2009 Newsletter 2 of 4

FREE TO MEMBERS
£1 TO NON MEMBERS
CARDIFF TRANSPORT
PRESERVATION GROUP
NEWSLETTER
WWW.CTPG.CO.UK
REGISTERED CHARITY No. 1063157
ISSUE NO.2 of 4 – 2009
Nicole Cooke, our Olympic Gold Medal winning cyclist, signed
this photograph for the group. The CTPG provided the bus for
the homecoming of Nicole to Wick from Beijing last September.
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Chairman’s Message;
Welcome to the second 2009 CTPG newsletter.
A couple of notices for you;
Our rally, The Barry Festival of Transport, is taking place on
Sunday 14 th June, you may have seen it advertised. We need as
many members and volunteers as possible to help out on the day.
The event will be on two sites this year, the normal Hood Road
site and the Bus Depot, please contact me on the number below to
volunteer. You will not need to spend all day with us; a couple of
hours will allow someone else to have some time off.
At 11am the Depot will be officially opened by the Vale Council
Leader. All former Western Welsh and National Welsh
employees are invited to come along. I hope that a Western Welsh
convoy will arrive with the Council and ex-employees.
On Monday 8 th June at 6:30pm Roy Noble will be unveiling a
plaque to commemorate the late Julian Brinkworth, the CTPG’s
first Chairman. All members are invited to come along for a cup
of tea.
Road Runs began in May and continue until August, remember it
is a 7pm start from Cardiff County Hall.
The Bus & Coach Wales has finally been confirmed for Sunday
6 th September at the College in Merthyr Tydfil.
Work at the Depot is progressing well, a few extra regulars have
been helping out and the results are very impressive. I hope that
we can complete the painting in time for the 14th.
Mike
Tel: 01443 862144
Email : mikeystrad73@btinternet.com
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DON’T FORGET
Send your items and articles for the newsletter to the editor at -----
viv.corbin@ntlworld.com
MARCH MEETING;
Our guest speaker was Robert Edworthy of Chepstow whose
subject was the various liveries of the National Bus Company.
However due to a breakdown there was no slide projector
available. Robert gamely gave a talk on liveries used by the
N.B.C. companies but was at a disadvantage due to the lack of
visual aids. After the break Chris Taylor presented an impromptu
quiz that went down well with those present.
--------------------------------
APRIL MEETING;
Glyn Bowen gave a presentation of slides and videos of buses in
Malta and Cyprus. These were from his visits to the islands over
the last 20 years. Malta in particular had an amazing variety of
elderly buses that slowly are being replaced with more modern
buses and coaches. Glyn has penned an illustrated article which
appears in this issue.
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MAY ROAD RUN;
The first road run of 2009 took place on 20 th May. We had the
opportunity to sample the fine AEC Regent V owned by Martin
Doe. This Northern Counties bodied double deck bus was new to
Rhondda Transport in 1966. Sold for preservation in 1980, it has
survived in preservation over twice the length of time as it did in
service.
The AEC Regent photographed at Cowbridge Town Hall. (V.C.)
Around 25 members and guests joined Martin and KNY 495D at
County Hall, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff for an evening trip around
the Vale of Glamorgan.
Travelling via Wenvoe and Rhoose Airport we then skirted
Llantwit Major and soon arrived at the Town Hall Bus Station in
the old market town of Cowbridge. There a short break for
refreshment was enjoyed before the returning to Cardiff via the
A48 and the A4232.
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4

143 RESTORED TO CARDIFF CLIPPER LIVERY.
by Glyn Bowen
Following final release from the Cardiff Bus training fleet, the last
Optare Metrorider, 143 (N143PTG) was transferred to a yard in
Ystrad Mynach for temporary storage and then on to another yard
at Oakdale. Whilst stored at Oakdale, there was a serious fire in a
road sweeper lorry parked in the yard and, although 143 suffered
some heat damage to the offside front, the prompt attendance of
the local Fire Brigade saved it from a premature demise!
Former Cardiff Bus Optare N143 PTG (Glyn Bowen)
Luckily, Gareth Handy of Sixty-Sixty Coaches, Merthyr Tydfil
agreed that 143 could be kept in his yard whilst renovation work
took place and also kindly offered parts from the two ex Cardiff
Metroriders that he had purchased in order to provide spares for
his three serviceable examples. Apart from replacing the fire
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damaged items, the opportunity was also taken to ensure 143 had a
full set of matching seats in good condition.
The original intention had been to T Cut the white paintwork but
the scorch damage prompted the decision to undertake a full
repaint. Following many hours of preparatory work, 143 was resprayed
all-over white by 6060’s painter during the course of a
weekend. Gareth kindly allowed 143 to stay in the workshop over
the following week in order for me to apply the orange and brown
paint and to apply the orange and gold vinyl lining stripes together
with the original “Cardiff Clipper” vinyl lettering. Grateful thanks
to Gareth and the staff at 6060 for their assistance and interest.
Whilst awaiting transfer to Barry, 143 again came under threat
when youths entered the premises at night and drove ex Cardiff
134 around the yard and eventual through (or rather over!) the
locked gates and out on to the road severely damaging the vehicle.
A van parked next to 143 was badly damaged and CCTV images
showed how near 143 came to being hit.
143 is now safely housed in Barry Depot and will hopefully make
its first public appearance in restored Clipper livery very soon.
------------------------------------
A coachbuilders’ advertisement from 1931
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FAREWELL TO NINIAN PARK
Next season will see Cardiff City Football Club move to their new ground
on Leckwith Road after nearly 100 years at Ninian Park. As this advert
from some 80 years ago shows, public transport has always been
important to the success of the ‘Bluebirds’.
7

