Reg.No: XHA 496 – new 1956 (as a bus), 1972 (as a towing wagon)
Operator: Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Co Ltd (“Midland Red”)
Chassis: BMMO D7
Engine: BMMO ‘KL’ 8 litre 6-cylinder diesel
Gearbox: Crash
Body: Metro-Cammell / Carlyle
BUS CONVERTED TO A SERVICE VEHICLE
It was common practice for bus operators to convert redundant buses into service vehicles, typically as towing wagons, occasionally with some workshop facilities. This was often a cheaper option than purchasing a bespoke breakdown tender.
Originally, this vehicle was a Midland Red 63-seat double-decker bus, with bodywork by Metro-Cammell to BMMO’s design. It worked from Bearwood, Digbeth, Stourbridge and Harts Hill garages before it was withdrawn from passenger service in June 1972.
It was then converted into a towing wagon. The upper deck and rear platform were removed, leaving only the cab and the first bay of the lower deck to provide a small crew cabin, plus the bodysides below the waist so the remainder of the lower deck became an open wagon. This was a typical layout for Midland Red’s towing wagons, although detail styles differed from one vehicle to another.
In this form it served at Stratford-on-Avon, Evesham and Bromsgrove garages, before being withdrawn altogether in January 1981.
Preservation
It was acquired by the Museum in February 1981.