Selly Oak Garage

[SO6597]

I've just seen an old photograph online of a Mk 1 metrobus parked in Selly Oak showing '29' on the blinds (no destination shown).

It has made me wonder - did SO operate this route and also the old 72 Kitwell route? I've always assumed they operated out of HE but their 1981 timetables show shorter journeys starting/ending at the old Golden Cross pub on Harborne Lane.

Thanks in advance.

[Steve3229vp]

I've just seen an old photograph online of a Mk 1 metrobus parked in Selly Oak showing '29' on the blinds (no destination shown).

It has made me wonder - did SO operate this route and also the old 72 Kitwell route? I've always assumed they operated out of HE but their 1981 timetables show shorter journeys starting/ending at the old Golden Cross pub on Harborne Lane.

Thanks in advance.

As far as I'm aware the 29 and 72 were operated by Harborne, however Selly Oak may have done occasional journeys.

[Mike K]

I think I've seen the photo you refer to but can't remember which bus it was. I don't think Selly Oak operated any journeys on the 29 or 72, which were Harborne routes. There were some journeys starting / finishing at the Golden Cross, on the 29 given the one way part of the route in Harborne (Vivian Road from city, Duke of York to city), it was a logical start point for journeys leaving the garage. For the 72, the Golden Cross was the nearest point to Harborne garage.

Selly Oak did loan MK1 Metros to Harborne on occasion. Before Harborne received its allocation of 2396-2415, Selly Oak loaned it at least one Metro (2006 was one I believe) for a while for driver familiarisation purposes. This / these saw service on the 12/22/23 and 21/29 groups of services.

Not sure if that might explain the picture on Flickr?

[SO6597]

I think I've seen the photo you refer to but can't remember which bus it was. I don't think Selly Oak operated any journeys on the 29 or 72, which were Harborne routes. There were some journeys starting / finishing at the Golden Cross, on the 29 given the one way part of the route in Harborne (Vivian Road from city, Duke of York to city), it was a logical start point for journeys leaving the garage. For the 72, the Golden Cross was the nearest point to Harborne garage.

Selly Oak did loan MK1 Metros to Harborne on occasion. Before Harborne received its allocation of 2396-2415, Selly Oak loaned it at least one Metro (2006 was one I believe) for a while for driver familiarisation purposes. This / these saw service on the 12/22/23 and 21/29 groups of services.

Not sure if that might explain the picture on Flickr?

The photo shows 2007 between 2148 (on loan from HY in early 86) and an unidentifiable National with a fleetline (ex LT?) showing 61E at the edge. Assuming it is SO based on all of that. Guess it will be an unsolved mystery. Thanks.

[Mike K]

The photo shows 2007 between 2148 (on loan from HY in early 86) and an unidentifiable National with a fleetline (ex LT?) showing 61E at the edge. Assuming it is SO based on all of that. Guess it will be an unsolved mystery. Thanks.

Yes I've seen the picture now, can only assume it had been on loan. 2148 would have been a permanent SO allocation in 1986, although it did transfer to HY on its closure. The SO fleet list and reallocations on closure are in the following picture:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/59615439@N03/45142550761/in/album-72157702220376984/

[j789]

Yes I've seen the picture now, can only assume it had been on loan. 2148 would have been a permanent SO allocation in 1986, although it did transfer to HY on its closure. The SO fleet list and reallocations on closure are in the following picture:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/59615439@N03/45142550761/in/album-72157702220376984/

Love the history on that fleet change sheet from 1986. Reading the various comments did any 45/46** fleetlines run for WMT? Also, we're the 6300 etc fleetlines the 'p' reg ones as I know a few of them operated but only the r/s/t reg ones ran in the 1990s.

Also, looking at that fleet list, what buses were 4290/1 which were moved from SO to LH and QN?

[D10]

Love the history on that fleet change sheet from 1986. Reading the various comments did any 45/46** fleetlines run for WMT? Also, we're the 6300 etc fleetlines the 'p' reg ones as I know a few of them operated but only the r/s/t reg ones ran in the 1990s.

Also, looking at that fleet list, what buses were 4290/1 which were moved from SO to LH and QN?

4290/1 were Fleetlines / Park Royal EOF 290/291L. These wouldn't last much longer in service though as according to Malcolm Keeley's West Midlands book, they were both withdrawn in 1986 anyway.

