Midland “Red” Motor Services (BMMO & MROC) Leyland Leopard - Overview
Midland “Red” Motor Services (BMMO & MROC)
Leyland Leopard — Overview
Leyland Leopard Coaches Acquired New — 1965 Acquisitions
5774–5823 (R/Nos: CHA74C–123C) — type code: LC7 & LC8
- Type LC7: fleet numbers 5774–5822 (49 vehicles)…
- Chassis type: PSU3/4R
- Leyland 0600 engine, pneumocyclic transmission and air-brakes.
- Type code LC7 (fleet numbers 5774-5822): 36′ Duple (Northern) Commander bodywork, C49F from new.
Certain vehicles temporarily re-seated to C41F for use during the 1966 season on “Coach Cruise” work, and re-seated back to C49F when returned to normal duties.
- Delivered in BMMO (Midland “Red”) Coach livery of red with black roof, repainted with maroon roof
from May 1967.
- One vehicle (fleet number 5785) re-bulit as type code C7A in May 1971, with modified destination equipment, power doors, and one-man operation equipment.
- Four vehicles (fleet numbers 5784, 5785, 5789 and 5802) re-bulit as type code CM7A from February 1972, for use on the X43/X44 Birmingham–Worcester Motorway service.
- Type LC8: fleet number 5823 (1 vehicle)…
- Chassis type: L2T
- Leyland 0600 engine, synchromesh manual gearbox with Eaton 2-speed rear axle.
- 30′ Plaxton Panorama bodywork, C36F from new.
- Used for extended coach tours only.
Leyland Leopard Coaches Acquired New — 1966 Acquisitions
5824–5838 (R/Nos: GHA423D–388D) — type code: LC9
- Chassis type: PSU4/4R
- 15 Vehicles entering service in 1966.
- Leyland 0600 engine.
- Plaxton Panorama bodywork, C36F from new.
- Used on extended coach tours.
- Re-seated to C40F from 1972 and down-graded to general coach duties.
- Nine vehicles converted for towing from September 1977 - [ Further Details ].
Leyland Leopard Coaches Acquired New — 1969 Acquisitions
6141–6155 (R/Nos: SHA641G–655G) — type code: LC10
- Chassis type: PSU3A/4R
- 15 Vehicles entering service in 1969.
- Leyland 0680 engine.
- Plaxton Panorama Elite bodywork, C36F from new.
Leyland Leopard Coaches Acquired New — 1970 Acquisitions
6226–6255 (R/Nos: WHA226H–255H) — type code: LC11
- Chassis type: PSU3A/4R
- 30 Vehicles entering service in 1970.
- Plaxton Panorama I bodywork, C49F from new.
Leyland Leopard Coaches Acquired New — 1971 & 1972 Acquisitions
6446–6460 & 179–190 (R/Nos: AHA446J–453J, CHA454K–460K & HHA179L–190L) — type code: C12
- Chassis type: PSU4B/4R
- Type delivered in two batches:
- 15 Vehicles entering service in 1971.
- 12 Vehicles delivered between October 1972 and February 1973
These vehicles were placed in storage and entered service in April 1973 and
May 1973.
- C40F from new.
- Plaxton Panorama Elite II bodywork on vehicles delivered in 1971.
- Plaxton Panorama Elite III bodywork on vehicles delivered in 1972/3.
- Purchased for Coach work only, not used for local bus work.
Leyland Leopard Coaches Acquired New — 1973 Acquisitions
191–198 (R/Nos: HHA191L–198L) — type code: C13
- Chassis type: PSU3B/4R
- 8 Vehicles entering service during April and May 1973.
- Plaxton Elite III bodywork
- Fleet numbers: 191–194, C48F from new.
- Fleet numbers: 195–198, C44F from new.
- New in NBC overall white coach livery.
- All 8 vehicles passed to Midland Red (Express) Limited at formation on 6th September 1981.
Leyland Leopard Coahces acquired new — 1974 Acquisitions
299–318 (R/Nos: PHA299M–318M) — type code: C14
- Chassis type: PSU3B/4R
- 20 Vehicles entering service between April 1974 and May 1974.
- Plaxton Panorama Elite III bodywork, all C44Ft from new.
Most re-seated to C48F or C49F in late 1980 or early 1981.
- Purchased for Coach work only, replacing the BMMO CM6T Motorway Coaches.
- Fitted 10 speed PneumoCyclic gearboxes.
Standard 5 speed unit with a 2 speed auxilliary splitter box and a taller gear lever with the change switch on it.
- All 20 vehicles passed to Midland Red (Express) Limited at formation on 6th September 1981.
