MidlandRed.net

Last, but by no means least, is a selection of some of the single deck buses and coaches at this museum site. The first photograph depicts some of the exhibits; much work has been done during the last twelve months to extend the parking facilities and hard standing and a large lake with seating along one side looks to be a new feature (though I may have missed this last year!).

With a bit of a stretch of the imagination, E50TYG could have been in the Midland Red section as it was once part of Ashley Wakelin's Wheels fleet and carried the fleetname Midland Red Coaches.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/99854579@ ... wB8-EAnC2t

Julie wrote: ↑

16:21 Sunday 25th August 2019

With a bit of a stretch of the imagination, E50TYG could have been in the Midland Red section as it was once part of Ashley Wakelin's Wheels fleet and carried the fleetname Midland Red Coaches.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/99854579@ ... wB8-EAnC2t

Julie, you know I am a Midland Red man from way back, but I reckon the Ridings Travel livery suits E50 TYG much better than black over red. Nearly all the BMMO DPs and coaches that carried this livery had polished aluminium trim as a break between the colours and from memory fine gold lining out with a discrete round logo with three flashes fore and aft in the centre of the lower panels. I was never very enamoured when Midland Red West painted their Tigers all over red and much preferred the white, maroon and gold Midwest livery, it had a touch of class to it. Retro can be done successfully on a modern bus - just look at Worcester's Trident 33404; hate to pay the paint bill though! Sadly this bus is departing soon for pastures new.

Yes Tim, I fully agree with you about the retro look - done well, it looks good but done badly....

I do prefer the older style of livery but the vehicle has to be able to carry it. That is where mouldings and brightwork come into their own. Slab sided vehicles with few features need more modern liveries and that is true of the Doyen. It looked wrong in "MRC" livery but looks right in Ridings Travel.

Conversely, the Ridings Travel livery looked wrong on the older Leopards with Plaxton Supreme and particularly Duple Dominant bodies, where a traditional livery would have suited them much better but I suppose that a consistent appearance is "Paramount" in this modern world.....

(Sorry about the Paramount pun)

See you at Showbus?