College Road by the Monastry, down the road past the Crossways, left at the island toward Six Ways Erdington, and that was the terminus, then round the island, and back down the road to the island, right past the old cinema, and up to the top by the monastry. Short & sweet. The 42E was something else............
Ok, here we are back in the seventies. The days when the 42 traveled along College Road, Erdington bound, from the the top of College Road ( by the Seminary.....) As we travel, over on the right across the duel carriageway, was The Mayfair Cinema. We carry on until the Ridgeway, where we take a left. straight on, joining Marsh Hill, which back then became Resevoir Road, and the terminus. Hope this is a bit clearer. The terminus was Six Ways Erdington. Thanks.
Excellent, thank you. I worked all of these. My wife went to school.
Hi, Gerry here. Just a few points. As I said I worked all of the above EXCEPT the Cannock service, that you have as a 104. This was not worked by me during my first job at Sutton, 1957 to 1959. The other service that I did work was the 119, Birmingham, Perry Barr, Great Barr (Scott Arms) and the X-12, Birmingham Main Road via Sutton & Lichfield and Burton-On-Trent to Derby. Thank you so much for this. Gerry.
The X99, was operated by Tamworth garage. I do not remember it running through Sutton, I think it ran Birmingham/Tamworth/Ashby/Nottingham.
Have just dug out my 1964 timetable book. The X99 and the 110 went the same route from Birmingham to Tamworth via Sutton with the X99 continuing on to Nottingham. I did that journey once with a five shilling Child's Anywhere Ticket in the days when I travelled all over the Midlands by Midland Red. Amazing number of different bus companies in those days in Nottingham.
Thank you for this,109 was Birmingham, new oscott terminating at Boldmêre, been trying to recall these routed and numbers for ages
Again looking at my 1964 timetable there were only a few services showing 109
Yes David it was an erratic service and occasionally between the Crossways and New Oscott a half empty 107 could become a 109, with passengers for Sutton being asked to debus at the Beggars Bush and catch the bus behind. I travelled the 107 from New Oscott to Sutton from 1947 to 1952. My travels started on pre warr REDDs,through HHA Guys into the first of the post war D1s.
As a child I always thought Midland Red buses were the most exciting. I lived in Saltley and could get onto a Midland Red bus to Coleshill where we used to go to swim in the river. But when we moved to Willenhall in the Blackcountry, I travelled every morning from Walsall to catch the No8 Birmingham bus to Bordesley green where I went to school. The buses from Walsall to Aston cross I think, were all very ancient. You entered at the front and a leather strap lead across the ceiling which when pulled rang a bell for the driver to stop at a bus stop. Sometimes the Walsall to Birmingham red bus would simply break down, one once even caught fire although just smoke and no flames as such. I‘d love to see a picture of one of those ancient Midland Red buses. They must have been withdrawn many years ago but they were operating in the fifties.
Gosh that took me back 107 at New Oscott 1946 or a utility Guy as an alternative.
This utility Guy is awaiting renovation at the Transport Museum, Wythall....
timetableworld.com
Gerry what happened at Sutton why did the garage close?
From what I remember staff at the former Midland Red garages had different working conditions/rates of pay so it was in the best interests of the WMPTE (as they saw it) to eliminate these garages and they closed them one by one over a number of years. There are others more qualified on here who could explain this in detail.
It only exists as far as where the Queensway goes over it, the rest (to Edgbaston Street) was destroyed in the reconstructions. Whats left is for maintenance of the Queensway, storage & deliveries to some of the shops above. Minus the scaffolding-pole stands, its much as it was, retaining the platforms and pillars.
My parents would take me to visit relatives in Coventry we would catch the 159 at the Hay Mils stop on Coventry Road and travel to Coventry via Meriden where the bus would stop to ‘clock in’ and then onto Pool Meadow to get a bus to Tile Hill. I remember the buses in coven being a purple and cream colour. There was something about those buses that made them different to the Birmingham buses of the time , or was it just my imagination?
