independent
transport videos would
like to welcome you to this our fifth programme featuring preserved buses that
served the large West Midlands conurbation.
The excellent Transport Museum at Wythall, near Birmingham in the West
Midlands is home to a large collection of buses and coaches. Throughout the year they put on some
excellent events, usually with a theme using their own and other preserved
buses invited to participate.
This DVD
programme filmed during 2023 features three such events and majors on buses
that operated in the West Midlands. The
first one being their ‘Easter Running Day’ event featuring a number of buses
from the Midlands including Midland Red and of course Birmingham City
Transport. During our visit our cameras
travelled on Midland Red 5767 (EHA 767D), a 1966 BMMO S17 with a B52F body for
a ride to Maypole and back to the Museum.
A second ride featured is on board Birmingham City Transport 2976 (JOJ
976), a Guy Arab IV with a Metro-Cammell H55R body that was built in 1955.
For our next visit its the ‘August Bank
Holiday – Step Free 25’ event. This
marks the 25th anniversary since the introduction of step-free buses
in the United Kingdom. As usual we film
the action at the Museum and take a ride on former National Express West
Midlands 4321 (BX02 ASV), a Dennis Trident II with an Alexander ALX400 H75F
body dating from 2002. Our cameras take
a ride in the lower saloon to Alcester Road South and return to the
Museum. We then take a further ride on
this bus, this time with our camera in the upper saloon on a similar route. Our third and final visit of 2023 features
the ‘Autumn Running Day – Rear Engine Day’ event. Plenty of action is seen here with seven on-board
rides for you to enjoy! Our first is on Sheffield Corporation Bristol
VRT/SL2/6LX, 271 (OWE 271K) with East Lancs bodywork, for a ride to Alcester
Road South. We return to the Museum on
board West Midlands PTE 6835 (WDA 835T), a MCW Metrobus dating from 1978.
At the Museum we inspect and take a ride on
the superbly restored Leyland Titan TD4 dating from 1936 but with a 1950 ECW
L55R body in Cumberland Motor Services livery.
Our cameras ride on this lovely bus to Maypole where we begin our
filming of the now traditional ‘Happy Hour’, this time featuring the ‘Rear
Engine Day’ event. Plenty of roadside
action as well as a ride on a Midland Red Daimler Fleetline with Alexander bodywork,
6015 (GHA 415D) which dates from 1966 to Beckets Island. Here we film more roadside action and then
take a ride on West Midlands PTE 7001 (WDA 1T), a Leyland Titan TNLXB with Park
Royal H73F bodywork. Back at Beckets
Island we then take a ride on First PMT DVL709 (GRF 709V), a Bristol
VRT/SL3/501 with ECW H74F bodywork for a ride back to the Museum concluding a
most enjoyable day. Our final journey is
on the park & ride service on board 4001 (R1 NEG), Travel West Midlands DAF
– Optare Spectra the oldest surviving low-floor double-decker in the United Kingdom.