WMPTE 2543, Wolverhampton, 1974
In 1973-4, the new MCW bodied Bristol VRTs being brought into service on the West Midlands PTE, North Division were proving to be mechanically problematic. As a consequence their service availably was low.
Additionally, ex Wolverhampton Guy Arabs buses from the 1966/67 187-217N MDA-E batch were having to be withdrawn due to structural issues. There was also a number of the 1961 Guy Arab IVs, 50N onwards (4050JW etc) at Walsall Works being overhauled, leading to further vehicle shortages. As a temporary situation until matters were resolved, a number of older front-engined buses were drafted into Wolverhampton from Birmingham and West Bromwich to help out.
Amongst those buses was 2543, an ex Birmingham City Transport, Guy Arab IV motorbus. Allocated to Park Lane bus garage, 2543 is pictured in Stafford Street, Wolverhampton awaiting a crew change. The bus is working the Bushbury Lane to Northwood Park service, which was then still a crew operated route.
The destination blind showing 'Birmingham' terminal points has been removed, however, it has not been fitted with a replacement Wolverhampton District blind. The blind boxes on these ex Birmingham buses were of a larger size to the standard Wolverhampton destination boxes, and would have required 44" wide blinds to be fitted. Because of their temporary deployment and restricted route use, these buses were operated with 'service numbers' only.
WMPTE 2543, Wolverhampton, 1974
In 1973-4, the new MCW bodied Bristol VRTs being brought into service on the West Midlands PTE, North Division were proving to be mechanically problematic. As a consequence their service availably was low.
Additionally, ex Wolverhampton Guy Arabs buses from the 1966/67 187-217N MDA-E batch were having to be withdrawn due to structural issues. There was also a number of the 1961 Guy Arab IVs, 50N onwards (4050JW etc) at Walsall Works being overhauled, leading to further vehicle shortages. As a temporary situation until matters were resolved, a number of older front-engined buses were drafted into Wolverhampton from Birmingham and West Bromwich to help out.
Amongst those buses was 2543, an ex Birmingham City Transport, Guy Arab IV motorbus. Allocated to Park Lane bus garage, 2543 is pictured in Stafford Street, Wolverhampton awaiting a crew change. The bus is working the Bushbury Lane to Northwood Park service, which was then still a crew operated route.
The destination blind showing 'Birmingham' terminal points has been removed, however, it has not been fitted with a replacement Wolverhampton District blind. The blind boxes on these ex Birmingham buses were of a larger size to the standard Wolverhampton destination boxes, and would have required 44" wide blinds to be fitted. Because of their temporary deployment and restricted route use, these buses were operated with 'service numbers' only.