-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team -
HI folks the server that hosts the site completely died including the Hdd's and backups.
Luckily i create an offsite backup once a week! this has now been restored so we have lost a few days posts.
im still fixing things at the moment so bear with me and im still working on all images 90% are fine the others im working on now
we are now using a backup solution
Tyburn Road Bus Works
- Thread starter JKC
- Start date
JKC
Deleted Upon Request
Photos in posts#1 and #2 are replacements. These were the original comments by JKC alongside those photos
Body Shop where the buses on the left are waiting to be stripped of all its panels, and then fitted with new.....
This area was the unit shop, were new engines/geraboxies/axles were fitted
As you can see this bus is missing nearly everything....it would have be almost rebulit again with all new parts...making it like a new bus...doesn't happen anymore
Not only did the works rebuild the buses, it also built all the major units as well, engines, gearboxies, axles, etc
Body Shop where the buses on the left are waiting to be stripped of all its panels, and then fitted with new.....
This area was the unit shop, were new engines/geraboxies/axles were fitted
As you can see this bus is missing nearly everything....it would have be almost rebulit again with all new parts...making it like a new bus...doesn't happen anymore
Not only did the works rebuild the buses, it also built all the major units as well, engines, gearboxies, axles, etc
Last edited by a moderator:
Di.Poppitt
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
What a wonderful industrial past we have. We say that quite often here don't we. 
Great photo's John, surely archive material.
Great photo's John, surely archive material.
JKC
Deleted Upon Request
Hi Alf....I knew you worked there from a posting I read somewhere last night....I did try to send you a P.M but your box is full, so I though I would find the photo's out and post them.....I am glad that you and Di like them....
I started Tyburn in 1985, 22 years later I am still with Travel, but for my sins I am based at Wolverhampton....working from 6 in the evening until 02.00 am.....
The only old names I can think of would be.......Jimmy Banks, Denis Gilman, Brian Hanies.....I cannot think of too many, I moved out about 1991ish to Walsall, Tyburn closed about 1993, transfered to Walsall, then closed completely in 95, with some section being transfered to other garages, including Adderley Street, and all the trim to Miller Street......Adderley Street is now gone also....Miller street next....the word is that Miller street is going to be pulled down, then a new workshop will be built, and Perry Barr fleet being relocated there and Perry Barr being sold off......its only a rumour at the moment....but we do know that we have brought Miller Street itself not just the garage but all the land....we are trying to relocate the firm at the top of Miller Street and Newton Row some where else....Of all the Birmingham Bus Garages you must have visited only Perry Barr, Liverpool Street (Birmingham Central), Lea Hall, Accoks Green and Yardley Wood are still in use, the rest have gone.......outside of Brum...Covenrty, Westbrom. Merry Hill (new garage 1999) Walsall and Wolverhampton, the midlands must have losted 30 plus garages over the last 25 years........and the chances of either Yardley Wood or Acocks Green going in the near future is quite high....the plan in the early 1990s was to have 5 super garages, it looks like that is still the plan....my garage has 232 buses was or still could be the largest public transport garage in the country if not Europe...I was told the world....but ....all I know its hard work trying to get 204 of them out everyday apart from Sunday to meet service requirements........John
I started Tyburn in 1985, 22 years later I am still with Travel, but for my sins I am based at Wolverhampton....working from 6 in the evening until 02.00 am.....
The only old names I can think of would be.......Jimmy Banks, Denis Gilman, Brian Hanies.....I cannot think of too many, I moved out about 1991ish to Walsall, Tyburn closed about 1993, transfered to Walsall, then closed completely in 95, with some section being transfered to other garages, including Adderley Street, and all the trim to Miller Street......Adderley Street is now gone also....Miller street next....the word is that Miller street is going to be pulled down, then a new workshop will be built, and Perry Barr fleet being relocated there and Perry Barr being sold off......its only a rumour at the moment....but we do know that we have brought Miller Street itself not just the garage but all the land....we are trying to relocate the firm at the top of Miller Street and Newton Row some where else....Of all the Birmingham Bus Garages you must have visited only Perry Barr, Liverpool Street (Birmingham Central), Lea Hall, Accoks Green and Yardley Wood are still in use, the rest have gone.......outside of Brum...Covenrty, Westbrom. Merry Hill (new garage 1999) Walsall and Wolverhampton, the midlands must have losted 30 plus garages over the last 25 years........and the chances of either Yardley Wood or Acocks Green going in the near future is quite high....the plan in the early 1990s was to have 5 super garages, it looks like that is still the plan....my garage has 232 buses was or still could be the largest public transport garage in the country if not Europe...I was told the world....but ....all I know its hard work trying to get 204 of them out everyday apart from Sunday to meet service requirements........John
W
Wendy
Guest
Brilliant pictures! My husband was a bus driver back in the 60's I think it was the 56. He loves to tell the story of how he took a bus out with no seats upstairs. He couln't understand when he got to the first stop why eveyone was comming back down stairs. Apparently not his fault i'm not so sure! te he.
