D9 RETURNS TO LUDLOW AND THE MALVERNS
Malcolm Keeley reports on our first route tour
The Museum's first route tour as an operator and offering seats to the world at large took place on October 1st. The tour had been included in our two adverts placed with lan Allan magazines, reported in 'Omnibus', advertised around the Museum on open days and on class VI vehicles operating our bus services. The upshot was around thirty passengers on the day although more had booked but had to withdraw due to illness etc. Two pick-up points were incorporated - the Museum, of course, and our now regular central Birmingham loading point in Hill Street. The fairly relaxed departure time of 11.00 did extract comment from some of our members but paid off as passengers arrived from as far afield as Cheshire.
The selected vehicle was BMMO D9 5399, consistently one of the most popular vehicles we have operated. We needed to run a tour that not only met people's expectations but exceeded them so that word would spread and build our reputation for such tours. Some pre-planning was necessary to ensure this.
I had in mind a tour including service 192 to Ludlow as the view from the top of Clee Hill was arguably the most spectacular on any Midland Red service operated by double-deckers. The problem was where to go after Ludlow. We could have returned via the same route but doubling back seemed to lack imagination and Clee Hill eastbound would have been even harder work for 5399. The other idea was to take the former X34/35 north to Shrewsbury or south to Hereford although distance was a concern. Shrewsbury was ruled out because there was no D9 route back to Brum. If we could reach the Malverns from Hereford, however, then we could follow the 144 - one of the classic Midland Red double-decker routes. The full circuit was successfully checked out for trees and bridges by car, the long route was considered by the committee and, despite its length, we decided to go for it at a price pitched at £8 for adults. In addition to the checkover by car, a suitable layover point for a long break about half way round was identified.
I remember from 1685 Group tours of 25 years ago how much the passengers valued being able to photograph the bus in the best locations and showing correct displays. 5399 already had a Bearwood lower blind which had many useful via points. Battling through the spiders in the blind stores revealed a Worcester upper blind which had everything I wanted. A few comments were made on the day about the bus apparently belonging to two garages but we were able to show adequate destinations throughout the tour without having to change over the blinds. Finally, interrogation of a middle-aged member also established toilet locations for much of the tour! Lavoratories are always good for British humour but one cannot stress the importance of knowing where they are. It's no joke when your passengers are purple faced and not enjoying the tour because of bursting bladders! I could now say that completed the preparation but that would miss out the most important area. Dave Parry spent many days ensuring 5399 was in tip-top condition for a tour that would be testing and would make or break our reputation in a whole new area of activity.
The big day arrived and, well before 11.00, 5399 was filling up with expectant passengers and bathed in sunshine. Heavy rain was forecast from the west and, as we were travelling that way, we hoped the sunshine would last. Two drivers formed the crew, Barry Ware and myself. Dave Parry had his arm twisted to spend time inside rather than underneath 5399 and provide engineering back-up.
Barry was first in the cab seat as I had to extract any outstanding monies from the passengers. The Hill Street stop proved worthwhile with a number of passengers joining there. We then followed the former 130 to Stourbridge, merged some years ago with service 9 and revised in route. 5399 handled with ease the many hills which later would be dwarfed by the Ludlow and Malverns sections. The 130 photostop was taken at Hungary Hill stop, near the disused railway overbridge, rather than at Stourbridge bus station which bears no resemblance to D9 days. It was on then to Kidderminster, passing Mike Jordan on the way, with 5399 posing in the bus station displaying route 315 destinations and the bus garage visible in the background. The D9 attracted particular attention in towns serving the leisure market and so it proved in Bewdley where it showed route 132 destinations.
