Old bus routes

[Liverpool Street]

What dates were the Nationals branded for the Outer Circle?

This branding LS?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59615439@N03/7544891154/

It was 1989 if so

Yeah just wondered if anyone had any specific dates

[Justin Tyme]

Minibus services in Yardley / Solihull - I remember a Y but not the routes they operated on. Anybody help out?

There were loads during the 1987-1993ish period, mostly operated by AG, including:

A  Solihull - Blossomfield - Olton - Acocks Green
B  Solihull - Bentley Heath - Dorridge
D  Solihull - Damsonwood
K  Solihull-  Knowle - Dorridge
L  Solihull - Monkspath - Shirley
M  Solihull - Monkspath - Cheswick Green - Shirley Station
R  Acocks Green - Lincoln Road North - Yardley Swan
S  Acocks Green - Olton - Sheldon
T  Stechford - Tyseley - Sparkbrook
Y  Solihull - Yardley - Acocks Green - Hall Green (The Baldwin)

The L and M were operated by YW.  At peak times several of these were helped out by big bus routes (such as 162 Solihull - Monkspath - Maypole).  Short workings could result in interesting letters - I often used to see buses on the Y running to Acocks Green or Yardley showing "YE"!

The first minibuses at AG were Iveco Dailys.  They were soon supplemented (and later replaced) replaced by MCW Metroriders, which in turn gave way to Mercedes 0814s(?).  They were also scheduled to run on other services at times.  One mini was used on the evening 50A Maypole - Wythall (a Hereford & Worcester CC tendered service) for some years; and for a short while the Sunday service on the 1 was Metrorider.

[winston]

Minibus services in Yardley / Solihull - I remember a Y but not the routes they operated on. Anybody help out?

There were loads during the 1987-1993ish period, mostly operated by AG, including:

A  Solihull - Blossomfield - Olton - Acocks Green
B  Solihull - Bentley Heath - Dorridge
D  Solihull - Damsonwood
K  Solihull-  Knowle - Dorridge
L  Solihull - Monkspath - Shirley
M  Solihull - Monkspath - Cheswick Green - Shirley Station
R  Acocks Green - Lincoln Road North - Yardley Swan
S  Acocks Green - Olton - Sheldon
T  Stechford - Tyseley - Sparkbrook
Y  Solihull - Yardley - Acocks Green - Hall Green (The Baldwin)

The L and M were operated by YW.  At peak times several of these were helped out by big bus routes (such as 162 Solihull - Monkspath - Maypole).  Short workings could result in interesting letters - I often used to see buses on the Y running to Acocks Green or Yardley showing "YE"!

The first minibuses at AG were Iveco Dailys.  They were soon supplemented (and later replaced) replaced by MCW Metroriders, which in turn gave way to Mercedes 0814s(?).  They were also scheduled to run on other services at times.  One mini was used on the evening 50A Maypole - Wythall (a Hereford & Worcester CC tendered service) for some years; and for a short while the Sunday service on the 1 was Metrorider.

Justin Tyme,

AG Mercs were 709D's with Carlyle bodywork 701-720 G701-720HOP

[fleetline6477]

I seem to remember YW converting the 2 and 12 to Metrorider operation.

[winston]

I seem to remember YW converting the 2 and 12 to Metrorider operation.

Yes they did for a short period

[monkeyjoe]

I remember that, that was just  stupid. Did they make them every really frequent at the same time. In the 90's I think they went through a period of reducing buses sizes and doubling frequencies. Can't seeing that making much of a return on investment if you need more drivers etc.

[winston]

I remember that, that was just  stupid. Did they make them every really frequent at the same time. In the 90's I think they went through a period of reducing buses sizes and doubling frequencies. Can't seeing that making much of a return on investment if you need more drivers etc.

But I think back then, drivers of minibuses were paid less than drivers of full size buses

[monkeyjoe]

I remember that, that was just  stupid. Did they make them every really frequent at the same time. In the 90's I think they went through a period of reducing buses sizes and doubling frequencies. Can't seeing that making much of a return on investment if you need more drivers etc.

But I think back then, drivers of minibuses were paid less than drivers of full size buses

Probably but they also went through aperid of converting DD routes to Lynxes on mass including the dare I mention it 94 lol.