The Baron
master brummie
Alf, your reply 7. Did you know a Ray Wallpole he did his apprenticeship in the body shop at Tyburn Road in the 50s, such a great pal of mine, lost touch in the 60s when he moved up to Cumbria, We both played ICE HOCKEY WITH THE BIRMINGHAM BARONS at SPRINGHILL.
He opened his own body & paint work shop in the alley off Orphanage Rd Erdington,(were Colliers are today) had some great times doing Saturday work for him just to help out. O0
He opened his own body & paint work shop in the alley off Orphanage Rd Erdington,(were Colliers are today) had some great times doing Saturday work for him just to help out. O0
JKC
Deleted Upon Request
Miller Street at the moment is where West Midlands Travel keep their reserve fleet......what this means is sometimes when a garage cannot meet its full service because some of their buses have broken down or whatever, they can if needed use a spare bus or two from this reserve...
Not all the vehicles at Miller Street are used for this purpose.....some of them will be broken down for their parts....body bits, glass, mechanical parts...can and will be used to keep other buses in the company on the road....others that fall in between the two are sold off to anybody that can afford one....with certain terms attached.....like you cannot use them on local routes to WMT.....
Not all the vehicles at Miller Street are used for this purpose.....some of them will be broken down for their parts....body bits, glass, mechanical parts...can and will be used to keep other buses in the company on the road....others that fall in between the two are sold off to anybody that can afford one....with certain terms attached.....like you cannot use them on local routes to WMT.....
I remember these works very well. In the mid 70's I worked for Serck collecting radiators for repair and used to go into Tyburn Rd stores twice a day Monday to Friday. Then Liverpool St became the main service/repair centre in the early 80's. Fleetline and Metrobus rads were heavy.
I also used to deliver number plates to MCW and, as my dad worked in the stores, used to walk around the workshops watching buses being built. Anyone remember seeing just the bus chassis being driven from Washwood Heath by well wrapped up drivers (to London I believe) - not a nice job!!
I also used to deliver number plates to MCW and, as my dad worked in the stores, used to walk around the workshops watching buses being built. Anyone remember seeing just the bus chassis being driven from Washwood Heath by well wrapped up drivers (to London I believe) - not a nice job!!
Brookfields Lad
master brummie
Electrical Shop
I worked at Tyburn Road 1975/76 in the electrical overhaul shop.
Some days I was on the bench repairing buzzers, bells, switches, alternators or starter motors. Other days I'd be rewiring buses.
Dread to think of the running costs of Tyburn Works.
I worked at Tyburn Road 1975/76 in the electrical overhaul shop.
Some days I was on the bench repairing buzzers, bells, switches, alternators or starter motors. Other days I'd be rewiring buses.
Dread to think of the running costs of Tyburn Works.
Frothblower
Lubrication In Moderation
Guess what, Tyburn road garage is going to be empty again, Palletline, the company that owns it now are moving out. Hope the place don't get knocked down or something silly like that.:cry:
Frothblower
Lubrication In Moderation
I never did hear from the manager about removing the cover of the coat of arms, Alf
Alf
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Frothblower
Lubrication In Moderation
Great photo Alf
Frothblower
Lubrication In Moderation
Photos taken today.
I don't understand why Palletline moved out. They must have payed a lot of money for that extension to be done. Look how well they tried to match it with the rest of the building.
