Cardiff Corporation Transport City of Cardiff Transport Cardiff Bus Details of vehicles purchased new and secondhand from 1947 onwards Part 5 1981 to 1986 Delivery of the bus-seated East Lancs-bodied Leyland Olympians continued from 1983 into 1984, the last of the batch, 519 (A519 VKG) is seen in Cardiff Bus Station on 12 th July 1988. The last two deliveries of Olympians would feature coach seating. All photographs by Mike Street Cardiff s Buses Page 1
1981 The first East Lancs-bodied Leyland Olympian was 501 (LBO 501X), new in November 1981. It is seen at Sloper Road depot in March 1983. 501 LBO 501X Leyland ONLXB/1R East Lancs H43/31F Following the 1978 vehicle evaluation mentioned in Part 4, 36 East Lancs bodied Leyland Olympians and 36 Northern Counties-bodied Ailsa B55-10s were ordered. These entered service between 1981 and 1986. 501 (LBO 501X) had a narrow white band above the lower deck windows, forcing the fleet name and crest to be relocated to the lower deck panels. Year of withdrawal 1998: 501 Cardiff s Buses Page 2
1982 Delivery of the Northern Counties-bodied Ailsa AB55-10s proceeded at a quicker pace than the Olympians. The first, 401 (NDW 401X), was handed over at the City Hall in March 1982 and eighteen had been delivered by the end of that month. 401 418 NDW 401 418X Ailsa B55-10 Northern Counties H39/35F 401 418 (NDW 401 418X) In 1998/9 a number of these vehicles were refurbished, fitted with electronic destination screens and repainted in a modified livery. At least 401-4/6-11/5/7 were so treated. Years of withdrawal 2000: 412-4 2001: 416/8 2007: 402/5/10/1/5 2008: 401/3/4/6-9/7 Cardiff s Buses Page 3
(above) Northern Counties-bodied Ailsa AB55-10 415 (NDW 415X) was refurbished, as mentioned above, by May 1998 and was photographed at the Barry Rally in that month. (below) Later refurbishments appeared in the livery shown by 407 (NDW 407X) in Cardiff Bus Station on 7 th September 2005. Cardiff s Buses Page 4
1983 East Lancs-bodied Leyland Olympian 504 (RBO 504Y) was one of a number delivered with black windows surrounds, as seen in the photograph which was taken in Sloper Road depot in March 1983. 107 GPD 299N Bristol LHS6L ECW B35F 108 GPD 306N Bristol LHS6L ECW B35F 109 110 GPD 315/7N Bristol LHS6L ECW B35F 419 427 RKG 419 427Y Volvo B55-10 Northern Counties H39/35F 502 510 RBO 502 510Y Leyland ONLXB/1R East Lancs H43/31F 107 110 (GPD 299N etc.) were new to London Country (SR) as BN31/8, BN47/9 in 11/74 and 2/75 (last 3); they were acquired by Cardiff in 8/83. 419 427 (RKG 419 427Y) were licensed as Volvos, but still carried an Ailsa badge on the front grille. 419-21 (RKG 419 421Y) were new 12/82. 419 (RKG 419Y) was refurbished and fitted with an electronic destination display in 6/98. 423 (RKG 423Y) was refurbished and fitted with an electronic destination display by 8/99. 502 503 (RBO 502 503Y) were reregistered 83-D-4130/24 in 4/98. Years of withdrawal 1988: 107-10, 502-8 1999: 510 2001: 420-2/4/6 2002: 423, 509 2007: 425/7 2008: 419 Cardiff s Buses Page 5
Northern Counties-bodied Volvo B55-10 423 (RKG 423Y) is seen in Cardiff Bus Station on 12 th July 1988. Four ECW-bodied Bristol LHS6Ls, which had been new in 1974-5, were acquired from London Country Bus Services (SR) in August 1983; 109 (GPN 315N), which had been London Country BN47, was photographed in February 1987; all were withdrawn and sold in 1988. Cardiff s Buses Page 6