Renumbered to fleet numbers 518, 500-517 in January 1983 (not 318)
Leyland Leopard Coaches Acquired New — 1976 Acquisitions
441–470 (R/Nos: JOX441P–470P) — type code: C15 & C16 (C16 reclassified to CDP16 in 1980)
- Type C15: fleet numbers 441–449 (9 vehicles)…
- Chassis type: PSU3C/4R
- 6 Vehicles1 entering service between February and March 1976.
- Plaxton Supreme bodywork, C47F from new.
- Purchased for Coach work only.
- Delivered in overall white NBC “National Express” livery.
- Type C16: fleet numbers 450–470 (21 vehicles)…
- Chassis type: PSU3C/4R
- 21 Vehicles entering service between January and September 1976.
- Plaxton Supreme Express bodywork, built to Bus Grant specification with two piece doors and extra hand rails.
- C49F - Semi coach seats trimmed in orange and black.
- Delivered in red and white NBC “DP” livery.
- Power Steering.
- Fitted for one-man operation from new.
- Although MROC acquired 9 type C15 coaches in 1976, only 6 were operated as the first 3 examples,
fleet numbers 441–443, passed to South Wales Transport before entering service.
Leyland Leopard Coaches Acquired New — 1977 Acquisitions
611–616 (R/Nos: NOE611R–616R) — type code: C17
665–682 (R/Nos: RDA665R–670R & SOA671S–682S) — type code: C18, reclassified to CDP18 in 1980
- Type C17: fleet numbers 611–616 (6 vehicles)…
- Vehicles entering service between November 1976 and March 1977.
- Chassis type: PSU3D/4R
- Plaxton Supreme bodywork, C47F from new.
- Purchased for Coach work only.
- Delivered in overall white NBC “National Express” livery.
- Type C18: fleet numbers 665–682 (18 vehicles)…
- Vehicles entering service between July 1977 and January 1978.
- Chassis type: PSU3E/4R
- Plaxton Supreme Express bodywork built to Bus Grant Specification with two piece doors and extra hand rails.
- C49F - Semi coach seats trimmed in orange and black.
- Delivered in red and white NBC “DP” livery.
- Power Steering.
- Fitted for one-man operation from new.
Leyland Leopard Coaches Acquired New — 1978 Acquisitions
725–741 (R/Nos: WOC725T–741T) — type code: C19 & C20 (C20 reclassified to CDP20 in 1980)
- Type C19: fleet numbers 725–729 (5 vehicles)…
- Chassis type: PSU3E/4R
- Five vehicles entering service with Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC) between August and November 1978. All five passed to Midland Red (Express) Ltd on 6th September 1981.
- Plaxton Supreme bodywork with C46F layout from new, in NBC National White coach livery.
- Purchased for long distance coach work only.
- Type C20: fleet numbers 730–741 (12 vehicles)…
- Chassis type: PSU3E/4R
- Tweleve vehicles entering service with Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC) between November 1978 and July 1979.
- Plaxton Supreme Express bodywork, C49F from new - Semi coach seats trimmed in orange and black.
- Delivered in red and white NBC “DP” livery.
- Built to Bus Grant specification with two-piece doors and extra hand rails.
- Power Steering.
- Fitted for one-man operation from new.
Leyland Leopard Coaches Acquired New — 1979 / 1980 Acquisitions
774–806 (R/Nos: BVP774V–806V) — type code: C21, CDP23 & CDP22
- Type C21: fleet numbers 774–783 (10 vehicles)…
- Vehicles entered service with MROC between November 1979 and February 1980.
All 10 vehicles passed to Midland Red (Express) Ltd on 6th September 1981.
- Chassis type: PSU3E/4R
- Plaxton Supreme IV bodywork, C53F from new.
Certain vehicles re-seated to C49F by Midland Red West Ltd from 1987.
- Purchased for long distance coach work only.
Certain vehicles fitted for one-man operation and down-graded for bus work by Midland
Red West Ltd from 1990.
- Type CDP23: fleet numbers 784–788 (5 vehicles)…
- Vehicles entered service with MROC between June and July 1980.
- Chassis type: PSU3E/4R
- Plaxton Supreme IV Express bodywork, C53F from new.
- Built to Bus Grant specification with two-piece doors and extra hand rails.
The CDP23 class of coach were originally to be built to full-coach specification as part of a batch of fifteen vehicles (Midland Red type code C21). A late change to the order saw the last five veicles built to Bus Grant specification and reclassified to CDP23.
- Type CDP22: fleet numbers 789–806 (18 vehicles)…
- Vehicles entered service with MROC between June and September 1980.
- Chassis type: PSU3E/4R
- Willowbrook 003 Express bodywork built to Bus Grant specification with two-piece doors and extra hand rails.
- New as C53F - Semi coach seats trimmed in Orange and Black.
- Delivered in red and white NBC “DP” livery.
- Power Steering.
- Fitted for one-man operation from new.
