THE Midland 'Red's' modern new 44-seater single deck busses would soon be seen on roads in Bromsgrove and Droitwich. The lighweight vehicles with plastic body panels, all rubber suspension and automatic transmission were being added to the company's fleet at the rate of two per week.

THERE were some long faces around the loco sheds at Bromsgrove station this week when it was revealed that Big Bertha, the powerful, specially built 'bank' engine was to be pensioned off. The giant locomotive had been used to assist trains up the notorious Lickey Incline for the past 35 years and was a name synonymous with the station.

FOUR members of the Rubery Territorials died and a further four were injured when two Charioteer tanks broke free from their moorings and careered down a slope into tents where the men slept. The young men from the Rubery, Rednal and south Birmingham area were taking part in an exercise on Salisbury Plain.