1984 Northern Counties-bodied Volvo B55-10 436 (A436 VNY) is seen at Victoria Park on the last day of Ailsa/Volvo operation 15 th December 2007. Although repainted in the modified livery, it had not been fitted with an electronic destination display. 428 436 A428 436 VNY Volvo B55-10 Northern Counties H39/35F 511 519 A511 519 VKG Leyland ONLXB/1R East Lancs H43/31F 432-433 (A432 433 VNY) were refurbished and fitted with electronic destination displays in 3/00. 435 (A435 VNY) was internally refurbished and fitted with an electronic destination display in 6/98. 516 (A516 VKG) was refurbished and fitted with an electronic destination display in 2/98. 517 (A517 VKG) was reregistered WLT 713 12/99, A516 VKG 10/04. Years of withdrawal 1998: 511/3 1999: 514-9 2001: 428-30/4 2002: 512 2006: 433 2007: 431/2/5 2008: 436 Cardiff s Buses Page 7
1985 The coach-seated East Lancs-bodied Leyland Olympians were often used on longerdistance routes, such as the 26 to Tredegar. 554 (B554 ATX) approaches Caerphilly Bus Station on the return journey to Cardiff on 31 st March 1989. When new, these vehicles had more white in the livery, as shown by 565 under 1986. 5 6 B905 906 DHB Leyland TRCTL11/3R Duple C53FT 551 559 B551 559 ATX Leyland ONLXB/1R East Lancs CH43/27F 5 6 (B905 906 DHB) were rare examples of Duple Caribbean 2 bodies in a municipal fleet. 6 (B906 DHB) was reregistered 111 BWO 5/97, B906 DHB 9/03. 552-5 (B552 555 ATX) were new 12/84. 554 (B554 ATX) was reregistered BHZ 9542 9/01, B554 ATX 4/05. 555 (B555 ATX) was reregistered BHZ 9541 9/01. 558 (B558 ATX) was reregistered BHZ 9548 9/01, B558 ATX 4/05. In 1977, Southend (EX) loaned Leyland Titan PD3s and Daimler Fleetlines to Cardiff. In a reverse move, Cardiff loaned Leyland Olympians to Southend (EX) in 1986-8. Details are Cardiff Southend To Southend Returned 553 363 12/86 4/88 554 364 1/87 4/88 555 365 1/87 3/88 557 367 1/87 4/88 558 368 1/87 4/88 559 359 9/86 4/88 Cardiff s Buses Page 8
Years of withdrawal 1995: 5-6 1999: 551-2/4-9 2000: 553 (above) The last vehicles delivered to the municipal City of Cardiff Transport were two PMT-bodied Mercedes Benz L608D minibuses. 112 (D112 LTG) is seen in its original livery in January 1987. (below) By June 1989 the two Mercedes had been repainted in the Metrorider livery of white, orange and brown. 112 again, on 15 th March 1990. Cardiff s Buses Page 9
1986 Coach-seated East Lancs-bodied Leyland Olympian 565 (C565 GWO) is shown in its original livery in February 1987. 111 112 D111 112 LTG Mercedes Benz L608D PMT B20F 560 567 C560 567 GWO Leyland ONLXB/1R East Lancs CH43/27F 111-112 (D111 112 LTG) were new 9/86 in an orange and white livery with Cardiff Minibus fleet names and Pick an Orange branding; they were repainted white, orange and brown by 6/89, reflecting the livery carried by the new delivery of Metroriders. 112 (D112 LTG) was reregistered 86-LH-1096 9/94. 560-3/5-6 (C560-3/5-6 GWO) were new 3/86. 564/7 (C564/7 GWO) were new 2/86. 567 (C567 GWO) was reregistered PIB 1180 in 11/07. Years of withdrawal 1994: 111-2 1999: 560/2-5/7 2000: 561/6 Cardiff s Buses Page 10
