1928 renumbering.

In 1930 a Fridays-only 424 started, running Hereford - Bromyard - Leominster. Possibly at this time, and certainly by 1936, the 422 was changed to become Worcester - Bromyard - Docklow, running on Thursdays. The two services ran in this form until September 1939, when they were suspended due to fuel rationing.

After the war the 422 (only) came back in 1947, as Bromyard - Leominster.

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AdamH
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Re: BMMO Service 422 Question

Post by AdamH » 22:53 Friday 14th October 2016

Thanks for the extra information.

I have been looking through my collection of timetables and discovered a leaflet listing a vast amount of rural services that were all withdrawn on 3rd April 1971, and Service 422 is on that list.

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AdamH
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Re: BMMO Service 422 Question

Post by AdamH » 10:14 Thursday 8th December 2016

JustinTyme wrote:
19:53 Friday 14th October 2016
...In 1930 a Fridays-only 424 started, running Hereford - Bromyard - Leominster. Possibly at this time, and certainly by 1936, the 422 was changed to become Worcester - Bromyard - Docklow, running on Thursdays. The two services ran in this form until September 1939, when they were suspended due to fuel rationing...
I have now seen a copy of a timetable from 1930...

It looks like the bus ran from Worcester to Leominster on Thursday mornings (Bromyard Market Day), then operated a short-working back to Bromyard where the crew took a break. It would then operate routes around the Bromyard area, which look like a short 420/2 to Whitbourne and back, then a short 420 to Burley Gate and back, before heading back to Leominster on a short 422, then a full 422 back to Worcester.

The short 420 to Whitbourne is shown on both the 420 and 422 timetable so it's not clear which route number would have been displayed on this journey.

Bromyard looked like a busy place on Thursdays as Worcester also sent a bus to the town on Service 414 via Suckley and Acton Green, and Hereford sent a bus to the town working a short 420. Both of these operated services in the area when they arrived, such as short-working 414 to Suckley, 415 to Pencombe, or short 420s to Stoke Lacy or Bringsty.

It looks like the extra buses in Bromyard on Thursdays was at the expense of Service 417 which operated a heavily reduced timetable on that day, running one journey only between Hereford and Ledbury... The Worcester end of the route didn't get a bus at all!

Timetables now added to the website, links below...

1930 Service 414 Timetable (Thursday)
1930 Service 415 Timetable (Thursday)
1930 Service 417 Timetable (Thursday)
1930 Service 420 Timetable (Thursday)
1930 Service 422 Timetable (Thursday)

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