Transport Museum Wythall is hoping to reopen in March with some amazing vehicles – including a legendary unique prototype Midland Red double-decker back in action for the first time in decades, reports Nick Larkin
Transport Museum Wythall (TMW) has cautiously scheduled 27 March to admit the public again, though this will depend on Covid-19 restrictions in place at the time. Planned opening times are 1100 to 1630hrs on Saturdays, bank holiday Sundays and Mondays, and Wednesdays during school holidays and half-terms until 31 October.
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Meanwhile frenzied activity in the museum workshop should see a wonderful selection of vehicles which have been stored for decades back in action after many years in storage. These include one of the most hallowed vehicles ever in Midland Red circles, the only D10 built, the prototype front entrance, rear-engined variant of the BMMO-built D9 double-decker.
Often compared to another legendary one off, London Transport’s sole rear-engined Routemaster FRM 1, the D10, dating from 1960 and registered 943 KHA, had the potential to be a world-beater, but Midland Red decided to go for Daimler Fleetlines as its standard front-engined double-decker instead.
Also out of hibernation come 1937 Trent AEC Regal/Willowbrook RC 4615; 1953 Walsall Corporation Leyland Royal Tiger PDH 808 196; and BMMO CM6T motorway coach, BHA 656C.
Birmingham City Transport standards, 1948 Leyland Titan PD2/1 HOV 685 and 1953 Guy Arab IV 2976 have received front end rebuilds to tackle structural corrosion issues, along with partial repaints.
Museum spokesman Denis Chick told CBW: “Complying with Covid restrictions we have been able to bring several old favourites out of store over winter to run again in 2021, including Walsall 808 which hasn’t run since 1983! With the D10 prototype and Trent Regal to look forward to, all our volunteers are desperate to open up, get back to work and provide some respite for bus-starved fans.”
TMW is planning to resume its Covid-compliant scheme of online booking at scheduled times, a one-way system around the halls and shop, convenient ‘outdoor’ café and sanitised free bus rides for all. As the rules change, TMW will amend its schedule as appropriate.
Watch for updates on the museum’s website at wythall.org.uk
Special events
Transport Museum Wythall is planning two special events later in 2021, at which visiting vehicles are welcome.
West Midlands Municipal Monday is set to take place on the bank holiday on 30 August. Following the establishment of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive in 1969, WMPTE acquired the vehicles and other assets of the municipal fleets of Birmingham, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. Coventry joined the group a little later and slowly the unique liveries disappeared. Private owners of vehicles from all four fleets are welcome to attend and the day will include TMW’s renowned ‘Happy Hour’ with back to back services running to the Maypole.
On Sunday 3 October, Midland Red Day 2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the break-up of the original Midland Red into six new companies at the points of the midland compass – Midland Red North/South/East/West. The CM6T motorway express coach and D10 prototype will be running along with a wide range of Midland Red vehicles from across the decades.
