Midland Red Bus Garages

Product Description

As one of the country's largest bus operators outside the London area the Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Co better known as Midland Red had a network of bus garages that straddled its empire. Some of these such as those at Heath Hayes Kineton & Stratford-upon-Avon had been inherited from companies that had been taken over by Midland Red most notably Stratford Blue but the vast majority of the almost 40 depots & outstations operated by the company were built specifically for the operator. Whilst the architecture bequeathed to London transport during the 1920s & 1930s is well known the fact that Midland Red also employed architects to produce stylish depots & other buildings during this period is less familiar. One of the classic Midland Red depots Leicester Southgates was a product of this era; due to close imminently the depot facade is listed as being of architectural interest. This book chronicles the history of each of the bus depots operated by Midland Red prior to its demise in the 1980s along with the story of its central works in Birmingham. The book provides an overview of the development allied to individual depot histories. The illustrations feature views of the depots themselves vehicles in & around the depots as well as images recording vehicles in operation from the depots covered. The company possessed about 50 depots & outstations; each will be illustrated with particular attention paid to the more significant sites such as the central works.