Four former Coventry Transport buses were amongst vehicles that took to the roads on 24 August to mark two significant transport anniversaries for the city’s bus operation. Steven Knight was there
It only seems like yesterday, but it was 45 years ago this year that the last two rear entrance buses with the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) were retired from service in Coventry. The land of Lady Godiva was the last bastion of the WMPTE’s area where rear entrance buses were still running and where the last conductors were still on the books.
Fittingly, the last two rear entrance buses in service in Coventry on Friday 24 August 1979 were Daimler CVG6s, built in Coventry with Metro Cammell ‘Orion’ bodywork, both new to Coventry Transport in 1963. Bus 333Y was allocated to a morning peak duty on service 9, which operated between Copsewood and Earlsdon via the city centre. Expecting significant interest in the last workings, bus 327Y was put out to operate as a duplicate.
The honour of working the last ‘rear loader’ went to driver Patrick Crowley and conductress Christine Hegarty, and a 22-year-old Steven Knight who was working for the WMPTE as a Technical Engineering Clerk was also on board the last runs.
After arriving back in to the city centre shortly after 0900hrs, 327Y returned to Harnall Lane garage and was parked up. 333Y, meanwhile, was taken to the garage exit where a rope was attached, and it was ceremoniously ‘pulled’ into the depot by staff.
Conductors continued to be used in Coventry until September 1980 before the conversion of the last routes to driver only, ‘monobus’ in Coventry terms, operation.
In a second significant anniversary, this year also marked 50 years since Coventry Transport became part of the West Midlands PTE as a result of local government reorganisation. Coventry Transport operated its last services on 31 March 1974. Interestingly, the Coventry operation continued to be run as an almost separate part of the West Midlands PTE for several years, and mainly with Daimler buses built in the city.
Historic vehicle
Following its moment of fame the WMPTE undertook repairs to 333Y and repainted it into the livery it carried when new. Given its significance in being the last vehicle of its type to operate in Coventry, the bus was then gifted to the Coventry Transport Museum.
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