I really don't think the building will be demolished
I don't understand why Palletline moved out. They must have payed a lot of money for that extension to be done. Look how well they tried to match it with the rest of the building.
I really don't think the building will be demolished
V
vincemurphy
Guest
Great memories John - pictures make you realise that we're gettin on a bit now Haha!
V
vincemurphy
Guest
Frothy - I suppose it's all to do with investment and return? Looks quite good though I thought. Never will forget the memories of such a fantastic place to work.....Vince
Lloyd
master brummie
I watched that rebuilding going on when I worked in Wood Lane (North Birmingham Busways) and looked in every time I drove past. there never seemed to be much in there, Palletline had a place next door as well, I think. I hope it is saved, but not much demand for huge warehouses like that now in an urban area. 250 cardboard box houses would be my guess for the site.
Frothblower
Lubrication In Moderation
The peugeot dealer at the Clock garage Colshill road is moving into the new part of the old Palletline building. The old Tyburn road bus garage part still lays empty
lencops
gone but not forgotten
Burnt Out.
2964 (WVP104A) started life with West Midlands PTE as 8104 in June 1984. This bus was one of a batch of MCW Metrobuses (8101-8114, A101WVP-A114WVP) allocated to Miller Street Garage that had been especially adapted by Metro Cammell Weymann to run along a 600 yard section of ‘Guided bus rail’ constructed on the 65 route at Short Heath in Birmingham.
Known as ‘Tracline-65’, the experimental guided-bus route was quite revolutionary at the time and is believed to have been instrumental in WMPTE’s/Centro’s eventual development of the Midland Metro. The experimental Tracline-65 proved that high capacity buses on mainline routes could run along reserved sections of narrow roadway, guided by rails thus avoiding traffic congestion, which was considered a big step forward in resurrecting trams in the west Midlands.
After the demise of Tracline-65, these ‘guided’ Metrobuses were demoted to normal bus work and received standard bus livery, receiving fleet numbers 2961-2974. However, the unique destination blind layout fitted to these vehicles would always give away their Tracline-65 origin.
Sadly, 2964 was destroyed in a fire at Hockley Garage in July 1994 and was subsequently sold for scrap. In accordance with WMT’s policy of that time, badly damaged buses were generally moved from garage to garage at night to minimise any adverse publicity. 2964 is pictured after being moved from Hockley to the rear of the former Tyburn Road Works, Birmingham and awaiting collection by Barnsley based scrap dealers, Wigley of Carlton, who bought the bus in November 1994 and broke her up.
It's interesting to see how well the fibreglass panels (and paint) survived the intense heat, but the aluminium panels and framework just melted! . Interesting experiment. Len.
2964 (WVP104A) started life with West Midlands PTE as 8104 in June 1984. This bus was one of a batch of MCW Metrobuses (8101-8114, A101WVP-A114WVP) allocated to Miller Street Garage that had been especially adapted by Metro Cammell Weymann to run along a 600 yard section of ‘Guided bus rail’ constructed on the 65 route at Short Heath in Birmingham.
Known as ‘Tracline-65’, the experimental guided-bus route was quite revolutionary at the time and is believed to have been instrumental in WMPTE’s/Centro’s eventual development of the Midland Metro. The experimental Tracline-65 proved that high capacity buses on mainline routes could run along reserved sections of narrow roadway, guided by rails thus avoiding traffic congestion, which was considered a big step forward in resurrecting trams in the west Midlands.
After the demise of Tracline-65, these ‘guided’ Metrobuses were demoted to normal bus work and received standard bus livery, receiving fleet numbers 2961-2974. However, the unique destination blind layout fitted to these vehicles would always give away their Tracline-65 origin.
Sadly, 2964 was destroyed in a fire at Hockley Garage in July 1994 and was subsequently sold for scrap. In accordance with WMT’s policy of that time, badly damaged buses were generally moved from garage to garage at night to minimise any adverse publicity. 2964 is pictured after being moved from Hockley to the rear of the former Tyburn Road Works, Birmingham and awaiting collection by Barnsley based scrap dealers, Wigley of Carlton, who bought the bus in November 1994 and broke her up.
It's interesting to see how well the fibreglass panels (and paint) survived the intense heat, but the aluminium panels and framework just melted! . Interesting experiment. Len.