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1931 Birmingham bus returned to the road

Lloyd

Lloyd

master brummie
Now returned to Wythall Museum is 1931 Birmingham Corporation double deck bus no 486, an AEC 'Regent' with Saltley-built Metro Cammell body - one of their first. The design set the standard for Birmingham's buses until the engine position moved to the rear. The museum reopens in the last weekend of March and is open Saturdays and Sundays, plus Wednesdays during school holidays, until October.

18-12-13 486 on test in Dorking .JPGFirst fill up for 486 since 1944.JPG
 
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wow thats great news lloyd but i have to say it looks as though theres just enough head room for the bus at that garage lol

lyn
 
A long haul since it was initially found but it is very pleasing to see 486 on the move under its own power. A fantastic restoration.
Hats off to all concerned.
 
bit weird looking though. it looks a bit like a single decker with a add on, but still great
 
Actually a credit to all concerned in the restoration, how smart it looks. Nostalgia creeps in, I only realy remember them as Football specials and Service Extra buses, never actually remember travelling on one before I became a bus anorak in 1946 and Dad would point out that that was the sort of bus he travelled on before the war....I do remember the gas versions on the 29. However the point of this wander down memory lane I think it looks a lot smarter and certainly more bus-like than today's multicoloured tin boxes, although lately one or two designs do show a little bit of style, usually spoilt by swooshes and unattractive paintwork and having the route plastered all over them.

Bob
 
Just a quick query, was the engine rebuilt or was an old replacement found or the final lazurus option was a modern engine installed?
Bob
 
The engine is a replacement from another AEC Regent which was, at one time, with London Transport. I remember the donor vehicle which was in a Devon collection of a friend of mine.
However Lloyd has had a lot of input with this vehicle and I will leave it to him to give details.
 
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Lloyd had some amazing finds relating to 486, probably the most interesting was 'finding' the original chassis plate. There are many stories to tell about this amazing restoration and I hope Lloyd will elaborate at some point.
 
Bob Davis said:
Actually a credit to all concerned in the restoration, how smart it looks. Nostalgia creeps in, I only realy remember them as Football specials and Service Extra buses, never actually remember travelling on one before I became a bus anorak in 1946 and Dad would point out that that was the sort of bus he travelled on before the war....I do remember the gas versions on the 29. However the point of this wander down memory lane I think it looks a lot smarter and certainly more bus-like than today's multicoloured tin boxes, although lately one or two designs do show a little bit of style, usually spoilt by swooshes and unattractive paintwork and having the route plastered all over them.

Bob
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In 1946 or 1947, before my father married again, my Nanny (Guardian) used to take me into the city when she went shopping there. There we many ways we could get home - train from Moor Street, bus 37, 29A or any Midland Red Stratford Road service. All meant a walk afterward. However we seemed to often catch the 29A at Snow Hill - maybe because we had been in the Lewis or Grey stores. It was usually busy and I said - as a nine or ten year old - little prayers that one of these type of buses, in original form would arrive. Sometimes they did - and a grey painted one was a bonus in any type.
 
Bob Davis said:
Just a quick query, was the engine rebuilt or was an old replacement found or the final lazurus option was a modern engine installed?
Bob
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It's a rebuild of four 'derelict' engines and needed two rebuilds as the first attempt at whitemetal bearings failed.
 
Frothblower said:
BEAUTIFUL!
Just needs the Birmingham coat of arms now.
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Lower panels are already flatted for transfers, signwriting and lining-out, then the final layers of varnish. The interior needs signwriting as well which is to be done in the next couple of months. I'll post more pics as it progresses.
492 OV 4492 f.jpg 492 OV 4492 ns.jpg 492 OV 4492 nsr.jpg
 
Radiorails said:
In 1946 or 1947, before my father married again, my Nanny (Guardian) used to take me into the city when she went shopping there. There we many ways we could get home - train from Moor Street, bus 37, 29A or any Midland Red Stratford Road service. All meant a walk afterward. However we seemed to often catch the 29A at Snow Hill - maybe because we had been in the Lewis or Grey stores. It was usually busy and I said - as a nine or ten year old - little prayers that one of these type of buses, in original form would arrive. Sometimes they did - and a grey painted one was a bonus in any type.
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Some photos for you -

421 OG 421, Warren Farm Road.jpg 392 OG 392 Finchley Road, arrival.jpg 434 OG 434.jpg
 
Another query re these buses, did not the earlier ones have a split rear platform window, rather like the Manchester bodies that appeared on some of the pre war buses? Does the grey gas producer not have the 18inch rear platform cut away? or is it an optical illusion?
Bob
 
