Adderley Street Bus Storage Yard

[Mark Tooze]

Here are some photos of old buses awaiting scrapping in Adderley St yard. Late 70's to early 80's. A mixture of BCT, Midland Red, Coventry, etc. More to follow.

 

[Mark Tooze]

And some more:-

 

[Morturn]

Mark, I am really enjoying these back and white photos your posting. Did you take, develop and print the originals?

 

[Mark Tooze]

Yes - so quality is a bit variable on some. I will post more as I scan them in.

 

[Morturn]

Yes - so quality is a bit variable on some. I will post more as I scan them in.

Well, I too found developing back and white was great fun, but the home equipment could be a bit hit and miss with the best will in the world. Just that fact that you have captured the social change makes the quality issue not so important now.

What camera and film were you using?

 

[Mark Tooze]

I had 3 second hand Praktica bodies, and a set of old lenses ranging from 28mm to 500mm. Film was usually Ilford HP5, or whatever you could buy in bulk tins from Pelling & Cross on Aston Road, Peter Gaffney's in Gt. Hampton St, or a little shop in Ethel St - you could usually get a 1000ft tin of "end of date" movie film for about £10 - this would load many reusable 35mm cassettes - you just had to use it quickly. Chemicals and paper were usually whatever was on offer (ie: end of, or out of date). Cash was tight as a student, so you always looked for a bargain!! Considering some are nearly 50 years old, the negs have survived well!

 

[Johnfromstaffs]

What a life, 15 years of pounding the streets of Brum, from City, to City, Inner Circle, Outer Circle, Kings Norton to Harborne, Sandwell to Pype Hayes, Aston Villa, the Blues, the County Ground, New Street, the Orstin, snow fog rain and sunshine and then they dump you on some waste ground, nick yer engine and bost yer windaz.

Who’d be a bus in Birmingham?

 

[Mark Tooze]

A few more photos:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

A few of the "better" buses made it to British Car Auctions in Castle Bromwich - think these are from the early 80's - mixture of ex-BCT, Midland Red, Walsall and WMPTE here:-

 

[Astoness]

smashing photos mark..chances are i got on that no 8

lyn

 

[Mark Tooze]

And a few more were found in a yard in Nuneaton - mixture of ex-BCT and Coventry - the destination blind on the third photo is in itself now an item from history:-

 

[Johnfromstaffs]

If the engine and transmission have been removed, then presumably the residual value in the structure is reduced to that of the scrap metal. Recycling of seats, electrics and window frames is presumably not worth the effort since the concurrent removal from service of fleets of similar vehicles means that there would be no market for these items. It seems a great shame to reduce such well constructed vehicles to the status of mere junk, but I suppose little exists in the way of an alternative.

 

[Mark Tooze]

Here is another one in Adderley St dump - photos of inside this time with seats and what looks like bits of bodywork stacked up.

 

[mw0njm.]

Here is another one in Adderley St dump - photos of inside this time with seats and what looks like bits of bodywork stacked up.
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Thanks Mark. it's sad to see them ending up like that. just as the steam locos did grrrrrrrrrr.