A CLASSIC double-decker is back in service after a major restoration.
The only surviving Midland Red D7, number 4482 and registered XHA 482, was officially unveiled at Transport Museum Wythall by broadcaster Alan Dedicoat and motoring presenter Mike Brewer.
The D7 last carried passengers more than 50 years ago and has now returned to public service following a launch on Saturday, July 25.
Mr Dedicoat, a patron of the museum and one of Britain’s best-known voices, and Mr Brewer, presenter of Wheeler Dealers, praised the work of the volunteers who brought the bus back to life.
Mr Brewer said: "To think that a team of volunteers put this together at this level is gob smacking, it inspires me to work harder and do more.
"We live in a world these days where things are so disposable, we just throw things away, so I think that to restore and retain our heritage is really important.
"Thank you for doing stuff like this and thank you for keeping it alive."
Built in 1956 at the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company’s Carlyle Works, the D7 was designed and manufactured entirely in-house.
It served passengers until late 1971 and was saved for preservation in 1973 before joining the Wythall museum’s collection in 1979.
The restoration, led by volunteers at the Transport Museum and Trailways of Bloxwich, involved thousands of hours of engineering, bodywork and mechanical repairs.
Denis Chick, trustee at the Transport Museum Wythall, said: "The return of 4482 to passenger service is a day that many of us have worked towards for years.
"This remarkable achievement belongs to our volunteers, our supporters and everyone who believed this bus deserved to live again.
"Midland Red designed and built these buses in Birmingham, and they served communities across the Midlands for generations.
"Today we have ensured that this unique example will continue to inspire, educate and carry passengers for many years to come."
Nearly 100 people attended the launch event, including transport enthusiasts and guests.
Following the ceremony, the D7 carried visitors on a commemorative journey to Henley in Arden station.
The successful completion of the project ensures that one of Britain’s most distinctive buses will continue operating as a living exhibit, demonstrating the engineering prowess of Midland Red and celebrating the region’s rich transport heritage.
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