[Justin Tyme]

Who remembers the Works Services to Longbridge?  Some lasted well into the TWM era: -

800  Birmingham - Bristol Road - Longbridge - Lickey Road - Lowhill Lane - Cofton Hackett  (BC)
801  Birmingham - Pershore Road - Turves Green - Cofton Hackett  (BC): basically the same as the 47 now
806  Yardley Wood - Cotteridge - Northfield - Longbridge - Lickey Road - Lowhill Lane - Cofton Hackett  (YW)

Other services operated by WMPTE were: -

802  Kings Norton Green - West Heath - Groveley Lane - Lowhill Lane - Longbridge
803  Quinton - Harborne - Selly Oak - Longbridge - Lickey Road - Lowhill Lane - Cofton Hackett
804  Yardley Swan - Outer Circle - Cotteridge - Longbridge - Lickey Road - Lowhill Lane - Cofton Hackett
805  Fox & Goose - City Centre - Longbridge - Cofton Hackett

800s towards city showed route number 62, and 801s showed 47.  There were also additional journeys on the 62 starting from Longbridge, going to city, that actually loaded up in the central reservation on Lickey Road - just like the trams used to do!

I guess that the last services were withdrawn when the factories closed, but I have a feeling that they were not deregistered until quite some time afterwards.  Does anyone know?

[Liverpool Street]

Justin - those services still carried on even when the factories were closed!! It whittled down all the way to one service extra from Longbridge Island into city, and carried no one

[Justin Tyme]

Thanks LS - I did wonder!

I got to know the services best during the late 70s and early 80s, when I worked in Northfield.  When I left work I'd catch a 62 or 63 to Longbridge to see the chaos at 5 pm.  I found that the 802, which ran the other way to most of the traffic, gave the best opportunity to see the most buses.

In addition to WMPTE there were many independent coaches running on works services to Redditch, Bromsgrove, Worcester and the Black Country - some of these lasted until the factory closed.

A pain for bus drivers, I bet, but great for the enthusiast!

[Tony]

Who remembers the Works Services to Longbridge?  Some lasted well into the TWM era: -

800  Birmingham - Bristol Road - Longbridge - Lickey Road - Lowhill Lane - Cofton Hackett  (BC)
801  Birmingham - Pershore Road - Turves Green - Cofton Hackett  (BC): basically the same as the 47 now
806  Yardley Wood - Cotteridge - Northfield - Longbridge - Lickey Road - Lowhill Lane - Cofton Hackett  (YW)

Other services operated by WMPTE were: -

802  Kings Norton Green - West Heath - Groveley Lane - Lowhill Lane - Longbridge
803  Quinton - Harborne - Selly Oak - Longbridge - Lickey Road - Lowhill Lane - Cofton Hackett
804  Yardley Swan - Outer Circle - Cotteridge - Longbridge - Lickey Road - Lowhill Lane - Cofton Hackett
805  Fox & Goose - City Centre - Longbridge - Cofton Hackett

800s towards city showed route number 62, and 801s showed 47.  There were also additional journeys on the 62 starting from Longbridge, going to city, that actually loaded up in the central reservation on Lickey Road - just like the trams used to do!

I guess that the last services were withdrawn when the factories closed, but I have a feeling that they were not deregistered until quite some time afterwards.  Does anyone know?

812 Tile Cross - Rover Drews Lane
816 Harborne - Land Rover Solihull
818 Solihull Station - British Gas Works
823 Pheasey - Witton
842 Pheasey - Lucas Works
845 Kingstanding Circle - Rover Works Solihull
850 Birmingham - Lode Lane Works (via Warwick Road)
851 Birmingham - Lode Lane Works (via Coventry Road)

Were all still running in 1991 as well as those above

[Liverpool Street]

Those works services were a good days work, even though they were mostly splits and numerous 10pm finishes.

Sort of the Jaguar Works on the 957W now..

[Tony]

Ok then, in my 1991 fare tables, the highest fare is £1.70, anyone like to guess which two places that is between?

[nitromatt1]

Ok then, in my 1991 fare tables, the highest fare is £1.70, anyone like to guess which two places that is between?

No different to many services today then(!)