100 Years of Buses in Coventry

Photo courtesy of Roger Bailey

Coventry's first bus service ran in March 1914, but was short lived because the buses were requisitioned by the War Department in August, after the outbreak of World War I.  The Maudslay 40hp 3-tonner, DU 269, was one of six buses purchased by the corporation to operate its first bus services.  From the destination board, it is possible to assume that it was a circular service, with its City stop outside the Municipal Offices (later the Council House) and proceeding via the Fire Station to Upper Stoke, returning directly to the Municipal Offices. In that case, there would have been a reverse direction service from the Municipal Offices to Upper Stoke, returning via the Fire Station.  However, it may have been a straightforward out and back service from the Fire Station to Stoke via the Municipal Offices.