Midland Red Bus Garages - Hardcover

Keeley, Malcolm

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 071103690X ISBN 13: 9780711036901

Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing, 2013

Synopsis

As one of the country's largest bus operators outside the London area, the Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Co, better known as Midland Red, had a network of bus garages that straddled its empire. Some of these, such as those at Heath Hayes, Kineton and Stratford-upon-Avon had been inherited from companies that had been taken over by Midland Red, most notably Stratford Blue, but the vast majority of the almost 40 depots and outstations operated by the company were built specifically for the operator. Whilst the architecture bequeathed to London transport during the 1920s and 1930s is well known, the fact that Midland Red also employed architects to produce stylish depots and other buildings during this period is less familiar. One of the classic Midland Red depots, Leicester Southgates was a product of this era; due to close imminently, the depot façade is listed as being of architectural interest. This book chronicles the history of each of the bus depots operated by Midland Red prior to its demise in the 1980s along with the story of its central works in Birmingham. The book provides an overview of the development allied to individual depot histories. The illustrations feature views of the depots themselves, vehicles in and around the depots as well as images recording vehicles in operation from the depots covered. The company possessed about 50 depots and outstations; each will be illustrated with particular attention paid to the more significant sites, such as the central works.

About this title

About the Author

Now retired, Malcolm Keeley was employed by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (later known as Centro) for most of his working life. Malcolm is one of comparatively few to have experience working in both the road and rail passenger transport industries. Malcolm considers he was born to schedule buses but, as a young man with a mortgage to pay, moved on to a team developing new bus networks.In 1986 he was closely involved in implementing WMPTE's new high quality Birmingham to London coach express, London Liner. He was then seconded to the PTE's rail section and never returned to buses, dealing with the wide range of activities concerning the operation of local railways provided by British Rail and its successors.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 071103690X
• ISBN 13: 9780711036901
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160