Coventry Buses - past and present

Am I correct in saying that the lights (down either side of the buses roof) are partly covered to minimise light output and direct it downwards?

It looks as though they have been masked, as with headlights, to reduce the target potential for overflying enemy aircraft.

What colour was the platform pole? The Daimler Utility model I have shows it as being black. That sounds a bit dangerous even for wartime.

I know that Harnall Lane Garage opened in 1921. I also know, from photographs that, by the late 1930s, the roofed area was very large. So I have some questions: 1. How many buses could be housed within the roofed area of the garage? 2. Was the structure of the 1930s originally built in 1921, or was the original building extended or replaced at a later date? 3. In 1921, Coventry Corporation owned only 11 buses. Was there some visionary foresight of the expansion of the bus fleet? 4. How many buses could be stored overnight in the external parking areas?

I thought that you might enjoy this picture in Coventry this morning. Best wishes. A private party off to Evesham for the day. Hold tight please!

Oh wow Philip, I wish I was on that bus, I had an aunt who lived in Bishops Cleeve and it took me right back to my school holidays there. Her cottage was right opposite the orchards and a brook ran right alongside her garden. The butcher used to call weekly as did the general grocer's van. Now I know why folk like to "Escape to the Country" Thank you, thank you for the lovely memory, you deserve a big one for that X

Anyway, back to the buses. I remember the good old days when you could load your pushchairs onto the bus under the stairs, and if you were lucky the driver or clippie would help you on with it. But then they were the good old days!! Unless they still do it.

The modern buses all have ramps for the loading of wheelchairs and most now have drop air-suspension so that the platform step can be lowered to the kerb. Some of our drivers are very helpful whilst others, well ......... Not much different to any other working community. People working in public service sometimes forget that it is a public service that they are providing. Whilst this is no excuse, our current blame & claim culture has a lot to answer for human behaviour nowadays. I witnessed a really good school teacher pilloried for just trying to be helpful. Enough of that though, it's Friday afternoon & time to get my Teddyboy outfit on. What a joke, even if it was fifty years ago.

About four years ago I began shopping in Earlsdon again after a very long absence. It was a real culture shock hearing the other passengers politely thanking the driver when alighting from the bus I don't think I've ever witnessed that in any other part of Coventry?

We do it all the time in Allesley Dutchman, in fact we even thank the driver for pulling up at the bus stop when we put our hand out!!

As a retired bus driver both in "Cov" with the corporation and Nuneaton with the "red", there was a good 95% of passengers who got on and off say "thank you driver". It was always the right thing to do and with regards to helping passengers with pushchairs or whatever on and off the bus, yes it was never a problem, I always done it. Having said that nowdays especially round here, the driver just sits there in his cab glaring at anyone that is slow or even infirm without even offering any help. Times have changed and the modern attitude of people in general has changed. A shame really, courtesy costs nothing and something that I was told when I very first started working on the buses and something I always kept in my mind. "Always laugh with the passengers, not at them". I never had any problems on my bus either working with a conductor or one manning for all the years as a bus driver. Peter.

Nice motor but not a classic in the true sense of the word. Peter.

Yeah, not like the AEC Routemaster eh Peter?

Here's a Coventry-built classic, a 1965 Daimler Roadliner on loan to Halifax Corporation at the time this picture was taken:

Not strictly a classic either. The classic era ended in 1961. I don't know what followed. I remember, from my days associated with such events in the 70s and 80s, Veteran ended in 1914 (before 1964, it meant more than 50 years old), Vintage ended in 1939 and Classic ended in 1961. I don't know what followed, but as it's 50 years ago, I expect there's been something since.