| On 2nd November 1959, the opening day of Britain's first motorway, the M1, Midland Red introduced their express motorway service between Birmingham and London. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, two vintage motorway coaches and a modern National Express coach re-enacted the service on 31st October 2009. I was driving a car that was filming the occasion. My lasting memory of the day is the glorious sound of the BMMO engines (the C5 especially was running sweetly) as we passed the coaches both doing 60+ mph. This is my photo record of a memorable day. |
Two classic motorway coaches that were years ahead of their time!. The CM6T is possibly the fastest coach ever built! I'll reserve judgement on the Caetano 3072x2304 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Low down offside front view of BMMO C5, 780 GHA at Toddington. The classic lines still look good today. 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Front view of C5 780 GHA with National Express Caetano FJ08 KOH alongside. National Express are the current runners of the service 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
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BMMO CM6T, BMMO C5 with National Express Caetano on break at Toddington Services 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
A view of the Midland Red C5, many 60's motorists were familiar with. 780 GHA wasn't exactly hanging about either. 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Fully restored interior of C5 780 GHA. A truly magnificent job 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
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A view out the front windscreen of C5 780 GHA at Toddington 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Driving cab and controls of Midland Red C5 780 GHA 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Rear view of CM6T BHA 656C and C5 780 GHA at Toddington on the journey down 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
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A piece of artwork on the Glass at Victoria coach station depicts CM5 unloading. The CM6T was parked outside giving the picture a red tinge. 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Ghosts from the past. Rear of the CM6 through the windows plus artwork on glass 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
The C5 through a doorway at Victoria 1536x2048 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
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Unmistakingly Victoria Coach Station with the C5 outside 1536x2048 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Line-up at Victoria for the return journey 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Classic lines of BMMO C5 780 GHA from low-down 2048x1536 2009-10-31 13:35:00 Buy Print |
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Group shot of the passengers at Newport Pagnell on the return leg. 2048x1536 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Convoy leaving Victoria Coach station -destination Birmingham.Video still 1280x720 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Speeding down the motorway at dusk goes C5 780 GHA . Over the hedge is the West Coast Main Line (video still) 1280x720 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
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Just approaching Watford gap on the route home. The lights in the C5 look so cosy. (video still) 1280x720 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Londonbound Midland Red CM6T arrives at Toddington. Driver lloyd Penfold drove this coach on the 20th anniversary run as well. (video still) 1280x720 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
Midland Red C5 and CM6T having a break at Newport Pagnell services (Video still) 1280x720 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
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Midland Red C5 pulls off the motorway at Toddington Services (Video still) 1280x720 2009-11-01 00:00:00 Buy Print |
