Midland Red: BMMO D7 — Miscellaneous Information

Vehicles Converted for Towing

Example Photograph
Example Photograph

From May 1972, BMMO converted eleven of their withdrawn BMMO D7 double-deck buses for use as towing vehicles.  The conversion work involved totally removing the upper-deck and the rear overhang, while the bodywork on the lower deck received a number of differing styles, with three examples receiving full-length enclosed saloons while others had open platforms.

All the towing vehicles ran on trade registration numbers plates, and as with trade plates, these were sometimes changed with those on other vehicles.  Livery was the overall yellow of the Midland Red ancillary fleet, while a number of examples were fitted with radiator grills taken from BMMO S-type buses.

The table below shows a summary of the eleven BMMO D7 double-deck buses that were converted for towing.  If you are able to fill any of the missing information from the table, please email us at info@midlandred.net.

  Fleet # Reg # Trade Plate(s) Used Allocation Body Style Further Information
4392   VHA 392   071 HA, 290 HA1,
 6177 O1		 SE & DY 1 Bay, S17 Grill New (2/55) to BMMO (Midland “Red”) - SS. CE (12/66). SW (7/67). SD (10/67). LW (10/67). KR (12/67). SE (4/71). Withdrawn (?/72). Converted for towing. SE (7/72). Passed to WMPTE (3/12/73) as F/No: 218 - DY. Repainted (?/??) to cream and blue WMPTE livery. Withdrawn (3/78). Passed to BaMMOT for spares only. Scrapped (3/80).
  4494 XHA 494 370 HA WR   1½ Bays, D7 Grill   New (4/56) to BMMO (Midland “Red”) - SN. DH (8/65). BD (11/67). u (3/70). RH (10/70). BY (3/71). Withdrawn (12/71). Towing conversion carried out at the Southern Division Body shop, based at Malvern depot, in 1972. WR (7/72). Withdrawn (3/78) - Replaced by Leyland Leopard F/No: 5824. Passed to J. Tucker (6/78) for Preservation.
4496 XHA 496 068 HA ST, EM & BE 1 Bay, S17 Grill New (5/56) to BMMO (Midland “Red”) - BD. DH (1/59). SE (11/67). u (9/69). HL (10/70). Withdrawn (6/72). Converted for towing. ST (7/72). EM (?/75). BE (?/76). Withdrawn (1/81). Passed to BaMMOT (2/81) for preservation. 
4531 XHA 531 070 HA2, 6178 O2 DH 4 Bays, S14 Grill New (10/56) to BMMO (Midland “Red”) - LN. DH (5/71). Withdrawn (3/72). Converted for towing. DH (7/72). Passed to WMPTE (3/12/73) - SN as F/No: 219. Repainted (?/??) to cream and blue WMPTE livery. Withdrawn (9/80)). Passed to J. Tucker, Birmingham (8/78) for spares.
  4732 732 BHA   LN   New (3/57) to BMMO (Midland “Red”) - DH. Withdrawn (6/72). Converted for towing / tree cutter. LN (10/73). Withdrawn (10/78).
  4739 739 BHA   CH & CK   New (3/57) to BMMO (Midland “Red”) - SD. TH (11/67). SD (11/67). SE (5/72). Withdrawn (6/72). Converted for towing. CH (7/74). CK (2/77). Withdrawn (2/78) - Replaced by Leyland Leopard F/No: 5825. Passed to North West Transport Museum Society, Warrington (5/78) for spares.
  4747 747 BHA   SD & TH   New (4/57) to BMMO (Midland “Red”) - SY. Withdrawn (4/72). Converted for towing. SD (6/72). TH (?/78). Withdrawn (12/80). Passed to BaMMOT (2/81) for spares.
4750 750 BHA 378 HA RY & CK 4 Bays, D7 Grill New (4/57) to BMMO (Midland “Red”) - HD. SA (7/71). Withdrawn (4/72). Converted for towing. RY (7/72). CK (?/78). Withdrawn (10/78). Passed to Mid Warwickshire Motors, Balsall Common (3/79). Passed to BaMMOT (1/81) for preservation. 
  4761 761 BHA   SY 1 Bay, S17 Grill New (6/57) to BMMO (Midland “Red”) - OY. Withdrawn (12/72). Converted for towing. SY (6/73). Withdrawn (8/80). Passed to J. Tucker (?/80) for preservation. Passed to A. Powick, Hednesford (2/81) for preservation.
  4765 765 BHA 375 HA, 417 HA WS, SS & LN 4 Bays, D7 Grill New (8/57) to BMMO (Midland “Red”) - KR. SA (12/70). Withdrawn (12/71). First BMMO D7 to be converted for towing (5/72) - in overall white livery. WS (5/72). Repainted (8/72) to overall yellow livery. SS (?/75). LN (10/78). Withdrawn (7/79).
4767 767 BHA 290 HA NN & CW 2 Bays, D7 Grill New (9/57) to BMMO (Midland “Red”) - RH. On loan to Stratford Blue (11/67) - ST. CE (12/67). LN (10/69). Withdrawn (4/72). Converted for towing. NN (1/74). Central Works (?/80). Withdrawn (3/80). Passed to A. Powick (2/81) for preservation. Passed to G. Truelove & P. Exton (c. 1999) for Preservation.

Notes:

  1. Fleet Number 4392 passed to the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) as fleet number 218 carrying trade plate 290 HA, but this later changed to 6177 O.
  2. Fleet Number 4531 passed to the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) as fleet number 219 carrying trade plate 070 HA, but this later changed to 6178 O, then back to its original registration number XHA 531.