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Coventry Corporation Transport Society

Midland Red Buses of the 1940s


In general, the double-deckers had the motif "BMMO" across the top of the radiator grill, with the double "M" transposed laterally instead of vertically, as was the case with the "SOS" models.  The single deckers generally carried the word "Midland" and the Coaches "Midland Red".

BMMO S was the standard post-war single decker with a side-mounted, under-floor BMMO K-type diesel engine.  Although the S11 actually entered service in 1950, it has been included here because it was an S10 with experimental independent front suspension.

Model BMMO S5 - S11
Details Single deck with front entrance
Under-floor side-mounted BMMO K-type 8.028 Litre diesel engine
40 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
1 1946 S5 Final pre-production model with MCCW bodywork
100 1946 S6 with Brush or MCCW bodywork
100 1948 S8 with MCCW bodywork
100 1949 S9 with Brush bodywork
154 1949 S10 with Brush or MCCW bodywork
1 1950 S11 with MCCW bodywork
 

The BMMO C1 was the first post-war coach.  It was based on the S-type chassis and many of them were in service for fifteen years or more.  Nine were retained into the 1970s as driver training vehicles, with dual control steering and pedals.

Model BMMO C1
Details Coach with Duple bodywork and central entrance
Under-floor side-mounted BMMO K-type 8.028 Litre diesel engine
30 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
45 1948
 

The BMMO D1 was the first post-war double-decker.  It was the prototype for the subsequent D5s and was fitted with platform doors in 1949, prior to the introduction of power doors on the D5Bs.

Model BMMO D1
Details Double deck with Weymann bodywork and rear entrance
BMMO K-type 8.028 Litre diesel engine
Upper saloon: 30 seats		Lower saloon: 26 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
1 1945
 

The BMMO AD2 was a double-decker based on an AEC Regent II chassis.  There were 100 AD2s, which supplemented the 100 BMMO D5s because of the lack of production capacity in the post-war years.

Model BMMO AD2
Details Double deck with Brush or MCCW bodywork, and rear entrance
AEC diesel engine
Upper saloon: 30 seats		Lower saloon: 26 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
100 1948
 

The BMMO D5 was the successor to the first post-war double-decker.  There were 100 D5s, which supplemented the 100 AEC Regent IIs introduced the previous year and the 20 Guy Arab IIIs introduced in 1949.

Model BMMO D5
Details Double deck with Brush bodywork
BMMO K-type 8.028 Litre diesel engine
Upper saloon: 30 seats		Lower saloon: 26 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
100 1949
 

The BMMO GD6 was a double-decker based on a Guy Arab III chassis.  There were 20 GD6s, which supplemented the 100 BMMO D5s because of the lack of production capacity in the post-war years.  The bus was not to the standard BMMO design and looked somewhat old fashioned.  The powerful Meadows engines were suited to the hilly terrain of the Black Country, but they proved unreliable and all were eventually replaced by BMMO K-type engines.

Model BMMO GD6
Details Double deck with Guy bodywork on Park Royal frames and rear entrance
Meadows 10.35 litre 6DC 630 engine
Upper saloon: 30 seats		Lower saloon: 26 seats
Total Number Introduced Notes
20 1949