Midland “Red” Motor Services (BMMO & MROC)
BMMO S22 — Preserved
Only two BMMO type S22 vehicles are known to have survived and both have been fully restored and are now in preservation.
5901 (R/No: MHA901F)
Restored and Preserved
In 1991, the Worcester Bus Preservation Society purchased BMMO S22 fleet number 5901 (registration number MHA901F). The vehicle had a particular local significance to the group as it was allocated to Worcester (Padmore Street) depot form new in July 1968, and had remained there until January 1979.
Over six years the group carried out a through restoration on 5901 which involved work on the framework, a complete refurbishment of the interior including recovering many of the seats, and having new boot and doors fabricated. It is now finished in its original BMMO livery of all-over red, complete with the gold fleetnames which were unique to the type S22.
5901 is not totally original is the group have fitted it with yellow “Limited Stop” signs at the side and rear. These signs had originally been fitted to early examples of the S22, but had been discontinued by the time 5901 was built and were therefore never fitted to this vehicle. However, the group decided to incorporate them into the restored bus as they “illustrate perfectly the use for which these vehicles were designed.”
On 11th October 2008, the vehicle was sold by the Worcester Preservation Society to Jeremy Price, Alan King and Steve Whitehart.
5905 (R/No: PHA505G)
Preserved by P Rowley
5905 (PHA505G) is now owned by P Rowley of Yelverton in Devon and has been restored in the very attractive red and black livery used by BMMO on Coaches and Dual-Purpose buses. However, this is incorrect as none of the type S22 vehicles were ever operated in this livery. This vehicle has also been modified at some point as it features non-standard twin fog lights at the front, simular to that used on the BMMO S23.
In April 2014, she passed to Leicester Transport Heritage Trust for continued preservation.
Related Pages
- Midland Red: BMMO S17 – Preserved
- Midland Red: BMMO S21 – Preserved
- Midland Red: BMMO S23 – Preserved