CBW

Nick Larkin highlights how National Express West Midlands is doing its best to keep its heritage alive

National Express West Midlands (NXWM) is adding to the number of vehicles sporting heritage liveries in the fleet – and giving its first Dennis Trident a makeover.

First NXWM
First Dennis Trident midway through its makeover. TONY HUNTER

Y716TOH, fleet number 4125, was delivered to West Midlands Travel in April 2001 and would normally have been retired this year. Instead the bus is being kept in service and returned to original livery. The bodywork has been tidied up, the chassis has been undersealed and a repaint is on the agenda. Apart from a month in 2016 the Alexander-bodied vehicle has spent its entire working life at Walsall garage and will be remaining in normal service for the time being.

Further vehicles have been painted in the colours of former municipals absorbed into West Midlands PTE in 1969. Alexander-bodied Dennis Trident fleet number 4453 (BJ03EVC) is in Coventry livery while Trident 4535 (BL53EDF) wears Wolverhampton Corporation Transport colours. 4601 (BX54DDJ) is in Walsall livery and Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini 4651 (BX54XRM), based at Acocks Green garage, is now in Birmingham City Transport colours. Sister bus 4679 (BX54XPM) wears West Bromwich Corporation Transport livery.

Painted in West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) livery to celebrate 50 years since its formation is Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse 2102 (BX12DDO) based at Pensnett.

NXWM Head of Communications Nikki Houghton said: “We are also looking into painting a double-decker in WMPTE livery. We are proud of our heritage and the old liveries have proved to be very popular.’’

Meanwhile restoration is continuing on two recently reacquired heritage vehicles, 1953 Metro-Cammell-bodied Birmingham Guy Arab IV, 3035 (MOF35), and Park Royal-bodied ‘Jumbo’ Daimler Fleetline, 3997 (TOB997H).

This Daimler was one of a batch originally ordered by Wolverhampton Corporation with Roe bodies, but became the first new buses for the newly-formed WMPTE.

An open day is planned at Pensnett Garage on 27 July, when various heritage vehicles will be present.

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