BaMMOT Event day Monday 29 August 2016

Discussions about the Bus and Coach Preservation scene for Midland "Red" Motor Services and related companies.
TimBrown
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BaMMOT Event day Monday 29 August 2016

Post by TimBrown » 17:59 Monday 29th August 2016

Good to see LD8 4031 SHA 431 back on the road.
Enjoyed a trip on S12 3744 NHA 744 and SON 2418 GHA 337.

Had a ride on Wartime Daimler CWA6 Utility lowbridge double decker CCX 777 new to Huddersfield in 1945 - this bus went very well with a small AEC 7.7 litre engine.

Birmingham Guy Arab 2548 must be one of the best restored buses in the Midlands - immaculate inside and out, I am tempted to say even better than new and it runs beautifully too.

Roger Burdett's Seddon Plaxton Coach FLY 755J is something else - probably unique now with Perkins V8 power and a good speedy mover on the open road. The sound effects are very special!
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MattW
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Re: BaMMOT Event day Monday 29 August 2016

Post by MattW » 19:40 Monday 29th August 2016

Great pics as always Tim :)

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AdamH
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Re: BaMMOT Event day Monday 29 August 2016

Post by AdamH » 19:41 Monday 29th August 2016

TimBrown wrote:
17:59 Monday 29th August 2016
Good to see LD8 4031 SHA 431 back on the road.
Enjoyed a trip on S12 3744 NHA 744 and SON 2418 GHA 337...

...Birmingham Guy Arab 2548 must be one of the best restored buses in the Midlands - immaculate inside and out, I am tempted to say even better than new and it runs beautifully too...
That is good news about 4031, Last time I was up there I went over to have a look and noticed the engine was missing. Good the hear 3744 is in working order as the post-war single-decks are among my favourite designs. I look forward to getting a ride myself at some point.

I suspect 2548 will be better than new as it will have had more love and attention lavished on it than any production vehicle could have had.

Thanks for posting the photos.

DD12
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Re: BaMMOT Event day Monday 29 August 2016

Post by DD12 » 20:53 Monday 29th August 2016

MattW wrote:
19:40 Monday 29th August 2016
Great pics as always Tim :)
Yes, your excellent photos, Tim, inspire me to attend more rallies and museums.
I too, will have to ride 3744 sometime.
One December in the early 60's, I boarded a similar Midland Red bus at the New Inn on the Ombersley Road, - on private hire to a pantomime in Malvern.

Our younger members might like to know that that the front steps stayed exposed to the elements, but there was (then) a door available at the front of the saloon for longer trips and cold weather.

Tim; - would that door have remained open on a cold day on a city service ?
(I didn't frequent the buses then, because I was too young).

TimBrown
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Re: BaMMOT Event day Monday 29 August 2016

Post by TimBrown » 22:26 Monday 29th August 2016

DD12 wrote:
20:53 Monday 29th August 2016
MattW wrote:
19:40 Monday 29th August 2016
Great pics as always Tim :)
Yes, your excellent photos, Tim, inspire me to attend more rallies and museums.
I too, will have to ride 3744 sometime.
One December in the early 60's, I boarded a similar Midland Red bus at the New Inn on the Ombersley Road, - on private hire to a pantomime in Malvern.

Our younger members might like to know that that the front steps stayed exposed to the elements, but there was (then) a door available at the front of the saloon for longer trips and cold weather.

Tim; - would that door have remained open on a cold day on a city service ?
(I didn't frequent the buses then, because I was too young).
Regret I don't know much about city service, as I lived in Fernhill Heath on the 144 route which was predominantly double deck operated and they had power doors when I was 'knee high to a grasshopper' (D5B, D7 and LD8 types). I did travel on an S6 From Bearwood to Bromsgrove via Romsley c. 1960 and the conductor shut the door, but it was still perishingly cold inside the bus that December so long ago.

I noticed something today on the SON which has a double folding internal door that it is possessed of two 'one piece' brass hinges - where would you procure such 6 feet (2 metre) long beauties these days?

chason
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Re: BaMMOT Event day Monday 29 August 2016

Post by chason » 13:01 Tuesday 30th August 2016

My experience of the pre-war fleet was that the manually operated doors were very rarely closed even in the coldest weather. No heaters either in those days so we passengers and crew must have been a much hardier lot.

The drivers and conductors were issued with uniform great coats though and a lot of conductors did wear gloves with the fingers removed so that they could operate the ticket machines and handle change more easily. The drivers were probably better off as I assume they did get some heat from the engine which of course was beside them. To counter that though, they must have been cold on the offside because most of the pre-war vehicles had an open unglazed section in the drivers door, presumably so he could give hand signals as of course they had no indicators.

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AdamH
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Re: BaMMOT Event day Monday 29 August 2016

Post by AdamH » 18:54 Tuesday 30th August 2016

Good old days!

DD12
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Re: BaMMOT Event day Monday 29 August 2016

Post by DD12 » 20:00 Tuesday 30th August 2016

Great stuff above, from Tim and Chason - Thanks !

MattW
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Re: BaMMOT Event day Monday 29 August 2016

Post by MattW » 20:10 Tuesday 30th August 2016

That Seddon coach looks the dog's whatsits. 8-)

JustinTyme
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Re: BaMMOT Event day Monday 29 August 2016

Post by JustinTyme » 20:34 Tuesday 30th August 2016

I was also at Wythall on Monday - and not living far away I was able to get there and back entirely by bus, which added to the enjoyment!

I agree totally with Tim. My first ride was on BCT 2548 which really is in beautiful condition. LD8 4031 was also immaculate and a joy to ride on. I used to travel to school in Wythall by Midland Red buses in the 1960s but LD8s somehow always avoided me, so I was pleased to ride on one at long last.

The bus I wanted to experience most of all was the Huddersfield utility Daimler - lowbridge and all - although anyone hoping for slatted wooden seats would have been disappointed! It was quite an experience, with the AEC engine giving wonderful sound effects, but with a full load I expect the driver was glad it had a preselector gearbox and not a crash one!

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