Bob Davis said:
Another query re these buses, did not the earlier ones have a split rear platform window, rather like the Manchester bodies that appeared on some of the pre war buses? Does the grey gas producer not have the 18inch rear platform cut away? or is it an optical illusion?
Bob
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The earlier OG series appear to have a quite different lower deck rear window, with rounded ends, and different rear end.
The OV series, as portrayed by 486, had the split upper deck rear window. I never saw the gas producers as the were usually restricted to the 33 route and one or two northern routes. Sadly, for me, they soon disappeared in rush hour work after 1947 although some were kept for special duties lurking at the rear of some BCT depots. Some received the M of S austerity bodies: i hated riding on them and if I could see another, non austerity, coming I implored to wait for it. :grinning:
The wonderful thing, for me, is that Wythall have my four favourite Midlands buses: BCT 486, 1107, 1685 and Midland Red 4031. It would be a bonus if a FEDD, or two were still around but, sadly, they are not.
 
Bob Davis said:
Another query re these buses, did not the earlier ones have a split rear platform window, rather like the Manchester bodies that appeared on some of the pre war buses? Does the grey gas producer not have the 18inch rear platform cut away? or is it an optical illusion?
Bob
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The only split rear window of that era I know of is 368 (OF 8368) which carried an experimental all-metal body by Short Bros, seen here after withdrawal on Holford Drive, Perry Barr.

The grey one you comment on was built in 1930, so just before the requirement in Construction and Use regulations of safety features like the platform cut away - or even upper saloon emergency exit windows.
 

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  • 368 OF 8368 & Morris Imperials either side..jpg
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Just a new upstairs and a few seats............................:D
I expect it will be restored eventually. At least it is in the dry and not rotting away.
Some of these 1934 Morris Commercials double deckers (50 in total) had quite short lives. All were withdrawn by the end of WW2. They were an attempt to buy locally, in addition to Daimler but obviously the folks concerned were not too impressed with them. Moreover diesel engines were now the order of the day for BCT. The Morris's and the earlier AEC's were petrol engined. Perry Barr became eventually the only garage with petrol engined buses I believe.
 
We already have the top deck well half of the top deck, the bus was used as a holiday retreat the top deck was used as you will see in this footage digging the bus out after many years In one position enjoy
https://flic.kr/p/e8aL3g


Radiorails said:
Just a new upstairs and a few seats............................:D
I expect it will be restored eventually. At least it is in the dry and not rotting away.
Some of these 1934 Morris Commercials double deckers (50 in total) had quite short lives. All were withdrawn by the end of WW2. They were an attempt to buy locally, in addition to Daimler but obviously the folks concerned were not too impressed with them. Moreover diesel engines were now the order of the day for BCT. The Morris's and the earlier AEC's were petrol engined. Perry Barr became eventually the only garage with petrol engined buses I believe.
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I must say that there is some fantastic restoration work by the volunteers there - as they say, "almost better than a new one!"

Maurice :-)
 
In this months 'Omnibus' magazine, from the Transport Museum, Wythall, there is another article about this spectacular bus restauration. Of interest, at present, are two photos of the civic herald of Birmingham. One is that applied to the 1930 AEC and the other is one applied to a 1950's bus. They are similar but there are subtle differences.
I do not intend to copy these photos, unless I am given permission, but hope Lloyd or someone else from Wythall, who are Members here, can do so. There is, I know, a discussion thread on BHF about the civic arms and these photos would add to that thread as well as this one.
 
Radiorails said:
In this months 'Omnibus' magazine, from the Transport Museum, Wythall, there is another article about this spectacular bus restauration. Of interest, at present, are two photos of the civic herald of Birmingham. One is that applied to the 1930 AEC and the other is one applied to a 1950's bus. They are similar but there are subtle differences.
I do not intend to copy these photos, unless I am given permission, but hope Lloyd or someone else from Wythall, who are Members here, can do so. There is, I know, a discussion thread on BHF about the civic arms and these photos would add to that thread as well as this one.
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Yes you may copy them for their historic & educational value.
Here are 2 more of the restoration under way, and one of a coat of arms transfer with the 'different' piece awaiting painting on by a very competent signwriter.

13 Lower deck general.jpg 17 Staircase.jpg DSCF2329.JPG
 
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