THE MOTOR BUSES
WEST
BROMWICH CORPORATION MOTOR BUS 174 (GEA 174)
Motor bus 174 at the Body Restorer's. Pictures and words by John Benton.
1952
Daimler CVG6/ Weymann H56R.
174 worked West Bromwich's bus routes until WMPTE was formed in1968, then became a driver trainer until 1972. It was donated to the Black Country Museum which used it as an exhibit/furniture van, until deteriorating bodywork stopped it. After spending several years in storage, 174 was towed in June 2001 to the Birmingham premises of JCP repairs Ltd for a complete rebuild. Work continued at JCP, replacing corroded frame sections, stress panels etc., until Friday 24th January 2003 when they went bankrupt. 174 is now back at the Black Country Living Museum, where the Transport Group are completing the rebuild.
EX MIDLAND RED D9 FLEET NUMBER 5342 (6342HA)
Picture and words by Michael (Int) Eaves.
MAKE:
BMMO MODEL: D9 YEAR NEW:
1963
YEAR WITHDRAWN: 1977
OPERATOR: THE BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND MOTOR OMNIBUS COMPANY LIMITED
As far back as 1951 Midland Red were interested in developing a 30 ft long, high capacity double-decker and in 1958 a prototype was developed using both existing and new technology. It had seating capacity for seventy-two people, power steering, independently sprung front wheels, semi-automatic transmission, and a 10.5 litre engine. Production vehicles first appeared in 1960 and continued for six years.
Bodywork wise the D9’s were metal framed paneled with aluminium alloy with roof, roof domes, front end and many small fittings manufactured in fibreglass.
In the interior, seats were of moquette upholstery. Later vehicles were fitted with fluorescent lighting fitted behind cornice panels to give the effect of illuminated advertisement space. The upper deck roof was re-painted with garish pink paint so the nicotine stains wouldn’t show on the roof.
In later years difficulty was experienced with the front roof canopies which became fatigued and later examples were fitted with additional exterior mouldings, whilst some earlier D9’s were fitted with plain glass upper deck front windows without opening parts. By the time the last series had been delivered 345 of the unique vehicles had been built and represent one of Midland Red’s most outstanding and successful designs many examples being confined to the arduous Birmingham and Black Country services completed between 15 and 17 years service.
On the 3rd December 1973, 1,396 employees, 413 buses and eight garages were transferred to West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive. The buses included a large number of D9’s of which one was 5342, which had been allocated to Stourbridge Garage and continued to serve there under PTE Control.
5342 was also the last D9 to be operated by WMPTE performing a farewell tour with Birmingham Standard, GUY Arab 3015. Both types became extinct with WMPTE on the same weekend of 29/30 October 1977.
Today 5342 is one of a number of locally historic vehicles that provide an essential transport system within the Black Country Living Museum.