Hello there everyone, were they any independent operators in Birmingham operatiing Leyland Nationals, especially towards the late 1990's, Other than Chase, unless i got them mixed up with somewhere else?
Nationals wer the vehicles of choice during the 90s. Here are some I can remember off the top of my head:
Frontline
Tame Valley
City Buslines
Serverse/Serveverse
City Buslines
Birmingham Coach Company / Diamond
There was also an operator who operated on the 63 who had a National into the early 2000's
Quote from: Gareth on January 02, 2017, 06:08:02 PM
There was also an operator who operated on the 63 who had a National into the early 2000's
Travel Express.
Falcon Travel is another one from the 90s. Also Central but I think they were owned by WMT.
Midland Red West still had Nationals until around 2000 so some may have been on the 144/146 routes, as well.
Choice Travel (Willenhall)
Burman Travel (Tamworth)
Stevensons of Uttoxeter
Midland Rider (Oldbury) operated 1 National
Thandi companies
Cave Buses (Solihull)
Zak's Bus and Coach (Great Barr)
Ludlows
Hansons
Your Bus (running into / out of Birmingham) (eg. NHB892M 1988, then more LNs after WMT takeover)
Metrowest (running in Dudley area pre WMT takeover, but I did photograph a Metrowest LN in Birmingham after WMT takeover))
Stevensons
Solihull District (1986/87)
Glenstuart Travel (in Wolverhampton)
Vanguard Travel (in Coventry - they did run an X65 in B'ham but don't know if an LN ever ran into B'ham)
Caves in Solihull
Central Liner? I remember the 44 service from City to Longbridge but this may not have been late 90's
Red Rider (Wolverhampton ) they ran 649/650 brum to kings heath circular
Didn't Hi Ride have a national in red /brown livery
Quote from: fleetline6477 on January 02, 2017, 07:53:12 PM
Choice Travel (Willenhall)
Burman Travel (Tamworth)
Stevensons of Uttoxeter
Midland Rider (Oldbury) operated 1 National
Thandi companies
Cave Buses (Solihull)
Zak's Bus and Coach (Great Barr)
Dont recall midland rider having a national, I know they had a couple lynxes. How long did the national last with them?
Quote from: Lukeee on January 02, 2017, 10:36:53 PM
Dont recall midland rider having a national, I know they had a couple lynxes. How long did the national last with them?
@Lukeee https://www.flickr.com/photos/44483738@N05/4448292152
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44483738@N05/4331834959
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44483738@N05/4386097220
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8050359@N07/2407180671
Quote from: Winston on January 02, 2017, 10:41:44 PM
@Lukeee
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44483738@N05/4448292152
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44483738@N05/4331834959
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44483738@N05/4386097220
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8050359@N07/2407180671
Thanks mate, although I was on about the midland rider operation (yellow and blue buses) that was sold to Midland/Choice. Thanks anyway
Quote from: Lukeee on January 02, 2017, 10:45:34 PM
Thanks mate, although I was on about the midland rider operation (yellow and blue buses) that was sold to Midland/Choice. Thanks anyway
@Lukeee - Oh yeah sorry.
Here's Midland Riders 1:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44483738@N05/4356661187
https://www.flickr.com/photos/53055234@N08/16555985469/
Thanks guys for the information. what would the running costs of been like operating 20+ year old Leyland Nationals on often marginal routes such as that in my city Hull were North bank, pride of the road, revills and latterly Applebys roamed the streets, i imagine it must of been on a shoestring
Quote from: Matt77 on January 02, 2017, 09:37:56 PM
Central Liner? I remember the 44 service from City to Longbridge but this may not have been late 90's
Central liner was part of WMT so used WMT mk1 nationals painted timesaver blue with gold original fleet numbers & they were around in the 90's as they were on the 25 as well on the Bromford Estate
Quote from: Squiz1971 on January 03, 2017, 02:34:26 PM
Central liner was part of WMT so used WMT mk1 nationals painted timesaver blue with gold original fleet numbers & they were around in the 90's as they were on the 25 as well on the Bromford Estate
Central Liner also operated some Iveco minibuses (not all in blue livery), here's some Central Liner buses in 1994:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/walsall1955/4930620790/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/walsall1955/4930620794/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/walsall1955/4930620778/
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=31762625%40N06&sort=date-taken-desc&text=central&view_all=1
Photo of hi rides national on my flicr site
Quote from: Winston on January 02, 2017, 11:09:20 PM
@Lukeee - Oh yeah sorry.
Here's Midland Riders 1:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44483738@N05/4356661187
https://www.flickr.com/photos/53055234@N08/16555985469/
Many thanks, and just when I thought I had seen all of midland riders fleet