O
O.C.
Guest
Nice hand coloured pic taken in Hagley road
Early Midland Red bus
Early Midland Red bus
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Peter Walker
gone but not forgotten
That's a lovely picture, Crom. The bus on the right is registered 269, and has a body and chassis built by the Milnes Car Company, with a Daimler engine, delivered to the Birmingham Motor Express Company in 1904 and taken over by the newly-formed Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Company (Midland Red) in 1905. These early motor buses were not very serviceable and in 1907, Midland Red decided to go back to horse buses, of which it was still running over a hundred in the Birmingham area. Some of these buses were taken to Deal, where they ran for a time.
It was not until 1912 that the next motor bus was obtained. These were very successful, and the last horse buses ran in 1913, while Midland Red routes spread rapidly all over the Midlands, even during World War 1.
Peter
It was not until 1912 that the next motor bus was obtained. These were very successful, and the last horse buses ran in 1913, while Midland Red routes spread rapidly all over the Midlands, even during World War 1.
Peter
Peter Walker
gone but not forgotten
Another lovely pic, Crom, which follows on nicely from your earlier one.
For the record, the first picture showed a bus on built in 1904. These early motor buses were not very serviceable and in 1907, Midland Red decided to go back to horse buses, of which it was still running over a hundred in the Birmingham area.
The latest picture shows one of the next batch of 12 motor buses, not bought until 1912. These were very successful, and 26 more were delivered in 1913, 30 in 1914, and 22 in 1915. Although Birmingham Corporation took over the former Midland Red routes within Birmingham itself, the Company concentrated on expanding all over the Midlands, even during World War 1, and it continued to grow until about 1970.
Peter
For the record, the first picture showed a bus on built in 1904. These early motor buses were not very serviceable and in 1907, Midland Red decided to go back to horse buses, of which it was still running over a hundred in the Birmingham area.
The latest picture shows one of the next batch of 12 motor buses, not bought until 1912. These were very successful, and 26 more were delivered in 1913, 30 in 1914, and 22 in 1915. Although Birmingham Corporation took over the former Midland Red routes within Birmingham itself, the Company concentrated on expanding all over the Midlands, even during World War 1, and it continued to grow until about 1970.
Peter
Lloyd
master brummie
Midland Red
That last photo showed one of Midland Red's Tilling Stevens buses at the Duke of York terminus, Harborne (part of the pub name board can be seen over the second bus's top deck). Many of these vehicles were taken over by the Corporation 1n 1914 with the services within the city boundary, and one, no. 26, is under restoration to Corporation livery at Wythall museum. It is seen here on display alongside the museum's 1937 Birmingham Daimler.
That last photo showed one of Midland Red's Tilling Stevens buses at the Duke of York terminus, Harborne (part of the pub name board can be seen over the second bus's top deck). Many of these vehicles were taken over by the Corporation 1n 1914 with the services within the city boundary, and one, no. 26, is under restoration to Corporation livery at Wythall museum. It is seen here on display alongside the museum's 1937 Birmingham Daimler.
Lloyd
master brummie
1904 Brush, built in Loughborough and fitted with a French 'Mutel' engine. They were taken out of service in 1907 as unsuccessful, although some of them did run for a bit longer in Deal, Kent. The operating company, a forerunner of Midland Red, went back to horse traction until 1912 when better quality vehicles with electric transmission were used, and horse operation soon finished after that.