First Midland Brown buses

[TimBrown]

We used to have clean green buses working the 144 when it went into the Second City, I couldn't help but be amazed, horrified even, when seeing one of the ex-Welsh 'Clippers' on the 144, in Barbourne, looking like a long brown van with filthy dark brown road dirt right up to the roof. I doubt that the passengers could see anything out of the side windows it was that bad. Also saw an E200 in almost as bad a state in the city centre. I realise the wash has been out of action all this year, but isn't there a legal requirement for windows and number plates to be clean, like the law that applies to cars?

[ANDREW]

Some of Diamonds buses are carrying a good coating of grime also and this is before rock salt gets spread on the highways.

[AdamH]

I followed a 32 down Bath Road the other day, it was shocking how dirty it was.

[TimBrown]

I followed a 32 down Bath Road the other day, it was shocking how dirty it was.

Mind you it hides the battered state of skirts and front lower corner panels of most of the ex-South Wales Enviro 200s and 300s.

What a difference to the days of Midland Red West under Nationalised and private ownership in the 1980s and 1990s when it was the driver's responsibility to put the bus through the wash after fuelling up at the end of the working day. If I had the last 144 to Birmingham which left the bus station at 21-17 (yes and it arrived back at garage around 00-30 in those days, long after today's services have finished and all buses are tucked- up on the patch!) I'd take it back to garage as there was a long 90 minute break, get it fuelled up and put it through the wash prior to setting off back to the bus station. It also meant it could go over the pit for a safety check and any minor defects could be put right plus a cup of coffee could be bought from the machine in the garage; and a clean bus for the driver of an early turn starting a few hours after arriving back from Brum - the buses were worked hard in those days.

[MattW]

I remember clipping the nearside rear arch of an Enviro on a bollard in the centre of Pershore one day as I was heading back to Crowngate. Fortunately as it was a damp and grimy autumn day, I drove pretty much in the ditch all the way back and nobody was any the wiser!

[bmmoboy]

Apparently around 40 buses were hand washed on Sunday, with the rest to be done this weekend. Hope you noticed the difference!

[AdamH]

Apparently around 40 buses were hand washed on Sunday, with the rest to be done this weekend. Hope you noticed the difference!

Saw a 32 on my way home from work. It was dark so couldn't see any improvements!