MidlandRed.net

767 BHA a BMMO type D7 with Metro-Cammell H37/26R bodywork new 09/57 to Midland Red Redditch garage as 4767. Withdrawn 04/72 and converted to breakdown/towing vehicle as preserved today. 5056 HA a BMMO type S15 chassis-less single deck with Carlyle DP40F bodywork new 08/63 to Midland Red Hereford garage as 5056. PHA 505G a BMMO type S22 chassis-less single deck with Carlyle DP45F bodywork new 08/68 to Midland Red Banbury garage as 5905. JHA 227L a Leyland Leopard PSU3B/4R with Marshall DP49F bodywork new 04/73 to Midland Red Shrewsbury garage as 227. My apologies for inclusion of gas storage tank in this photo, but most of the bus is still visible! A pair of Leopards;
GSO 90V Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R with Alexander DP49F bodywork new 02/80 to Alexander Northern as NPE90.
JHA 234L Leyland Leopard PSU3B/4R with Marshall DP49F bodywork new 05/73 to Midland Red Kidderminster garage as 234. GJW 43N a Leyland Leopard PSU3B/2R with Marshall DP49F bodywork new 10/74 to Midland Red Sandacre Street, Leicester garage as 343. BVP 808V a Leyland National 2 type NL116L11/R with integral Leyland B49F bodywork new 01/80 to Midland Red North Tamworth garage as 808. B106 JAB a Leyland Tiger TRCTL11/3RH with Plaxton C47FT bodywork new 04/85 to Midland Red West Worcester garage as 1006. M516 PNA a Volvo B10B-58 chassis with Wright DP50F bodywork new 03/95 to Greater Manchester North as 516. It was acquired by First Midland Red 01/08 and converted to driver training vehicle 60311 by 12/08 based at Worcester garage and has recently been painted in the livery shown.

As always, that you very much for your photographs. Many of the buses are outside my area of knowledge so you are way more qualified to post than I.

With regards Andrew Hawthorn's preserved BMMO S15, fleet number 5056... I met a retired driver from Hereford depot and he was especially pleased to see that vehicle because not only had it been new to Hereford garage in 1962, but he had been the driver tasked with going to Central Work and driving it back to Hereford, followed by 5077 "a few weeks later." Records show that 5077 didn't follow for another 3 months, but it was 55-years ago and he is soon to have his 90th Birthday so I will forgive that slight mistake.

He did recall in great detail how that shortly after departing Central Works, the drivers windscreen wiper fell off. He phoned the Works and was told to continue to Hereford where they could fit a replacement from their spares department!

That training bus looks very smart. Last time I drove it it looked like it was on its last legs, very good to drive though.

MattW wrote: ↑

20:12 Monday 3rd September 2018

...very good to drive though...

I think maybe too good!

When I took my test it was in a bus without power steering and with a crash-box manual. After this, my instructor told me, I would be able to drive anything and he was right because every bus I have driven since has been easy. The modern training bus is so easy to drive new starters are going to get a nasty shock when they go out in service!

AdamH wrote: ↑

14:02 Monday 3rd September 2018

Records show that 5077 didn't follow for another 3 months, but it was 55-years ago and he is soon to have his 90th Birthday so I will forgive that slight mistake.

Bit off topic, but there is a picture of 5077 squeezing through the Priory Gatehouse at Malvern doing an M18 to Poolbrook in the book Malvern Through Time by Brian Iles. I find it unbelievable that modern traffic went through there and the building was undamaged.

Midland Red used to have a very stringent driving test which many drivers failed at their first attempt. If you passed the test with BMMO you really were ready for anything, and the Priory Gatehouse at Malvern would be taken with ultimate confidence (and the prospect of instant dismissal if damaged!!)