Get your anoraks on, we’re going to be engaging in a little bus spotting this week. I’ve been meaning to cover bus services in this feature for a few weeks, as there are plenty of old bus photos about, but it wasn’t until I started searching that I discovered the magical treasury of images on flickr by user and bus fan Walsall1955. In their stream you’ll find excellent images and descriptions of Walsall busses past and present.
For all those who’ve spent time bored on the 394, 33, 67, 362, 156, 995, 347 or X55, shivering in winter, sweltering in summer, nose pressed up against the window or in the top deck front seat pretending to be driver, this is for you. Whether you’re a half fare hopper, Saturday shopper, sleeper, a chatterer or never have the right change, there’s usually a bus going somewhere in Brownhills.
I guess this would have been the very beginning of public transport for the masses in the area. There are several photos of these busses in service floating around, but I like this one best. I love the range of people in the crowd. Taken from ‘Around Pelsall & Brownhills in old photographs’ by David F. Vodden.
An odd bus, but a great 1985 period shot of Brownhills High Street with the old MEB showroom in the background. This one is worth examining full size for the extraneous details. Taken by Walsall1955 and spotted on flickr.
View the above original on Walsall1955’s flickr stream.
Harper’s busses, in the familiar green drab livery, were a regular sight in Brownhills for years. I remember going to Cannock on one with my dad – they still had clippies with big leather satchels and ticket machines. Taken from ‘Around Pelsall and Brownhills’ by David F Vodden.
I seem to remember lots of these little busses – this one in 1987 – operating on local routes just after deregulation in the eighties. When introduced, they were hail and ride, and you could flag them down anywhere on route and hop on. Taken by Walsall1955, and spotted on flickr.
View the above original on Walsall1955’s flickr stream.
I’ll be perfectly honest, I haven’t a clue what this is all about and am inviting comment from readers. I think I recognise the house as being near the Shire Oak Junction, but after that, I know nothing more than the caption. Any ideas? From ‘Memories of Brownhills Past’ by Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington.
This isn’t in Brownhills, but the bus (operated by Midland Red but still in Harpers livery, whom they had just taken over) was on the then Cannock – Brownhills – Kingstanding – Birmingham route that survives today as the 56. Many will have grim recollections of falling asleep on an evening service after imbibing in town and waking up at the terminus. Travelling into Brum on the top deck on a sunny day, however, was a joy. Oh to look into the posh gardens of Aldridge and Streetly! Taken by Walsall1955 and spotted on Flickr.