MidlandRed.net

Leicester Depot

Frog Island, Leicester

• BMMO servicess in Leicester before 1922 operated from Tamworth depot and later Nuneaton depot.
• Site leased from mid-1922, and adapted for bus use, with a capacity for 30 vehicles.
• Garage opened by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO — Midland “Red”) on 26^th August 1922, with an initial allocation if seven Tilling-Stevens TS3 buses and a Tilling-Stevens TS3 char-a-banc.
• Allocation of 22 vehicles by the end of 1923.
• Allocation of 35 vehicles by 1925, with a number of vehicles stored at the garage at Welford Road (see below).
• Depot closed on 20^th July 1927, with all operations moving the the purpose built garage at Southgate Street.

Welford Road

• Garage leased by BMMO as a short-term overflow site, with a capacity for 10 vehicles.
• Opened by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO — Midland “Red”) in May 1925, used only for vehicle storage with all maintenance being done at Frog Island garage.
• Garage closed on 20^th July 1927, at the same time as the Frog Island depot closed, with all operations moving the the purpose built garage at Southgate Street.

Southgates Garage, 12 Peacock Lane, Leicester LE1 5PX

• Purpose built bus garage, with a three-story red brick office block with decorative brick and stonework facings.  Capacity was for 90 vehicles.
• Opened by Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO — Midland “Red”) on 21^st July 1927.
• Land to the front used as a coach station and calling point.
• Company renamed to Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited (MROC) on 29^th March 1974, with a depot allocation of 71 vehicles and approximately 257 staff at this time.
• Depot control passed to Midland Red (East) Limited when the Midland Red Omnibus Company Limited split up on 6^th September 1981.
• Company renamed to Midland Fox Limited on 24^th January 1984.
• Building frontage is now listed.