WMPTE 501, Cleveland Road Garage, Wolverhampton, 1982
WMPTE 501, one of two Ford Dormobile minibuses (501 (NRF712P) & 502 (NRF177P)) purchased by West Midlands PTE in January 1977. The two buses replaced 703 & 704, two 1963 built Martin Walter bodied Thames Trader buses used for the transportation of disabled school children to and from eduction facilities in and around the Wolverhampton borough.
501 and 502 were unusual in carrying 'RF' registrations issued in Staffordshire rather than Birmingham, presumable pre-registered by the dealer supplying the buses to the PTE?
The two buses were initially given standard 6xxx series fleet numbers 6297/8, but this was changed to three-digit 5xx series fleet numbers, numbering them outside of the main fleet. 18 more of the type joined the PTE between 1979 - 1981, numbered 503-520 (AOE503T-AOE508T, EJW 509-13V, HOC 514-20W) and were allocated around the system where required. 503 was allocated to Wolverhampton replacing an ex Wolverhampton Corporation Morris FG ambulance.
In Wolverhampton, these buses tended to be driven by a small group of long-service drivers allocated to the rota that worked these services. I know that Wolverhampton Council now runs a large fleet of specialist minibuses but how many are dedicated to children's transport I don't know, but I would wager quite a number of them?
Returning to the picture, 172 had a relatively short service life being withdrawn by 1986. The picture was taken inside Cleveland Road bus garage on 1st July 1982. It was never easy taking pictures in this garage because of the yellowy overhead sodium lighting.
WMPTE 501, Cleveland Road Garage, Wolverhampton, 1982
WMPTE 501, one of two Ford Dormobile minibuses (501 (NRF712P) & 502 (NRF177P)) purchased by West Midlands PTE in January 1977. The two buses replaced 703 & 704, two 1963 built Martin Walter bodied Thames Trader buses used for the transportation of disabled school children to and from eduction facilities in and around the Wolverhampton borough.
501 and 502 were unusual in carrying 'RF' registrations issued in Staffordshire rather than Birmingham, presumable pre-registered by the dealer supplying the buses to the PTE?
The two buses were initially given standard 6xxx series fleet numbers 6297/8, but this was changed to three-digit 5xx series fleet numbers, numbering them outside of the main fleet. 18 more of the type joined the PTE between 1979 - 1981, numbered 503-520 (AOE503T-AOE508T, EJW 509-13V, HOC 514-20W) and were allocated around the system where required. 503 was allocated to Wolverhampton replacing an ex Wolverhampton Corporation Morris FG ambulance.
In Wolverhampton, these buses tended to be driven by a small group of long-service drivers allocated to the rota that worked these services. I know that Wolverhampton Council now runs a large fleet of specialist minibuses but how many are dedicated to children's transport I don't know, but I would wager quite a number of them?
Returning to the picture, 172 had a relatively short service life being withdrawn by 1986. The picture was taken inside Cleveland Road bus garage on 1st July 1982. It was never easy taking pictures in this garage because of the yellowy overhead sodium lighting.