[Mike K]

Love the history on that fleet change sheet from 1986. Reading the various comments did any 45/46** fleetlines run for WMT? Also, we're the 6300 etc fleetlines the 'p' reg ones as I know a few of them operated but only the r/s/t reg ones ran in the 1990s.

Also, looking at that fleet list, what buses were 4290/1 which were moved from SO to LH and QN?

45xx and 46xx Fleetlines ran for TWM, although not for long. Several 6300 KONxxxP ones did too. The earliest Fleetline I recall being painted into the silver and blue red stripe TWM livery was 6443 NOC443R, although I'm sure someone more knowledgable than me can correct me on that.

Picture of 4590 running for TWM:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/je1791/8295511026/

[paulb1973]

45xx and 46xx Fleetlines ran for TWM, although not for long. Several 6300 KONxxxP ones did too. The earliest Fleetline I recall being painted into the silver and blue red stripe TWM livery was 6443 NOC443R, although I'm sure someone more knowledgable than me can correct me on that.

Picture of 4590 running for TWM:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/je1791/8295511026/

Seems a few 46xx Fleetlines ran as late as 1988. I think 6443 was the lowest numbered repaint [open-top 4069 excluded] but there were some slightly older 1976-delivery 66xx Fleetlines which were painted as well.

[Tony]

Seems a few 46xx Fleetlines ran as late as 1988. I think 6443 was the lowest numbered repaint [open-top 4069 excluded] but there were some slightly older 1976-delivery 66xx Fleetlines which were painted as well.

Last survivor at Washwood Heath was 4590 in December 1987

[busfan2847]

Love the history on that fleet change sheet from 1986. Reading the various comments did any 45/46** fleetlines run for WMT? Also, we're the 6300 etc fleetlines the 'p' reg ones as I know a few of them operated but only the r/s/t reg ones ran in the 1990s.

The following 4500, 4600 fleetlines ran for WMT:
Daimler Fleetline   4561/5/9/70/7/8/80-4629   (GOG561/5/9/70/7/80-605N, JOV606-29P)

[j789]

The following 4500, 4600 fleetlines ran for WMT:
Daimler Fleetline   4561/5/9/70/7/8/80-4629   (GOG561/5/9/70/7/80-605N, JOV606-29P)

Thank you for that information. Are there any online sources of fleet information for 1987/88/89 and 90?

Was there any particular reason (non standard type etc) for why the N reg MCW bodied VRs were all taken out of service before 1986 and therefore not passing to WMT as I have seen many photos of these with other operators into the 1990s so they must have still been mechanically sound?

[Mike K]

Thank you for that information. Are there any online sources of fleet information for 1987/88/89 and 90?

Was there any particular reason (non standard type etc) for why the N reg MCW bodied VRs were all taken out of service before 1986 and therefore not passing to WMT as I have seen many photos of these with other operators into the 1990s so they must have still been mechanically sound?

The Bristol VRs weren't the most reliable apparently.
Mark Fitchew's blog (he's a very knowledgable chap) explains a bit about their issues and the reasons for their early withdrawal here:
https://buscapade.wordpress.com/author/mfitchew/page/2/

I always thought they were ugly and awkward looking compared to their Fleetline counterparts. The MCW body didn't seem a good fit for the chassis.

[j789]

The Bristol VRs weren't the most reliable apparently.
Mark Fitchew's blog (he's a very knowledgable chap) explains a bit about their issues and the reasons for their early withdrawal here:
https://buscapade.wordpress.com/author/mfitchew/page/2/

I always thought they were ugly and awkward looking compared to their Fleetline counterparts. The MCW body didn't seem a good fit for the chassis.

Cheers for that. Yes the bodywork was unusual, particularly at the front. I've always liked the ECW bodied VRs, shame there were so few of them operated in the West Midlands, even second hand. I think Redditch had a few at some point.

[busfan2847]

Thank you for that information. Are there any online sources of fleet information for 1987/88/89 and 90?

Was there any particular reason (non standard type etc) for why the N reg MCW bodied VRs were all taken out of service before 1986 and therefore not passing to WMT as I have seen many photos of these with other operators into the 1990s so they must have still been mechanically sound?

Attached is details of buses transferred to WMT, new to WMT and transferred to WMT Ltd on privatization from my records, along with vehicles withdrawn 10/86-12/91.