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Birmingham Buses prior to WMPTE

T

tardebigge

BCT Fan
Some of you may have been aware of a phototopic site maintained by Kevin Saunders titled "Birmingham - The Electric 50's".
Sadly Kevin passed away some years ago. However I am pleased to say that his widow has forwarded to me all his archived material and photos. There is a substantial amount of pictures taken by Kevin, covering almost every bus,both pre-war and those I am particularly interested in, namely 1481 through 3227. Additionally there is a large amount of tram pictures (and for those interested trolley buses).
I shall be resurrecting his web site, and will advise when it is up and running.
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I remember Kevin's website and look forward to its resurrection, as I knew him before he left Birmingham - he was involved in the early days of bus preservation here. Thanks, tardebigge.
 
Thats very kind of Kevins widow to donate his photo,s to you, I am looking forward to seeing them in the future, please keep us informed Tardibigge. Regards. John70
 
Tardibigge,
Got your message off Lloyd and your request. Fine by me Friend. I left a message with him that you may have got now. Looking forward to the BCT stuff off Kevins wife and the site. Many thanks,
Mike
 
Im sorry to hear the sad news about Kevin ,
Did Kevin & his family move to Torquay by the way ???
ragga ..
 
tardebigge,

First of all, it's good to hear from you again, and secondly, I'm certainly looking forward to viewing Kevin's photos again and my thanks goes to his widow for allowing you to resurrect his site. It was Kevins site that inspired me to start a similar collection of the BCT buses which can be viewed on my website at https://www.dereksbusphotos.fotopic.net/c783480.html which is titled "The 1950s Birmingham Standards" packed with photos of Crossleys, Daimlers and Guy Arab vehicles.

Kevin's nostalgic collection of these vehicles are eagerly awaited.
 
Is anyone on here going to the Aston Manor Transport Museum Open Day on Sunday which incorporates an Outer Circle Running Day?

No doubt the usual BCT Standard vehicles such as 2489 JOJ 489, 2533 JOJ 533, 2976 JOJ 976 and 3225 MOF 225 will be attending this event. Will there be any others apart from these? - i.e 2827 JOJ 827 or 3009 MOF 9?
 
Degsy if I can haul my bulk up in to the cab (it gets more difficult every time lately!) I shall be driving 3225 for a trip along the Circle on behalf of the Museum on Sunday.
 
Cheers motorman-mike, I must admit that I do like 3225. When I attended the 30th anniversary event last October, I did the full Outer Circle on 3225. I take it that this vehicle is still based at Yardley Wood garage?
 
I am going to a Leyland Society gathering at the Crich Tramway Museum on Sunday, so unfortunately I can't be there. A few more of the former Birmingham fleet which have been secreted away for many years are now creeping out of the woodwork, so you might have a surprise or two.

Know to exist and be either already on the road or very near to it are:
2847 - JOJ 847 - the one rebuilt with platform doors (and nasty yellow ceilings!)
3001 - LOG 301 - An experimental 'lightweight' design
3002 - LOG 302 - another experimental 'lightweight'
3090 - MOF 90
3102 - MOF 102

There are others, but their owners want to keep them secret yet!
 
Lloyd,
Many thanks for the above info regarding the other BCT vehicles that could be making an appearance at the Aston Manor event. 2847 JOJ 847 would be nice given its unique status within the fleet. The last time I rode on this vehicle was back in October 1977 during the final week of the Standards in traffic. Back then, the Outer Circle 11A and 11C were the only routes on which they operated and were based at Acocks Green garage prior to their withdrawl.
 
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Degsy, 3225 is still at Yardley Wood and PSV'd. Was spruced up this morning for tomorrow. That was me driving last year, trust you are over the bruising by now!
 
Hi. Mike. Wish I could make it to Brum to-morrow for the Outer Circle run, would enjoy coming with you on that if it was poss. Do you remember taking a 26 seater to Crich, was KHA350?, managed to come on that trip, when would that have been?. John.
 
I remember 3350 and the trip John, but not the date offhand. My old duty diaries are somewhere in the loft but don't ask where! Did you by any chance photo 3350 on that trip?
Mike
 
Hi. Mike. Sorry ,no I havent a photo of 3350 on the Crich trip. should imagine it was late 60s or early 70s when you took us, think our kid and Bob Harris came along also. hope you have a good day to-morrow, last time I saw you, you said quite a bit of work needed doing on 3225 these days, has any of it been done?. Regards. John.
 
