Midland Red at Digbeth

[john70]

Not quite the "patch" this pic. but top of Bradford St.

 

[Stitcher]

Motorman Mike, there was a Power Station and it overshadowed the transport yard I went to. It was Caledonian Road Services. The main yard was in Dumfries, with a few more dotted around Scotland. There was a yard in Preston Tyseley and Bristol, so wherever you got empty there was always a yard not far away that would either get you working for them for a few days or would load you for home straight away. You may already know how it works but I will tell you, four or five lorries left Dumfries for Birmingham on Sunday night. They had a bite to eat at Dirty Dicks in Garstang and got to Tysely for about eight o clock Monday morning. Normally three of the lorries were loaded for the London area and so Tyseley drivers would take them to Lotts Rd. On arrival the drivers had a dinner then bought three different trailers back(loaded). The other trailers would normaly be for the Birmingham area and the local drivers would deliver and pick up all day, getting back for about four o clock. The Scottish lads would take the lorries back to dumfries on Monday night as five more left Dumfries to do the same all over again. I used to either do a full load to the East End docks or tramp around the country doing deliveries spread out coast to coast. In the winter when the snow was bad the scotish lads would travel across country past Brough to Scotch Corner then travel down the A1. This was to cut out Shap on the A6. Because it was a long way round and depending on how bad the snow was, some men from Tysely would be taken to a rendevue on the A1 and take over from there. The Haggis bashers would be bought back to their breakfast and bed by the mini-bus driver who took us out. It was all so different to bus work but I met some really nice tough men who would show or teach a newcomer how to do the job properly. They taught me how to tie anything onto a flat open trailer. When I say anything I mean a car, boat load of slippery shiny steel or fragile cartons. I dont want to bore you but I found that whatever they drove or wherever they came from, Proffesional drivers in our day were all worthy of praise.

 

[john70]

To all of you. I have said before that I worked at Digbeth/Mosely Rd them Selly Oak but I wasnt really a busman. That said, I am glad I did it because I met some great blokes and I still talk about some of the funnier things that happened. Thamks to you all for the experience.

Hi. Stitcher. When you were at Digbeth and Mosely Rd. do you remember a Ken Haylor.

 

[Stitcher]

John 70,the name rings a bell but I cant put a face to it.

 

[Lloyd]

Not quite the "patch" this pic. but top of Bradford St.

Fabulous photo, john70, not the top of Bradford Street but the bottom - just passing Mill Lane.
The interest to me is that the Alltyres building behind is the former Buckingham's coachbuilders, who did a few bodies for Birmingham Corporation until foundering in 1930/1.
I am one of a group researching a plane crash in this vicinity in march 1944 when a Wellington bomber, HD987, suffered engine failure and crashed between Bradford street and Digbeth either on or just behind these premises.
As there is a date of 1923 on the building (just above the bus destination panel) then this part at least survived - this is the first picture I have found of Buckingham's works. Thank you so much!

Below is a picture of one of Buckingham's 1922 products for BCT, a small Leyland 'A1' 20 seat saloon that was one of the first one-man-operated buses to run in the city. As can be seen, they didn't go far to take the photograph, the Markets were just opposite the works!

 

[motorman-mike]

Stitcher, Thanks for that brilliant rundown on a slice of life on lorries. Will be back tomorrow but have to be up at 4-15 in the morning and feeling a bit cream crackered so turning in (I'm at a funny age now)
Mike
Meanwhile out on the patch...

 

[Stitcher]

Cheers, Ill tell you something tomorrow that might make you smile.

 

[john70]

Fabulous photo, john70, not the top of Bradford Street but the bottom - just passing Mill Lane.
The interest to me is that the Alltyres building behind is the former Buckingham's coachbuilders, who did a few bodies for Birmingham Corporation until foundering in 1930/1.
I am one of a group researching a plane crash in this vicinity in march 1944 when a Wellington bomber, HD987, suffered engine failure and crashed between Bradford street and Digbeth either on or just behind these premises.
As there is a date of 1923 on the building (just above the bus destination panel) then this part at least survived - this is the first picture I have found of Buckingham's works. Thank you so much!

Below is a picture of one of Buckingham's 1922 products for BCT, a small Leyland 'A1' 20 seat saloon that was one of the first one-man-operated buses to run in the city. As can be seen, they didn't go far to take the photograph, the Markets were just opposite the works!

Glad you like the picture Lloyd, and hope it helps in your research, I would be interested to hear the outcome of that. this is a great thread, brought back a lot of happy memories, John 70.

 

[motorman-mike]

Not quite the "patch" this pic. but top of Bradford St.

