If you are interested in buses in any part of Central England, we can help you get more from your hobby.
We are particularly proud of our monthly Midland Branch Bulletin. Edited by Stan Letts, it contains details provided by our members of bus service changes and developments made by operators large and small throughout the Midlands, along with vehicle reports and reviews of press reports. There are also plenty of letters and lively editorials. For extracts from recent bulletins, click here.
During the Winter and Spring we hold monthly meetings on Saturday afternoons, divided between the East and West Midlands. Most meetings include a talk by guest speakers on a wide range of subjects. Our keynote talks are held each January, when a our speaker is a Senior Manager in the bus industry – we have been delighted to meet and hear such distinguished figures as Neil Barker from National Express, James Freeman, when he was with Stagecoach East, and Brian King from trent barton. We also have interesting talks from enthusiasts, including our members.
Meetings also give you the chance to meet fellow bus enthusiasts - and make new friends. We have around 200 members with interests in all aspects of the hobby. Whatever your interest, you will find people who share it with you. We also run a bookstall at most meetings.
During the Summer and Autumn we go out on visits throughout the Midlands and beyond. Most visits are to bus operators – from the largest to the smallest – where we can see and photograph vehicles, and we include calls at towns to see buses that are not in their garages! Occasionally we do Study Tours, travelling around by service buses for a day in order to get a feel for a company’s operations and territory.
The Midland Branch covers Derbyshire (except the High Peak district), Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands.
The East Midlands Passenger Transport Group is associated with the Omnibus Society, and works very closely with the Midland Branch. The Group arranges its own meetings and visits to supplement Midland Branch activities. If you would like to know more, please e-mail us.
And if you are into research, you will be interested to know that the Omnibus Society’s Library and Archive is in the Midlands - at Walsall.
You are welcome to join us for a meeting or a visit, to see what you think. You can simply come to a meeting – there’s no need to book, and there’s no charge. Visits need to be booked in advance - if you would like to come on a particular visit, please contact us and we will send you details.
If you would like a sample Midland Branch Bulletin, just contact us and we’ll send you one.
To contact the branch, Email osmidland@stroudroad.freeserve.co.uk
Click here for an example of the news from our Branch Bulletin.