I am more than happy to be driven rather than drive so there was no argument when Barry expressed a long held ambition to take a haif-cab to Ludlow! This was literally the high spot of the tour as 5399 traced its earlier days on the 192. I listened out with concern around Far Forest, an area with an Alice in Wonderland name that could have turned into a tale from Grimm if the trees noted on the car run had proved too low. I had ensured that we would not be on the same timings as the service bus but the photocall at Cleobury Mortimer was aggravated by a parked car on the bus stop which coincided with the service bus travelling in the opposite direction. This was operated by Pete's Travel, looking somewhat out of place in this rural environment and, sadly, without passengers. Then the climbing really began and Barry showed his experience of the road and of D9 braking abilities as we tackled danger spots such as Hopton Wafers with its double bend on a downward gradient which ensured no chance of taking a run at the cliff which immediately followed. Barry was the man for the job here, his RAF training ensuring he remained conscious as we gained height and oxygen got thinner! 5399 worked on, often in first gear, as we discussed the power/weight ratio of previous, fully laden BMMO double-deckers taking the same road in earlier times. More posing was required at the top of Clee Hill with its magnificent views. The sun disappeared here but the day remained dry. Barry finished his stint at Ludlow, his face all smiles at having achieved his ambition. "Next time a D7!" he grinned.
5399 again attracted attention as X35 Hereford was wound up. The route out of Ludlow took us by the former garage, made of modern materials and remarkably similar to our first hall at Wythall, and across the old narrow bridge as we entered Ludford. We'd been early at Kidderminster but the climbs had taken longer than expected and we were now behind. We needed to make up time if we were to get a decent break at Hereford. The A49 is a fast road and the D9 enjoyed cool wind through the radiator after all that climbing. It was easy to imagine LD8s thrashing along this road, it was ideal country for them. We missed out Leominster centre where the bus station again no longer resembles D9 days and were thus back on time as we rolled into Hereford bus station, all of us ready to stretch our legs.
We followed the former X91 to get us to the Malvern Wells terminus of service 144. The X91 was a single-deck route, one of the company's marathons taking five and a half hours to get to Leicester. It ran only twice a day and we departed at 4.20, just like the old days! I followed the ring road around Ledbury so that I had a straight run rather than a narrow left turn onto the road to the Malverns. This was just as well as, travelling the other way, were hundreds of vintage cars coming from what had been clearly an excellent rally. Here was the potential to destroy completely the Museum's reputation by not only taking the side of the D9 out but doing so on a selection of truly delectable cars. Ford Consuls and the like pulled onto the pavement to give me enough width to get through safely, some of their passengers waving in delight (I think it was delight) at the sight of a half cab. Meanwhile I wondered if I was on the right road. 5399 tackled the climbs through the Malverns without difficulty, second gear being sufficient for the steeper bits.
The wooded section around British Camp meant we were not far from the old 144 terminus where we were greeted by Chris Davis, taking his first opportunity to see a D9 in his home area for many years. Barry used to drive the 144 so it was most appropriate for him to return to the cab. A second 144 photocall was taken at Great Malvern, by the stately bus shelter visible behind new FEDDs recorded on film by Ray Wilson over 60 years ago. The 144 now only extends to the Maiverns on Sundays and our passengers were surprised to be able to photograph 5399 being overtaken by a modern Dennis. It was now getting dark so the lights came on at Worcester, coinciding with the onset of the promised rain. This increased the atmosphere of D9 travel as we followed the 144 to Lydiate Ash. We knew the Bristol Road was closed in Selly Oak due to emergency works and, rather than tackle a lengthy and congested diversion, we took to the M5, following the one-time X43 Worcester-Birmingham motorway service via Bearwood. This unexpected motorway run clearly delighted some of the riders.
We said goodbye to some passengers in central Birmingham and battled on through the rain to Wythall. Despite predictions that the trip would run later than a Ken Dodd variety show, we did in fact get 5399 home ahead of the expected time. Did the passengers enjoy the run? The chaps made kind comments but two of the pretty ladies gave me a kiss. We must have done something right to get that reaction from the ladies!
The preparation work before the trip all proved worthwhile and we learnt quite a bit about booking procedures. 5399 made a clear profit on the day, which can be ploughed back into the collection's many needs, and we have already decided to repeat the route tour concept in 2001, a decision made in time to widen the advertising by including the trip in our 2001 events guide. The proposal is a Cotswolds tour using the S16 on June 17th. We were, however, very lucky with our first tour. The weather was better than predicted. A couple of weeks earlier and the fuel crisis would have been a problem for us and for our passengers getting to us. A month later and severe floods closed both our Severn crossings at Bewdley and Worcester. Thanks to all who travelled and particularly to Dave and Barry for their unique contributions to the day's success.
Malcolm Keeley
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
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