Sunshine Tours
Both route tours this year were blessed with fine weather. The first, on 10 June, was a two-part job involving blue and cream buses. It has to be said that the patronage, whilst satisfactory, was nowhere near as buoyant as the Midland Red tours we run. You can speculate whether that is due to the level of interest in Midland Red or the very attractive areas we can get to while covering Midland Red services.
The first part of the June tour involved Birmingham Guy 2976 revisiting routes operated by Acocks Green Garage, its home from new in February 1953 until the arriving AEC Swifts caused its transfer to Miller Street in October 1967. The Guy looked splendid in the sunshine and very much at home in unchanged photo locations, especially Kings Road, Tyseley, where, being a Saturday, there were no modern cars spoiling the background of a traditional factory. Photo locations were Calthorpe Road (1), Kings Road (36), Olton Boulevard East / Dolphin Lane (31A), Lincoln Road (44), Fox Hollies Road / Hartfield Crescent (11), Fox Hollies Road - the Vicarage (32).
Fleetline 6311, recently re-engined back to Leyland O.680 power, was the selected vehicle for the afternoon tour of routes formerly worked by such buses from Dudley, Stourbridge and Wolverhampton garages. WMPTE fans will recall that the Leyland-engined Fleetlines were unhappy at Dudley and, sure enough, at the sight of the first steep hill, 6311 suffered overheating. Well, it was the hottest day of the year! Just like WMPTE, we decided to call for a change to Gardner power at Dudley. Huge thanks are due to the owners of the replacing Fleetline and to the staff at Wythall in achieving the changeover as promptly as possible.
This was not a tour of grim industrial landscapes, quite the opposite in fact and many attractive backdrops looked their finest. The calls were at Rowley Regis (140), Birmingham Street, Dudley (261), Northway, Sedgley (565), Bull Meadow Lane, Wombourne (254), Common Road, Wombourne (556), Bridle Road, Wollaston (250), High Park Avenue, Wollaston (290), The Broadway / Shenstone Avenue, Norton (S46).
The well-patronised Midland Red Shropshire tour on 9 September was the first for BMMO S23 5956. Unfortunately, after years of trouble free tours, we were again cursed by the gremlins, this time a rear nearside brake problem. The need to phone for a change vehicle was obvious but the location was distant, the replacement being needed at Ironbridge, an attractive spot for a somewhat extended lunch break. Light relief was provided by the mobile phone holders trying to get a signal in the Gorge; yours truly simply strolled over to the call box a few yards away - a rare win for old-tech! The rescue squad steamed the S15 around the motorway system - like the Dudley changeover, the replacement was already equipped with the right destination blinds so the photographers remained happy.
We were actually only thirty-five minutes late leaving Ironbridge, and worked our way round to afternoon tea at Church Stretton. What a wonderful place that is. Cars still give way to other vehicles and to pedestrians as well! Perhaps even their tourists lack the worst of 21st century attitudes because the staff in shops and cafés still greet you cheerily and helpfully - a vestige of an earlier England pressed up against the Welsh border.
Cameras were in action at Ironbridge (975), Leighton (974), Atcham (939), Condover (957), Church Stretton (955), Beaumont Road, Church Stretton (956), and Grey Green Lane, Bewdley (192). We lusted for a Severn Valley train on the viaduct at Bewdley and we heard the hopeful sounds of a steam whistle. This turned out to be a road traction engine that we only just managed to depart in front of; otherwise we might still be on our way back!
Malcolm Keeley
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
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