Harper Bros Leyland PD2 HBF 679D

1960s INDEPENDENT OPERATOR'S DOUBLE-DECK BUS

Harper Bros of Heath Hayes in Staffordshire was an independent operator with a network of services around Cannock, Brownhills and Aldridge, but importantly into Birmingham, initially only as far as Kingstanding, but into the city centre from 1965 onwards.

This bus is typical of double-deckers operated by many municipal, BET group and independent operators in the 1950s and 1960s. In fact, Harper Bros' order for two bodies was treated as an 'add on' to a larger contract for St Helens Corporation in 1966. However, the layout of front engine and rear entrance layout was starting to go out of fashion by this time. It remained allocated to Heath Hayes when Midland Red bought Harper Bros' bus business in September 1974; its fleet number then changed from 27 to 2227 and it was repainted from light green to red.

It retired from passenger duties in March 1976 and became a driver training vehicle, now painted in the overall yellow of the service fleet. When Midland Red was split up in September 1981, it was allocated to Midland Red East - soon renamed Midland Fox - based at Leicester's Southgate Street garage. There it was given fleet number 9010 in October 1983 and remained on training duties until withdrawn in April 1991, by which time it had gained Midland Fox's distinctive yellow and red livery.

Preservation
In April 1991, it passed to Southgates Bus Enthusiasts Society, a group of Midland Fox staff, who set about restoring it to original condition. It was donated to Wythall in late 1997, and repainted back into Harper's livery in 2003.