The Buses

Redhill is situated on the edge of the West Midlands PTE (WMPTE) operating area rather like Cannock to its West. As a result it is served by both WMPTE and Midland Red (MR).

Some MR vehicles and routes were lost to WMPTE when most of the company‘s operations within the PTE area were sold to the PTE. The MR garage at Redhill remained open although it is scheduled for closure when the brand new premises at Cannock are completed in 1977.

WMPTE operates routes to Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Walsall from Redhill. A number of models are in stock for construction/motorisation.

MR operates routes to Stafford, Cannock, Lichfield, Tamworth, Birmingham and a number of local services. Again a number of models are in stock for construction/motorisation. The planned fleet will include: D9, S17, LS18, LS20, Leyland National, Leyland Leopard/BET DP. Currently an S17 and LS18 are operable, finished in all over red livery.

Midland Red Fleet List

Planned fleet:

Fleet number	Registration	Description	Source	Livery/Notes	Prototype
134	HHA134L	N1 Leyland National 1151/1R/2501 B51F	Pirate Models kit	Kit in stock	June 1974 - note the Fleetline with a pre-NBC fleet name. New 5/73. In 1976 at SA.
224	JHA224L	S27 Leyland Leopard PSU3B/2R / Marshall DP49F	Repainted OOC die-cast	Die-cast in stock	New 4/73. In 1976 at HH.
272	NHA272M	N2 Leyland National 1151/1R/2501 B51F	Pirate Models kit	Kit in stock	New 11/73. In 1976 at CY.
327	PHA327L	S28 Leyland Leopard PSU3B/2R / Marshall DP49F	Repainted OOC die-cast	Die-cast in stock	New 6/74. In 1976 was at SS until transferred to CE in August.
425	GOL425N	N3 Leyland National 11351/1R B49F	Pirate Models kit	Kit in stock	New 3/75. In 1976 was at TH.
459	JOX459P	C16 Leyland Leopard PSU3C/4R / Plaxton Supreme Express C49F	ABS Streetscene kit	On the workbench	Details...
467	JOX467P	C16 Leyland Leopard PSU3C/4R / Plaxton Supreme Express C49F	ABS Streetscene kit	On the workbench	Details...
2154	FRF762K	Seddon Pennine IV / Pennine B42F	Pirate Models kit	Kit in stock.	New 1/72 to Green Bus Co., Rugeley. Passed to MR 11/73. Allocated to TH, stored 5/75. Wdn 9/74.
5221	5221HA	LS18 Leyland Leopard PSU3/4R / Willowbrook	Little Bus Company kit	On the workbench
5237	5237HA	LS18 Leyland Leopard PSU3/4R / Willowbrook	Little Bus Company kit	Details...	Details...
5355	6355HA	BMMO D9 H40/32RD	OOC die-cast	Die-cast in stock	New 1963
5387	AHA387B	BMMO D9 H40/32RD	OOC die-cast	Die-cast in stock	New 1964
5612	BHA612C	BMMO S17 B52F	Lancer Models kit	Details...	Details...
5628	BHA628C	BMMO S17 B52F	Lancer Models kit	Kit in stock
5729	EHA729D	BMMO S17 B52F	Lancer Models kit	On the workbench	New 1966
5847	JHA847H	LS20	Modified OOC die-cast	Conversion in progress.
		BMMO S21
		BMMO S22
5947	UHA947H	BMMO S23	W&T Scale Link kit	Kit started.
6425	CHA425K	S24 Leyland Leopard / Willowbrook DP49F	Repainted OOC die-cast	Die-cast in stock
6471	DHA471K	S26 Leyland Leopard / Marshall B53F	Repainted OOC die-cast	Die-cast in stock
		2 off Ford / Plaxton Derwent II	Paragon kit	On shopping list!

Garage codes:

CE - Coalville SS - Leicester (Sandacre Street) SY - Shrewsbury
TH - Tamworth

There are other vehicles that I would like and may, or may not, get added to the list over time.

West Midlands PTE Fleet

Currently the only WMPTE liveried vehicle that can turn a wheel is a D9 used as a chassis test bed.

Planned fleet:

Fleet number	Registration	Description	Source	Livery/Notes	Prototype
153	HHA153L	Leyland National	Pirate Models kit		Ex-Midland Red
3660	JOL660E	Ford R192 / Strachans B46F	Paragon kit	Kit in stock	Purchased by Birmingham City Transport in 1967. Withdrawn in 1977.
4242	EOF242L	Scania BR111MH / Metro-Cammell B47F	Modified Westward kit	Kit in stock	Entered service in January 1973. This bus featured automatic transmission and air suspension and was evaluated against a Leyland National demonstrator (FRM499K) on the 97 Birmingham - Castle Vale route. The single deck order went to that National but WMPTE retained this vehicle. A dual-door demonstrator (VWD451H) had been tried on the same route back in August 1972. This bus was withdrawn in 1980.
4522	TOE522N	Leyland National	Pirate Models kit	Kit in stock
		BMMO S17 B52F	Lancer Models kit	Kit in stock
5212	5212HA	BMMO LS18	Little Bus Company kit	Kit in stock
4865	865 KHA	BMMO D9 H40/32RD	OOC die-cast	Die-cast in stock	New: 1960
4942	942 KHA	BMMO D9 H40/32RD	OOC die-cast	Die-cast in stock	Wdn: 1976
4738	JOV738P	Volvo Ailsa / Alexander	ABC die-cast	Die-cast in stock
4759	JOV759P	Volvo Ailsa / Alexander	ABC die-cast	Die-cast in stock
6299	NVP533M	MCW Metropolitan	Britbus die-cast	Die-cast in stock	Entered service October 1976. This was an MCW demonstrator on extended loan. In January 1977 it was repainted in Silver Jubilee livery which it retained until withdrawn in 1978. It operated from Miller Street garage, mainly on the 64 to Erdington. It was operated to give WMPTE experience of a double deck with air suspension in preparation for the forthcoming MCW Metrobus. WMPTE was the only PTE not to buy the Metropolitan, but would be a big Metrobus customer. MCW rebuilt it from dual to single door, including moving the staircase, for WMPTE before it entered service.
2 off		Leyland Fleetline FE30ALR /MCW H76F WMPTE Standard	Paragon Kit	Kits in stock
4631	GOG641N	Bristol VR/MCW WMPTE Standard	Modified Paragon Kit	Kit in stock
4653	GOG653N	Bristol VR/MCW WMPTE Standard	Modified Paragon Kit	Kit in stock