2020 Spring Book News Welcome to our 2020 Spring Book News. We’re looking forward to a busy Summer and hopefully some dry and warm days as the rally season opens up ahead of us, though looking outside at the moment that seems a long way off! We’ve been busy over the last few months and several projects have come together at the same time meaning we’re now launching four new titles from Venture Publications over the next few weeks – see page 3 for more details. We’re also delighted to see how well the Red & White book has been received – it’s already been reprinted, and we’re close to selling out again. Make sure you get your order in quickly if you don’t want to miss out. The authors are busy working on the second part of this fascinating story and we’ll hopefully more news on this quite soon. Neville Mercer is busy working on his next title - a definitive history ofAtkinson PSVs - and would welcome any and all good quality photographs of the type, particularly of the rarer coach variants with new and later owners. You can contact him directly at [email protected] or 07961 074760. Please note our FREEPOST address is shown below, it’s just: FREEPOST MDS BOOK SALES You don’t need to add anything else, there’s no need for a street name or postcode. In fact, if you do add something, it will delay the letter or could even mean we don’t get it. The old address is no longer valid and items may be returned to you by the Post Office or delivered to us with a surcharge to pay! Of course, if you’re happy to put a stamp on and write to us at Pikes Lane that’s fine too! You are always welcome to call and see us at Pikes Lane. We’re open Monday to Friday and there’s a map and opening times on page 63. Please check before calling if you’re after a specific item to ensure it’s on the shelf that day. The FREEPOST address is obviously only valid in the UK so overseas customers please use the normal Pikes Lane address as shown on page 63. Regrettably we’ve also had to increase our overseas carriage charges as all our suppliers have raised prices significantly as a result of Brexit and the increased work that will entail. At the moment we’re not expecting our UK carriage prices to be affected. Have you signed up for our email newsletter yet? We often have small quantities of clearance, second-hand or otherwise reduced titles on offer and our weekly email newsletter is the best way to keep up to date with these offers – as well as getting the latest updates on all titles. isitV our website mdsbooks.co.uk to sign up. Thanks for your continued support and as ever Good Reading and please let us know if there’s anything you like or that we could do better. Mark Senior MDS Book Sales Rallies we hope to attend 2020 Spring Transport Festival (Museum of Transport Manchester)- 28th & 29th March 2020 London Bus Museum Spring Gathering- 5th April 2020 Lincoln Vintage Vehicle Society Open Day- Easter Sunday 12th April 2020 North East Bus Show (Gateshead)- 3rd May 2020 Merseyside Transport Trust Open Day (Burscough)- 12th July 2020 Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft’s Summer Gathering- 26th July 2020 52nd Trans Pennine Run (Harrogate)- 2nd August 2020 Buses Festival (Gaydon)- 23rd August 2020 Peak Park Preserved Bus Gathering (Rowsley)- 6th September 2020 Showbus 2020 (Hertfordshire Showground)- 27th September 2020 Wirral Tram & Bus Show 2019 (Birkenhead)- 4th October 2020 Lincolnshire Vintage Vehicle Society Running Day- 1st November 2020 Christmas Transport Market (Museum of Transport Manchester)- 5th & 6th December 2020 Cover image: Glasgow TB78, pictured here at The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft, was the only vehicle in its class to have had three different liveries. It was also based at three different depots throughout its short working life: Dennistoun, Govan and Hampden. Reading Transport Society, now the BTS, purchased TB78 for preservation and since then it has been a regular runner at The Museum. It is also the only Glasgow double-deck trolleybus in preservation. Venture publications 3 FORTHCOMING TITLES SUPER PRESTIGE 40 WEST WALES INDEPENDENTS PART 2 This is the second book covering independent bus operators in West Wales and follows on from the previous volume featuring Cardigan and Newport. In this book, the author, Les Dickinson will attempt to describe the introduction and development of the passenger transport providers of the northern foothills of the Preseli hills. He will focus on two areas, Crymych and Maenclochog exploring in detail the independent operators which worked throughout these villages. In the chapters on Crymych the author details the histories of three larger independents and one smaller entity. The three larger are: David John Jones, Edwards Brothers and Midway Motors (formerly Rees & Phillips). The