April 7th 2020: From our archives.... around 50 years ago

7/4/2020

Today’s archive selection comes from a collection of images that we ‘repatriated’ a number of years ago which were in the possession of a gentleman in the United States. We have not had the time to clean them up but this is something we are planning. All were taken in Nuneaton and we would estimate the date to be between 1966 and 1969 with the exception of one which could date from 1971.
First up in Nuneaton Bus Station we have Midland Red D7 4168 (THA168) with a N34 service to Stockingford Station via Round Towers whilst a DD12 Alexander-bodied Daimler Fleetline 6043 (JHA43E) was loading with a N43 service. We are assuming it was taken on a Saturday when the N43 only went as far as Blackatree Road, hence the use of the intermediate, rather than ultimate blind. Just creeping into shot is a Midland Red D9 with either a N50 or N51 Camp Hill Estate service. The D7 moved to Nuneaton from Stourbridge garage in January 1965 and was withdrawn in June 1969 whilst the DD12 was new to Nuneaton in April 1967 where it stayed until transfer to Cradley Heath in June 1974. It doesn’t appear to have been converted for one man operation which was done in June 1969.

Four dual door Fleetlines, given Midland Red designation DD13A, were allocated to Nuneaton in 1970. 6274 (YHA274J) is working an N40 service to Grove Farm via Round Towers.

Our third image shows a selection of Midland Red vehicles. The LS18 on the 765 service to Coventry, 5149 (5149HA) is a Leyland Leopard with Weymann bodywork. Midland Red took 100 of these vehicles with either Weymann or Willowbrook bodywork to supplement its home-built vehicles to facilitate fleet upgrading. D9 4903 (903KHA) has charge of an N44 to Weddington whilst manual gearbox fitted S16 5526 (6526HA) is parked up and the destination set for its next trip on the N47 to Ansley Buildings. The S16 was from Hinckley garage who had a number of workings on Nuneaton local services on Saturdays.

Another D9, this time 5377 (6377HA) which was transferred to Nuneaton in September 1966 from Leamington Spa and remained at Nuneaton until November 1974 when it was transferred to nearby Hinckley garage.

Our final image is one that features four S17 saloons all parked up in Nuneaton Bus Station but only one of them is allocated to Nuneaton garage. 5611 (BHA611C) and 5612 (BHA612C) are from Hinckley garage and appear to have been parked up after working a 760 and 771 service. 5739 (EHA739D) has the route number 747 (Nuneaton-Coventry via Ash Green) but at the time of the image was allocated to Rugby Garage, hence the fact that the correct destination blinds could not be displayed. On the far end of the line of vehicles is 5566 (AHA166B), which was only at Nuneaton between September 1964 and September 1966 with the destination blinds set for its next working, a N42 service to Galley Common via Chapel End. We believe this image was taken between April and September 1966.