John, Great pic, these were the first generation of "Showboats" the S13 followed by two batches of S15s. I heard they got the name from being dual purpose, the first black tops to appear on stage work when not on coaching work. My first time driving with passengers on was in 3928 was from a conducting show up on a January Saturday in 1964. Remember it like it was yesterday - a second portion Barston and a Marston Green Tavern with Clive Mann as conductor. The Barston went off fine but the 166 we left the Bus Station with a standing load. No problem until we got to Kingston Hill where the Blues were just turning out. In the traffic about halfway up I had to stop and on pulling away attempted a famous Midland Red snap change but S13s don't do snaps so with a face redder than the bus I crawled up the rest of the hill right round onto the Cov Road in first.
Ah yes, I remember it well....

Mike

Meanwhile back on the patch...

 

[Stitcher]

Motorman Mike, because I am not a bus preservation enthusiast, would it be better if use the other midland Red site?

 

[motorman-mike]

Stitcher, No need to, why not stay on this one. Presevationist or not, busman or not here we can chew over times past on the Red buses (or off) at Digbeth and beyond. It's here for all to drop in on even if it's only for a look. I like to look in on everybodys Threads as you might have noticed from my five eggs in various baskets! It's up to you of course, as long as you keep inputting, we can still catch up with you whichever Thread you choose.
Mike

 

[Stitcher]

MotormanMike, I said I may make you smile. This was when the Reds were running onto Chelmsly and the estate was not properly finished. Someone at Digbeth bet me ten bob I would not run the wrong route. I cant remember the numbers but I did the one that went close to Marston Green Hospital instead of going straight through Pine Square.

 

[Lloyd]

I can remember when the 'old' canteen at Rea Street end of the depot acquired a number of road signs, and even a keep left bollard - which subsequently was wired to the mains and lit up!
There was a visit from head office, Engineering Manager Roger Harman saw them and quietly said as he left the canteen "See they all go back".

 

[Stitcher]

Lloyd, That was the only canteen I knew at Digbeth and what you just described is what kept me sane while was there. Did you know a Parking Driver I think he would have been called. His name was Mickey Vaughn. Quite a few years after I left, his widow phoned me and asked me to attend his funeral.

 

[Lloyd]

No I didn't know him, nor many of those who transferred to WMPTE at Moseley Road.
The two parking drivers I knew were Fred Maddocks (who emigrated to New Zealand when he retired) and Bert Rawlins who sadly passed away one morning while preparing to come to work. Later various people did that job for varying lengths of time, including Ray Scott, Peter Teale and Steve Pender.

 

[banjograham]

I was at digbeth 1970-73, I once took a c12 newly painted to earlswood, cant remember the route number, anyway the bus looked brilliant with its new coat of paint. it had been snowing heavily, and when I turned into the lanes toward earlswood, it got more slippery, I was going downhill toward a dip, then a climb uphill, I saw a coal lorry coming also downhill toward me, I pulled into the side, stopped, applied handbrake, turned off engine, dropped it in gear, then walked back and sat down next to the only passenger I had on, and said watch this ?? the came on towards us, his back end slowly came outward across the road, and has he slid past us, he took out every o/s panel on my newly painted bus .... graham phipps

 

[Stitcher]

Lloyd,it was when The red parked buses overnight in Adderly St. Another one was Jim james. It was still two man then.

 

[john70]

John, Great pic, these were the first generation of "Showboats" the S13 followed by two batches of S15s. I heard they got the name from being dual purpose, the first black tops to appear on stage work when not on coaching work. My first time driving with passengers on was in 3928 was from a conducting show up on a January Saturday in 1964. Remember it like it was yesterday - a second portion Barston and a Marston Green Tavern with Clive Mann as conductor. The Barston went off fine but the 166 we left the Bus Station with a standing load. No problem until we got to Kingston Hill where the Blues were just turning out. In the traffic about halfway up I had to stop and on pulling away attempted a famous Midland Red snap change but S13s don't do snaps so with a face redder than the bus I crawled up the rest of the hill right round onto the Cov Road in first.
Ah yes, I remember it well....

Mike

Meanwhile back on the patch...

A thing I seem to remember about the "showboats" S13s when we were on splits is having to go to Benacre St. in the afternoons and finishing up with a "Showboat" for a second portion. My first driving on the road after my badge came through was in 3928 also Mike, my memories not as good as yours, but I think to Warwick & Kenilworth, with conductor Blackman, who was supposed to know the way but didn,t. John.

 

[Lloyd]

I remember a story that one of the conductors told me in the 70's.
He was new to the job, and conducting a bus going to Warwick. All went well until a woman asked for "Dan Jeroo's Corner", and despite asking the driver and one or two other passengers, he couldn't make out where she wanted, and she knew no other name for the place. Just after Knowle, and before the canal bridge, where the road has a very sharp left bend, she jumps up calling "Stop! Here it is!".
Where she got off there was a large road sign saying "Dangerous Corner".

 

[motorman-mike]

MotormanMike, I said I may make you smile. This was when the Reds were running onto Chelmsly and the estate was not properly finished. Someone at Digbeth bet me ten bob I would not run the wrong route. I cant remember the numbers but I did the one that went close to Marston Green Hospital instead of going straight through Pine Square.

