The first Birmingham Bus Bash occurred in September 2017, at Cannon Hill Park, scene for many years of the Outer Circle Bus Rally that used to take place around the same time of year but ceased in the early years of this century. Unfortunately, I was on holiday in Llandudno when it took place, so was unable to attend but I heard from all who went what a success it was and plans were made for it to become an annual event. However, come 2018 and roadworks on the Pershore Road prevented vehicles from accessing the rally site, so it was regretfully postponed. But plans were made for a 2019 event, which featured a change of venue, taking place at the Moseley Rugby Club in Yardley Wood. And as my wife Lynn & I were free, we decided to go!
Organised by my employer, National Express West Midlands, through the 2014 formed NX Historic Society set up by several employees (notably Andy Collett, Andy Walcot & Tony Hunter) this year’s event was designed to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive on 1st October 1969 (see “WMPTE 50” blogs) so the heritage liveried buses that the company have recently painted would feature prominently (sadly, except Walsall liveried Dennis Trident 4601, which is currently having it’s rear axle repaired.) Admission was free but charitable donations were encouraged, to the benefit of the Midlands Air Ambulance, who also bought along their Helicopter Simulator for the day, allowing many West Midlands bus enthusiasts to cause virtual mayhem in the air by having a go!
Lynn & I reached the event by taking Midland Metro CAF 26 into Birmingham City Centre, then branded Platinum MMC Enviro 400 6902 on the 50 to Kings Heath, where a half hourly Shuttle Bus was being run to Yardley Wood station via the rally site. This was operated by Wolverhampton Corporation liveried Dennis Trident 4535, expertly driven by Yardley Wood driver Adam French. Here it is photographed at Trittifed Road, next to the rally site;
We then walked over to the rugby ground, which was situated behind the bus. It isn’t Moseley’s original ground, which was on the other side of Moseley and closed some years back. Walking through the gates and the selection of buses parked up was immediately obvious, so we walked over to them and had a look, photographing what was there;
Making it’s bus rally debut, TWM Optare Solo 313, preserved by Luigina Bate and friends.
3225
Parked separately from the other buses was 1954 vintage Birmingham City Transport (BCT) Crossley bodied Daimler CVG6 3225, one of the last Birmingham “Standards” to enter service. Standard was the umbrella term for the buses that BCT bought between late 1949 & 1954, featuring New Look (named after the Christian Dior fashions of the time) concealed radiators, which distinguished them from BCT’s earlier post war purchases, which had the then common exposed radiators. The Crossley or Metro Cammell bodies of the Standards (both very much to BCT specifications) found themselves on four different chassis, Crossley, Guy Arab, Daimler CVD6 or the Daimler CVG6 chassis that is under 3225.
After withdrawal, WMPTE dispatched 3225 to it’s Apprentice Training Centre at the former Moseley Road garage, where it became a project for restoration. Once complete, 3225 became the PTE’s resident heritage bus, passing with the privatisation of the PTE’s former bus operation ultimately to National Express, and is now a popular bus for Private Hire, being used for weddings etc. This makes it the longest serving bus in the Uk still to be in use with the descendent of it’s original operator!
The success of this line of business has prompted NXWM to buy more vintage buses for the fleet. 1986 vintage West Midlands Travel Timesaver Metrobus 2957 was the first, which was present today (although I didn’t manage to photograph it) and has proved it’s worth on two trips to far away rallies, organised by the NX Historic Group, which I got to travel on (see blogs “London Bus Museum Spring Running Day” & “Barry Island Festival Of Transport”) and there are now no fewer than three more buses being restored to join the Heritage fleet. The popularity of the traditional, half cab Birmingham Standard is to be capitalised on by the addition of a second Standard to the fleet, in the form of 1953 vintage Metro Cammell bodied Guy Arab 3035, whilst two Daimler Fleetlines are also under restoration. Jumbo 3997, one of twenty five thirty three foot long dual door Fleetlines ordered by Wolverhampton but delivered to the PTE in 1970 in good time to have the bodywork order amended to match the ninety nine (was to be one hundred but one went to South Africa) examples that were entering service in Birmingham at the same time, having been ordered by BCT whilst, at the other extreme, one of Walsall’s short Northern Counties bodied Fleetlines (like the Wythall Transport Museum owned 116 that features in one of the photos above) 119, has been purchased from the star of the TV show “Car SOS” Fuzz Townsend, who was the guest of honour at today’s event.
So lots to look forward to in the future but, for now, 3225 was parked separately from the rest of the rally, enabling it to be used on tours of the local area, which proved to be very popular, doubtless bringing back memories for older visitors today (as well as the normal enthusiast crowd, a large number of the local populace seemed to be present) when these buses used to roam the city’s extensive suburbs.
These trips were expertly driven by Tony Hunter, who’s services to NXWM, in particularly in terms of enthusiast relations was today recognised, unbeknown to him, by West Bromwich liveried Wright Gemini bodied Volvo B7 4679 being named after him!
Lynn and I travelled on one of these trips, taking in some of Yardley Wood’s suburban surroundings, non of which would have been able to be developed without the aid of BCT buses to get people moving out from the over crowded inner city back to their workplaces, or into the City Centre (known irrefutably as “Town” to all Brummies.) So 3225, which is kept and looked after at the nearby Yardley Wood garage, was very much running through it’s natural habitat!
After this, Lynn & I had to leave, owing to an engagement that evening. Rather than wait for the Shuttle Bus back to Kings Heath, we decided to get either a 2 or 3, the main services linking the Yardley Wood area with the City Centre, which split up to reach their separate, outer termini right by the Rugby Club. Whilst waiting at the stop, 3225 left the ground on yet another tour;
…..and then proceeded to run along the tree surrounded Yardley Wood Road just as many of it’s sisters had for around fifteen years (the 2 & 3’s predecessors, the 24 & 13/38 respectively, were mostly converted to larger Fleetline operation in 1966.) This last photo of 3225’s rear end, could almost have been taken over forty years ago!
Soon after, one of 3225’s modern day Yardley Wood based sisters, Enviro 400 4731, appeared on a 2 to take us into Town, from where we caught West Midlands Metro CAF 25 home, all very symbolic of the present day West Midlands public transport scene!
In conclusion, on behalf of all the enthusiasts and others who attended, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Andy Collett and his team from the NX Historic Group for the time taken to organise and run this event! Well done Guys and here’s to next year!
Tram, Train & Buscapades! 
Brilliantly written by Mark great enthusiast an and great driver credit to West Midlands Travel
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