Coventry Buses - past and present

You are a gem Philip for finding the bus and it is in just the right place in our railway. Shame about the front bench seat as my two loved to sit there kneeling and pretending to drive. I would love to go back in time and spend just one day on the bus again with them, so thank you. x

Hi Dreamtime, The front bench seats on Coventry post war buses was universal, only a few older war-time buses did not have it fitted. The frame which supported the seat housed the batteries and various bits of electrical switchgear as well as the prop-shaft bell-housing. Bus No 99 was in effect a London Transport layout vehicle, an only one and I believe was the only post war supplied bus not to have the front bench seat in Coventry. I don't know of any other operator that had the front bench seats. Midland Red (operator, not moderator) never had them, & even though many of the buses supplied to Coventry were built to the same general layout & by the same builders as supplied to Birmingham, I can't remember ever travelling on a Birmingham Corporation bus which had them. Maybe our bus experts might correct me on this.

Philip, what a fantastic model, that sure brings back memories! Like the time I boarded one at the traffic lights in Corporation St - to be told by the conductor that "I wouldn't be able to do that for much longer as the new buses HAD DOORS!" I'd never heard such rubbish! And the other time, I, along with 6 or 7 other pupils jumped off the bus, but I was the only one who hadn't realised it was still moving - and fell flat on my face! If only we could turn back the clock!

Hi Philip, I love your No.2 bus. I frequently caught the No.2 bus to visit my boyfriend (now husband), I used to catch it at Broadgate and get off at the Pilot, which was the terminus - happy days. Another part of my life in your front room.

I have 2 pics of the Maudslay type buses. I don't know when they were used from and to, but nice pics anyway.

The fleet no.99 in the left picture was in fact a one off, an AEC 'Regent', being a London Transport design of bus, lacking the front bench seat. The bus in the right picture was part of fleet Nos 117 to 125, nine Maudslay 'Regents' which arrived around 1951. Their layout was more typical of all of Coventry's post war rear exit buses. ps. Hi Midland Red, I have two No.99s. I don't mind duplicating my bus fleet, as I put different blinds up. What I do need is an even fleet No. example, so as to have a Harnall Lane routed bus. That is what I am keeping my eyes open for.

Shortly to be issued by EFE :

Thanks Midland Red for the model shown. If the brewery name was changed, then it would be the same. Do you know what the "Bull Bars" down the side were for?

Atkinson's brewery was taken over by M&B in 1959 so it's essentially an advert for the same firm. Can you please explain what you mean by "Bull Bars" down the side?

I think Baz is referring to the side bars along and underneath the bus. These are on most lorries, they are to try to stop things, people, pushbikes and the like from going underneath the bus.

I must admit, I thought they were wrong, until I looked closely at the previous photo, and I think you can just make out the support struts - so spot-on for accuracy!

Hi all Is this here to stay? Electric bus I wish Travel De Courcey all the best for their venture into this project.

Hear, hear, Philip I saw it on the television this morning - looks good.

My model arrived yesterday and I'm very pleased with it It actually has M&B on one side and Atkinson's Ales on t'other

I came across a picture that I've photo'd that shows the buses in line. Drivers and all. I cannot make out where it was taken, but I do remember them being parked up like this at the top of Pool Meadow. The real pic is on two tiles in a mosaic (bet I've spelt that wrong) on the 3rd or 4th floor at Walsgrave Hospital.