The Leicester Transport Heritage Trust (LTHT) recently commemorated the 60th anniversary of the change with a ‘Browns Blue turns Midland Red’ event.
The day was very well attended, despite the early showers, with a full schedule of events at both Sunnyside Garden Centre and Snibston Colliery Park. A number of static vehicle displays alongside free heritage bus rides were on offer.
Some 25 buses and coaches took part, many ex-Midland Red. None of the 144 vehicles Browns Blue operated are known to survive, but the operator was represented by Mick Gamble’s 1949 former London Transport AEC RT KLB 596. This has been superbly outshopped as a replica of one of the nine buses of this type bought by Browns Blue in 1958. This was RT173, HLW 160, the only one not fitted with a roof mounted number box. The bus was bought in 2011 from Roger Bailey at Black & White Motorways, being painted in Browns Blue colours before collection.
The Trust would like to thank the many contributors, vehicle owners, Sunnyside Garden Centre and Snibston Colliery Park that made the day a success!
Pictures by Emily Whitlam