This Spring bank holiday weekend, the Transport Museum Wythall is set to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Birmingham’s iconic 50 bus service.
On May 26th and 27th, visitors can enjoy free bus rides from the Transport Museum, located on Chapel Lane in Wythall, to Kings Heath and back. These rides will feature historic buses that have served the 50 route since the late 1940s.
The 50-bus service, operated by National Express West Midlands, connects Druids Heath with Birmingham city centre, passing through Maypole, Kings Heath, Moseley, and Highgate. First launched in 1949, this well-loved route turns 75 this year.
As part of the celebrations, the museum will offer special trips on various buses that have run on the 50 route over the decades. Additionally, there will be memorabilia stands showcasing models and photographs, alongside other activities.
Originally ending at the Maypole, the 50 route was extended to Druids Heath in 1981, making the seven-mile journey take around 40 minutes from start to finish. Thanks to National Express West Midlands’ participation in the Government’s £2 fare cap scheme, passengers can continue to enjoy discounted single fares until the end of 2024.
Malcolm Keeley, Collections Manager at Transport Museum Wythall, said: “The 50 bus service took over in 1949 from the tramcars that ran as far as Alcester Lanes End. It has always been a busy service and the Transport Museum Wythall is delighted to be celebrating its 75th birthday while wondering just how many millions of passengers the 50 has carried during all those years!
“On the day, we will be running several generations of buses between our museum and Kings Heath. We shall follow the 50 route in one direction and, in the other, for variety, show our passengers parts of the attractive suburb they may not be familiar with.”
The 50 service operates out of the Yardley Wood depot, serving over 5 million passengers annually with 38 stops from Birmingham city centre to Druids Heath, and 37 stops on the return journey.
Notably, in 1997, the 50 route was the first in the National Express West Midlands fleet to feature low-floor double-deckers, including 20 DAF DB250LF and Optare Spectra vehicles.