In the late 1990s, Midland Red ran the 156 using beautiful Eastern Coachworks double deckers with huge upstairs front windows and a big, warm heat in front. I remember them well. Sadly, they soon disappeared when Arriva took over around 2000. Image from Walsall1955’s Flickr photo stream.
Following on from the interest in Tony Martin’s picture of the early seventies Harpers bus at Aldridge, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler found the following timetable from 1965 in the newspaper archive.
This run has taken many forms over the years – from the 995 and 156 to just the 56, many operators have run it and apart from being truncated at Brownhills in recent years, the route continues.
Travelling to Birmingham on the 56 (or it’s past equivalent) is a rite of passage, as is travelling back home again after a night on the town whilst dying for a pee. I think most Brownhills kids have been there.
Cheers, as ever, to Pedro for the spot.
From the Lichfield Mercury, Friday 27th August 1965. This service is now, I believe, the 56. Click for a larger version.