MidlandRed.net

Hereford depot

Bridge Street, Hereford.

• Yard at the rear of the Black Lion Hotel, hired by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO — Midland “Red”) from 16^th March 1920, with an initial allocation of three Tilling-Stevens TS3 single-deck buses operating three routes.
• Allocation rose to seven Tilling-Stevens TS3 single-deck buses by 1925.
• Site closed in April 1925, with all operations moving to the new purpose built site at Friar Street.

It has been noted that this site did not have a telephone, and an agreement was made with a local shop owner to use his.  The site was also without electricity, and a charged bus battery had to be used to power the one light!

Friar Street, Hereford.

• Opened by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO — Midland “Red”) in April 1925.
• Garage extended in December 1930 by lengthening the single bay.
• Extended again in April 1941 with the addition of an open yard at the rear.
• One-man operation introduced on sigle-deck buses for the first time by BMMO in an effort to reduce costs, starting at this depot on 1^st July 1956.
• Company renamed to Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC) on 29^th March 1974, with a depot allocation of 37 vehicles and approximately 118 staff at this time.
• Depot control passed to Midland Red (West) Limited when the Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited split up on 6^th September 1981.
• Company renamed to First Midland Red Buses Limited on 26^th March 1999.