MIDLAND RED MOTORWAY COACH
Reg No: BHA 656C - new 1965
‘Chassis’: BMMO (Midland Red) CM6T
Engine: BMMO 10.5 litre 6-cyl. diesel
Gearbox: Semi-automatic
Body: BMMO 44 seats
The M1 motorway opened in November 1959 and Midland Red, as ever on the ball, put a new fleet of high speed BMMO CM5T coaches on the road. The subsequent relaxation of dimensions, not to mention high mileages, led in 1965-6 to a new generation of motorway coaches known as the CM6T (with toilet) or CM6 (without).
The CM5T used a turbocharged version of the BMMO 8 litre engine but the CM6 family employed the later 10.5 litre unit driving through a five speed semi-automatic gearbox. A high pressure air/oil brake system, disc brakes and disc transmission handbrake were also specified. Some CM6s were facelifted from 1972 with extra brightwork and refurbished interiors. High mileages meant short lives and the CM6s all retired by autumn 1974.
5656 entered service in September 1965 from Bearwood garage and received the facelift described above on overhaul and recertification at seven years of age, being relicensed at Bearwood in November 1972. It moved to Cradley Heath in December 1973, by now having lost Midland Red colours under NBC corporate livery requirements for the original, uninspiring, all-over white National coach livery. It was demoted to engineering float status in May 1974, operating from at least Nuneaton and Birmingham Digbeth garages. By September 1974 it was one of the last four in service (5654/6/65/7), the quartet being retired at the end of the month. High mileages and the rare specification meant the scrapyard for most CM6s, despite their relative youth. Fortunately 5656 was purchased by a preservation society who used it on outings until a transmission defect developed. It passed to the society creating this museum in February 1978. The complex gearbox was rebuilt over the next couple of years. Further work followed to conclude a complete mechanical overhaul and the body structure was refurbished until, in 1987, 5656 was outshopped in its 1972 red livery.
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Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 Email: enquiries@wythall.org.uk