You're right Stitcher, I had to smile cos it was the wacky sort of thing going on then. Remember the prestige among the Warwick Road drivers of trying to beat the "record" for earliest in garage off the last Knowle. It was half an hour plus to my knowledge and bets were made on that. We often saw the last Knowle parked up by the flyover killing time cos a checker was on the gate, spoiling another attempt at the record. (mates often went up to Camp Hill by car to flag down buses running in when a checker was on the gate!) I never had a crack at the "record" as I stayed permanently on the Wythall sheet.
I seem to remember John(?) Godden went to Selly Oak, Did you know him?

Mike

Meanwhile out on the patch...

 

[Stitcher]

Motorman mike, I remember a John Godden but he was not at Selly Oak with me.

 

[Stitcher]

Motorman Mike, do you remember the Churchill twins at Digbeth?

 

[Stitcher]

Who remembers the ten course medievil banquet at Symmonds Yatch? Somehow the transport was a motorway coach hired through the Midland Red Social Club. It was sometime close to 1975. It was when there was about 8 inches of snow on the ground although it had stopped falling.

 

[Lloyd]

A rarity there, Mike! JCK 891 was not as would appear by its registration a Ribble coach, but was new to Auty, of Bury as their No 979. I assume they were taken over by North Western Road Car, as I see the number 979 appears on the front. Its body was by Burlingham of Blackpool. I assume it was registered by them as well to get the Preston 'CK' mark.

 

[motorman-mike]

Stitcher,
Crikey, that was a quick reply! Yep the Churchill twins and there was the Knight brothers as well, Eddie, Johnny and Ray, all still around the Redditch area. Eddie married a conductress, Dot, who couldn't stand the smokers on the top deck back then so used to keep opening all the windows even in the middle of winter. When she came downstairs all you could hear was the banging of windows being shut again 'til next time she had a fare up top to collect, off she went opening 'em up again and so it went on all through the duty. What a pantomime but entertaining for us driver's.

Another Parking Driver for you, was Arthur Salisbury at Adderley Street. If you remember we had an old gatehouse there with an open fire. Outside was a pile of coal and usually some wood. One freezing afternoon some of us were sat canting round the fire with Arthur when it got a bit low. "I've got to pay a visit over the road" said Arthur, meaning he was going over to the BCT garage for a trousers down, " and somebody make the fire up it's going cold in here". "OK" said Reg Harding, and as soon as Arthur had gone brought in enough wood to fill the fireplace and up the chimney as well. By the time Arthur got back the flames were shooting about four foot higher than the chimney pot! He went ballistic when he came in, Reg only laughed and said "well at least it ain't cold now Arth"

Mike

 

[Stitcher]

Motormanmike, I remember most of that. My wife and I used to go out with Dot and Eddie, and sometimes Tony Evans and his wife Lidya would come as well. I remember Dot would stand on in an argument. We were in Eddies house one afternoon, Dot was not very well and while we were talking she came into the room on her hands and knees. She asked Edie to ring the Doctor and Eddie said he would do it when the adverts came on. She went ballistic. They were very happy really, and I am sure they did this sort of thing just to make people laugh.

 

[motorman-mike]

Thanks Lloyd, just shows, I never walked up the side of 979 at the time I took the photo, but quite pleased it's a rarity.
I got on really well with Bert Rawlins, he was a Gloucester bloke, I missed him around the garage. Maurice O'Conner was his opposite number at the time. Fred Maddocks used to sit in the green union cabin collecting subs by the pay window of a Thursday, talking of which do you remember "Mrs Thursday", Diddy Davids first wife, always there for her houskeeping money off Dave as soon as he opened his paypacket.

Mike

 

[Lloyd]

Maurice was a 'foreman cleaner' at the time I knew him, but used to go out on breakdowns at times too. I went with him once to a Bristol RE from some northern company which had broken down on the M6 between Fort Dunlop and Corley, and had to tell him how to bleed the fuel pump on the Gardner engine in front of all the passengers - me in my driver's uniform telling him in overalls what to do!
Mrs Thursday - named after the then current TV show character - always appeared at the garage on payday, Thursday, to take the money as soon as he collected it. They divorced eventually and David remarried, but when his first wife passed on a few years back I think he had a small tear in his eye.

Characters one and all!

 

[motorman-mike]

It's 1962 and Digbeth's last remaining S6 3018 heads out of Mill Lane into Bradford Street to S.J.Taylor's scrap yard in Stafford towed by a Ford tipper lorry. Lloyd will be pleased to see Alltyres in the backgound. Looking at the spare wheel on the lorry, a visit to Alltyres might not go amiss!

 

[Lloyd]

Which bus, Mike? 3118 was an AD2, S6's were 3000-3099.
Here's the first one, brand new.