MidlandRed.net

DickyOB wrote: ↑

02:21 Thursday 4th January 2018

My girlfriend found this gem for me, a picture of 5185 HA brand new with the black roof, as you mentioned Adam. I told you she was special… http://www.classictransportpictures.co. ... 56373.html

Regret I do not have a photograph of 5185 HA in my collection but I took the attached picture at The Transport Museum, Wythall (just south of Birmingham) on 16 July 2017. It shows their LS18 fleet no 5212 (5212HA) which is similar in many ways to your excellent find. It has a Leopard PSU3/4R chassis, Leyland O600 engine and 4 speed air operated semi-auto gearbox. It entered service in 12/62 with a Willowbrook body with B53F layout and bus seats.

Next along is Midland Red built S21 fleet no. 5868 (JHA 868E) a chassisless semi-coach new in 07/67 with their own 10.5 litre engine, 4 speed Self-Changing Gears semi-auto gearbox and DP49F layout and dual purpose seats.

Fleet no. 6145 (SHA 645G) the Plaxton C36F bodied Leyland Leopard coach next in line has a PSU4/4R chassis with O680 engine and 5 speed pneumocyclic gearbox and was used mainly for coach cruise work in its early life.

Finally Midland Red built S17 fleet no. 5767 (EHA 767D) is a chassisless service bus new in 09/66 with their own 10.5 litre engine, 4 speed Self Changing Gears semi-auto gearbox and B52F layout with bus seats.

If you have a day spare the Museum is worth a visit, especially on event days when many vintage buses are on the road working services in and around the local area. For a preview they have an excellent website with connections to Facebook which has news of all the ongoing projects.

This is an excellent story. Good excuse for a forum trip?

I saw our good friend Mr Mansfield today. The news that an ex-Hereford LS18 is alive and well had "made my day!" (he worked at Hereford depot from the late-1960s to mid-1980s).

He recalls that while at Hereford, 5185 was mostly used on the Bodenham group of routes, so the 429 and 437 etc.

Thank you again I can't believe so much is filed and remembered about the history. I'm really pleased I contacted you all before I started work. When the bus was painted green/white there is a small bit that was left red as it has a name and date on it from when it was worked on many years ago. when I'm next at the farm I will photo it for you as I can't recall the date at this moment.

as I said before if anyone wants to come and have a look over her just ask.

I'll have to start looking for something else to convert into a mobile home.

Having just seen [and read] this thread all I can say is wow . . . . What a "find" and also a big well done to DickyOB [is there a connection with another famous bus and coach manufacturer there ?] for his decision to "preserve" the vehicle.

My girl friend and I had already said we'd like to go to Wythall once open again, as she found it online for me, we wanted to see the LS18 as well as the others. We were hoping to see what mine should look like, it’s real a shame its not complete. I wonder what happen to all the seats when they got removed? I’m sure reproductions could be copied from the few originals I have, but I guess it would cost I fortune.

MattW wrote: ↑

18:07 Thursday 4th January 2018

...Good excuse for a forum trip?

Sometime in the Spring maybe? I'll work on a plan...

AdamH wrote: ↑

18:52 Friday 5th January 2018

MattW wrote: ↑

18:07 Thursday 4th January 2018

...Good excuse for a forum trip?

Sometime in the Spring maybe? I'll work on a plan...

Good man

Via a curry house??

Here are some more photos sorry taken in the dark last night
The keen eye'd may notice a small thing I found on ebay and added.