Independent transport videos would like to welcome you to this our fifth programme featuring preserved buses that served the large West Midlands conurbation. The excellent Transport Museum at Wythall, near Birmingham in the West Midlands is home to a large collection of buses and coaches. Throughout the year they put on some excellent events, usually with a theme using their own and other preserved buses invited to participate.

This DVD programme filmed during 2023 features three such events and majors on buses that operated in the West Midlands. The first one being their ‘Easter Running Day’ event featuring a number of buses from the Midlands including Midland Red and of course Birmingham City Transport. During our visit our cameras travelled on Midland Red 5767 (EHA 767D), a 1966 BMMO S17 with a B52F body for a ride to Maypole and back to the Museum. A second ride featured is on board Birmingham City Transport 2976 (JOJ 976), a Guy Arab IV with a Metro-Cammell H55R body that was built in 1955. For our next visit its the ‘August Bank Holiday – Step Free 25’ event. This marks the 25th anniversary since the introduction of step-free buses in the United Kingdom. As usual we film the action at the Museum and take a ride on former National Express West Midlands 4321 (BX02 ASV), a Dennis Trident II with an Alexander ALX400 H75F body dating from 2002. Our cameras take a ride in the lower saloon to Alcester Road South and return to the Museum. We then take a further ride on this bus, this time with our camera in the upper saloon on a similar route.

Our third and final visit of 2023 features the ‘Autumn Running Day – Rear Engine Day’ event. Plenty of action is seen here with seven on-board rides for you to enjoy! Our first is on Sheffield Corporation Bristol VRT/SL2/6LX, 271 (OWE 271K) with East Lancs bodywork, for a ride to Alcester Road South. We return to the Museum on board West Midlands PTE 6835 (WDA 835T), a MCW Metrobus dating from 1978. At the Museum we inspect and take a ride on the superbly restored Leyland Titan TD4 dating from 1936 but with a 1950 ECW L55R body in Cumberland Motor Services livery. Our cameras ride on this lovely bus to Maypole where we begin our filming of the now traditional ‘Happy Hour’, this time featuring the ‘Rear Engine Day’ event. Plenty of roadside action as well as a ride on a Midland Red Daimler Fleetline with Alexander bodywork, 6015 (GHA 415D) which dates from 1966 to Beckets Island. Here we film more roadside action and then take a ride on West Midlands PTE 7001 (WDA 1T), a Leyland Titan TNLXB with Park Royal H73F bodywork. Back at Beckets Island we then take a ride on First PMT DVL709 (GRF 709V), a Bristol VRT/SL3/501 with ECW H74F bodywork for a ride back to the Museum concluding a most enjoyable day.

Our final journey is on the park & ride service on board 4001 (R1 NEG), Travel West Midlands DAF – Optare Spectra the oldest surviving low-floor double-decker in the United Kingdom.

Produced by - Independent Transport Videos
Duration - 87 minutes
Region - 0 (worldwide) PAL
Aspect Ratio - 16:9 Widescreen
DVD only
Released - June 2024