Degsy, have just spent a very pleasant couple of hours looking through your site, fantastic, not only those old buses of my youth but also the locations, the old cars that happened to be around even the old advertising boards on the buildings, well done

Thank you, bren
 
Hi Bren, Many thanks for your comments with regard to my fotopic site. It's good to know that my efforts in creating a bit of nostalgia was worth doing.

Cheers mate.

Degsy
 
motorman-mike said:
Degsy, 3225 is still at Yardley Wood and PSV'd. Was spruced up this morning for tomorrow. That was me driving last year, trust you are over the bruising by now!
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Hi motorman-mike, If you're driving 3225 today, then I'll pop over and say hello. The trip on this Daimler CVG6 on the Outer Circle run last October was an enjoyable one by all accounts. Who knows, I may have another ride on this one...
 
Hi. Degsy. I have spent a very enjoyable couple of hours also looking at your photographs, managed to drive quite a few of them in my days at Yardley Wood garage, some of them were favourites to drive,like 2858 and 3120, for different reasons, nice memories, and the old cars and vans in the pics. the one at Sparkhill of a number 32 outside the Salvation Army was interesting, I was born just around the corner from there, and my old nan used to take me to the Salvation Army when I was a kid. Thanks again, Hope you enjoy your day on the circle with Mike and the others in 3225. John70
 
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Hi John & motorman-mike, Many thanks John for your comments also regarding the photos on my fotopic site. I had an excellent day at the Aston Manor/Outer Circle event today and had an enjoyable ride on Daimler CVG6 No 3225 MOF 225 but as I was too obsessed photographing this magnificent vehicle, I never had the opportunity of thanking Mike for his efforts in the cab. Cheers Mike for keeping us the punters entertained during this event with this vehicle which has always been kept in a very good condition. I certainly remember you Mike driving 3225 during the 30th anniversary event at Aston Manor last October when you covered the full Outer Circle route. Thanks once again for a great event today.

Degsy
 
Degsy168 said:
Hi John & motorman-mike, Many thanks John for your comments also regarding the photos on my fotopic site. I had an excellent day at the Aston Manor/Outer Circle event today and had an enjoyable ride on Daimler CVG6 No 3225 MOF 225 but as I was too obsessed photographing this magnificent vehicle, I never had the opportunity of thanking Mike for his efforts in the cab. Cheers Mike for keeping us the punters entertained during this event with this vehicle which has always been kept in a very good condition. I certainly remember you Mike driving 3225 during the 30th anniversary event at Aston Manor last October when you covered the full Outer Circle route. Thanks once again for a great event today.

Degsy
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Hello again Degsy,
Glad you enjoyed the run, the weather was with us, so the top deck stayed dry! It's a pleasure to drive 3225 and to take a run over the Outer Circle with passengers on really recaptures my halfcab days. Only thing is then I had no trouble climbing into the cab and used to jump straight out to the ground. The last time I did it was after my retirement tow in (in 3225) when I threw caution to the wind and baled out as of old. Hitting the ground felt like me ankles had gone out through me shoulders but hopefully it looked impressive. Now I come down strictly to the rulebook, i.e. using the foot hold provided. Sorry we didn't get to meet, but no doubt we will sooner or later. Thanks for posting your site, great photos, look forward to more to come.

Best regards,
Mike
 
Date: 1920 - 1929 (c.)

Description: Midlands motor bus with "Tamworth & Atherstone" on front. Wood framed structure on roof. Driver and conductress standing beside it and passengers seated inside. Drivers name is Maurice Perry of Croft Road, Nuneaton who was born on November 6th 1883 and died on December 7th 1926. Not quite sure which thread to post on hope this is OK. Len.
 
lencops said:
Date: 1920 - 1929 (c.)

Description: Midlands motor bus with "Tamworth & Atherstone" on front. Wood framed structure on roof. Driver and conductress standing beside it and passengers seated inside. Drivers name is Maurice Perry of Croft Road, Nuneaton who was born on November 6th 1883 and died on December 7th 1926. Not quite sure which thread to post on hope this is OK. Len.
Click to expand...

Was this WW1 and was it runing on gas ?.
 
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