Vehicles Transferred The following vehicles were transferred to the arms-length City of Cardiff Transport Services Ltd. in October 1986. 1 NWO 901R Leyland PSU3C/4R Duple C51F 1976 2 WTG 902T Leyland PSU3E/4R Plaxton C51F 1978 3 4 GTG 633 634W Leyland PSU3E/4R Duple C53F 1980 5 6 B905 906 DHB Leyland TRCTL11/3R Duple C53FT 1985 85 JKG 485F Daimler CRG6LX Metro Cammell O42/33F 1967 103 RNY 103M Seddon Pennine IV-236 Pennine DP25F 1973 104 105 LUH 104 105P Bristol LHS6L ECW DP27F 1976 106 MJK 94L Seddon Pennine IV-236 Pennine DP25F 1973 107 GPD 299N Bristol LHS6L ECW B35F 1974 108 GPD 306N Bristol LHS6L ECW B35F 1975 109 110 GPD 315/7N Bristol LHS6L ECW B35F 1975 111 112 D111 112 LTG Mercedes L608D PMT B20F 1986 203 209 GBO 138 144N Leyland National 10351/2R Leyland National B40D 1974 211 GBO 146N Leyland National 10351/2R Leyland National B40D 1974 212 213 JBO 352 353N Leyland National 10351/2R Leyland National B44F 1975 215 JBO 345N Leyland National 10351/2R Leyland National B40D 1975 216 221 JBO 346 351N Leyland National 10351/2R Leyland National B44F 1975 301 326 SWO 301 326S Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB Willowbrook H43/31F 1977 327 358 WTG 327 358T Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB Alexander H43/31F 1978 359 360 WTG 359 360T Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB Alexander CO44/31F 1979 361 381 WTG 361 381T Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB Alexander H44/31F 1979 382 397 CTX 382 397V Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB Alexander H44/31F 1980 401 418 NDW 401 418X Ailsa B55-10 Northern Counties H39/35F 1982 419 427 RKG 419 427Y Volvo B55-10 Northern Counties H39/35F 1983 428 436 A428 436 VNY Volvo B55-10 Northern Counties H39/35F 1984 501 LBO 501X Leyland ONLXB/1R East Lancs H43/31F 1981 502 510 RBO 502 510Y Leyland ONLXB/1R East Lancs H43/31F 1983 511 519 A511 519 VKG Leyland ONLXB/1R East Lancs H43/31F 1984 551 559 B551 559 ATX Leyland ONLXB/1R East Lancs CH43/27F 1985 560 567 C560 567 GWO Leyland ONLXB/1R East Lancs CH43/27F 1986 586 591 PKG 586 591M Bristol VRT/SL2/6G ECW H43/31F 1974 594 595 PKG 594 595M Bristol VRT/SL2/6G ECW H43/31F 1974 597 599 PKG 597 599M Bristol VRT/SL2/6G ECW H43/31F 1974 601 605 PKG 601 605M Bristol VRT/SL2/6G ECW H43/31F 1974 Further notes can be found under the relevant year in Parts 3-5 of this list. 85 (JKG 485F) was converted from H42/33F in 7/80 and renumbered from 485. 106 (MJK 94L) was acquired from Eastbourne B.T. (ES) no. 94 in 3/77, it was new in 3/73. 107 110 (GPD 299N etc.) were acquired from London Country (SR) BN31/8, BN47/9 in 8/83; they were new in 11/74 and 2/75 (last 3) 212 213 (JBO 352 353N) had been converted from B40D in 1984-5. 216 221 (JBO 346 351N) had been converted from B40D in 1985. 319 (SWO 319S) became an office / crew rest room in 11/91 and was sold by 10/95. 353 358 (WTG 353 358T) were new in 1/79. 357 (WTG 357T) was renumbered 50 (ancillary fleet) 11/92 as H F and was sold in 8/94. Cardiff s Buses Page 11
Years of withdrawal 11/86: 85 (JKG 485F) 1987: 206-8, 586-91/7-9 1988: 103-10, 213, 320, 502-8 1989: 1-3, 203-5/9/11-2/5-21, 321-6, 594/5, 601-5 1990: 301/4/6/8/11-6 1991: 302/3/5/7/10/7-9 1992: 357 1993: 309/78 1994: 4, 111-2, 358/64/79/85/7/90/7 1995: 5-6, 327/9/52/66/71/83 1996: 328/30-7 1997: 338-47/50-1/3-5/63/72 1998: 348-9/73, 501/11/3 1999: 356/9-62/5/7-70/4-7/80-2/4/6/8/9/91-6, 510/4-9, 551-2/4-60/2-5/7 2000: 412-4, 553/61/6 2001: 416/8/20-2/4/6/8-30/4 2002: 423, 509/12 2006: 433 2007: 402/5/10/1/5/25/7/31/2/5 2008: 401/3/4/6-9/7/19/36 For a short time, Cardiff Bus operated The Cambrian Express to Aberystwyth. 1985 Duple Caribbean-bodied Leyland Tiger 5 (B905 DHB) awaits its passengers in Cardiff Bus Station on 20 th June 1994. The service was in retaliation to Cardiff Bluebird s operation Cardiff Bluebird was owned by Tellings Golden Miller who also operated the Traws Cambria service at the time. Cardiff s Buses Page 12