smaller, and short-lived operator featured is Frenni Coaches (Beardwell & Collins). The pages describing the bus scene in Maenclochog cover three early pioneers in the region: Arthur Williams of Maenclochog, Ivor Williams of Trelech and Morgan Brothers of Llanfyrnach and their companies’ progression. Softback. VP487 IN STOCK NOW £20 THE TWILIGHT YEARS OF MANCHESTER CORPORATION TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT Martin Ford joined Manchester Corporation Transport Department in August 1964 as a junior clerk in the Claims Department, rising up through the ranks as Manchester Corporation Transport passed to SELNEC Passenger Transport Executive in November 1969, and remaining in that same department when SELNEC transferred to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive in 1974 and then to GM Buses Limited to become Litigation Manager by the time in new moved to a similar role at MANWEB in 1990, then going on to form his own accident investigation company dealing with bus accidents on behalf of various clients, but principally for the in-house insurers of Stagecoach. This fascinating insight into Manchester Corporation Transport Department during its final years reveals some of the interesting inner most workings before they are forever lost in the passing years of change. Illustrated throughout with memories of Martin’s time in Manchester and showing a number of behind the scenes incidents. VP489 AVAILABLE MARCH 2020 £18 221 DEEPDALE ROAD PRESTON - HISTORY OF A BUS GARAGE Regular Venture author Mike Rhodes explores the history of this famous address and this book is the result of a more than 50 years fascination with the depot and its operations. Originally a horse tram operation, Preston commenced electric tram services from the newly built Deepdale premises in the early 1900s, and the depot housed all the facilities the tramway needed including the power station, along with the workshops and car sheds. Later converted to motor bus operation, the garage remains in use today and is the hub of the city’s Rotala operation. VP490 AVAILABLE MAY 2020 £25 SUPER PRESTIGE 43 MERTHYR TYDFIL Michael Yelton completes his study of Welsh Municipal operators with his seventh book, this time on Merthyr Tydfil. Unlike other smaller South Wales municipalities, explored in previous volumes, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council started running buses while there were still trams in the town which were owned and operated by an outside private company. The trams already ran on the two most lucrative routes when the Council began running buses and it took 15 years before the local authority was able to purchase the tramway undertaking and to replace the trams with buses. This 154 page book includes a full fleet list and is well illustrated throughout with both black & white and colour photographs and maps to help bring this story to life. VP492 EXPECTED MAY 2020 £20 4 Venture publications RED & WHITE SERVICES LTD THE COMPANY, ITS SERVICES AND VEHICLES TO 1953 This book tells the first part of the history of this fascinating family-owned company. The book covers Red & White from its creation right up to its sale to the British Transport Commission (BTC) in 1950. This publication is profusely illustrated with hundreds of pictures of vehicles, tickets and timetables etc. A4 hardback. VP480 £50 BACK IN STOCK (REPRINTED FEBRUARY) OBSERVATION COACHES & HALF-DECKERS In this book, Neville Mercer tells the story of observation coaches from their origins in North America to the ones which were found on the British roads in the middle years of the 20th century. The few companies which were involved in their manufacture are described in detail, as well as the firms who produced the most familiar examples which served the London stations and airports. This 190 page volume is illustrated with around 300 pictures, including some very rare vehicles. VP486 £20 IN STOCK NOW HALLMARK COACHES Back in 1968 Eric Atkinson teamed up with local businessman John Barnett to start a chauffeur-car company for transporting airline crews. Atkinson wanted his young son, Mark, to be referenced in the company name and as they were aiming for a quality service “Hallmark” became the obvious identity for the new operation. It was eventually to become one of the most highly regarded brands in luxury coach travel. This book tells the fascinating story of this coach company. A4 softback, illustrated in both colour and black & white. VP484 £20 IN STOCK NOW BULLOCKS COACHES Bullocks Coaches of Cheadle in Cheshire has been one of the North West’s premier operators for over 90 years. Ralph senior started his business in the early 20s when a chance sighting of undelivered milk churns, due to a rail strike, caught his imagination and so began the Bullock enterprise.