AS I SEE IT by Derek Perry.
(photos CTPG)
I have been asked to up-date you on the depot transformation.
With the number of members involved I cannot know of every
thing that has been done or by whom, hence the title “As I see it”.
My first look at the Bus Depot was one of horror! Neglect and
vandalism had taken their toll, but also the way that nature has
tried to claim back its territory was quite amazing. Roots have
invaded the drains, branches were hanging down the inside of the
walls, but there was nothing that cannot be fixed.
The kitchen area (above) has been tackled, the windows unboarded
and glass replaced. The old sink unit has been pulled out,
the suspended ceiling panels and frames taken down. The flaking
paint was scraped from the walls, the old radiators and pipe work
removed, it looked better all ready! The electrician has been busy
fitting wires, lights, sockets etc.
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A sink unit has been fitted and plumbed in with a water heater and
a section of work surface fitted from sink to wall. One missing
door and frame has been replaced, the other door has been painted.
The walls have been filled in and two coats of paint applied.
Some of the skirting had rotted so had to be replaced with
planking taken from the fuel hut. A pressure washer turned on the
area has made it quite presentable and much better working
conditions for the plumber. Painting the floor has completed the
job. All the necessary equipment for a kitchen has now been put in
place plus a couple of heaters so we can now sit in comfort for our
meal break.
The toilets and sinks have been renewed, piping laid and water
connected. The ladies toilet doors and frames were covered with
paint that has cracked badly so a blowlamp and scraper had to be
used to take them back to bare wood. The bottom of the door
frames have rotted, these have been scraped out and filled with
cement which will not show too much when painted over. The
walls of the canteen have been washed down with sugar soap
which revealed that most of the wall tiles are OK but some have
been damaged. These have now been filled with cement and the
numerous holes have been filled with polyfilla and a couple of
coats of tile paint were needed to tidy it all up. The walls above
the tiles, together with the corridors have had fixtures and fitting
removed, cleaned and painted. The missing door and frame has
been replaced and the frame and floor painted.
The gents’ toilets are differently constructed to the ladies with
partitions of melamine which, after a good clean are found to be in
a fairly good condition. The doors have been painted, some of the
wall tiles have been damaged, and have been given the cement and
polyfilla treatment. A good wash down with sugar soap have left
it looking quite presentable. The walls and floor have received the
same treatment. The missing outer door and frame has been
replaced. A final clean up has completed the job.
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The rear windows have been bricked up or replaced and extra
bricking to secure a weak point next to the main sliding door. The
fuel hut in the doorway has had the electrics removed, and been
dismantled, the slab it stood on broken up and the resulting hole
filled with concrete. Another hole in the floor, where the rolling
road once was has now been levelled off with concrete.
A pile of rubbish was building up until a member turned up with a
trailer and did several trips to get rid of it. He has been back a
good number or times since to keep the depot uncluttered.
The sliding doors to the pit area haven’t been moved for some
time so the pressure washer was used to blast out the runner
trough. An application of oil, a large lever, and brute force got the
large doors moving. Where water has leaked down the inside
walls, the paint has flaked, and moss has grown. The pressure
washer removed most of these problems by taking it back to red
brick, but we couldn’t reach to the top so it was decided to use the
open top bus to work from.
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We have heavy plastic sheets to hang down the side of the bus to
protect it, but it still got a little dirty, but has cleaned up OK.
A channel in the floor to catch the water from bus washing has
been cleaned out and the edging angle iron reaffixed to the floor.
More metal grids over the top have been obtained, modified and
fitted. A rear door has been opened, rubbish cleared away,
shrubbery cut down and climbers cut back for the scaffolder to
erect platforms for the lead flashings to be replaced and the
guttering to be cleared out.
Panic stations: we arrived one day to find the pits flooded. It was
discovered to be coming in a rear door which hadn't until then
been opened, outside was a small yard that gives access to the air
compressor and boiler room. This area has a drain pipe that must
open up down the railway embankment. Drain rods were
borrowed, and with them and a nozzle on the pressure washer, the
water eventually started to run away. The water from the pit floor
was then swept out the door.
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Water is also a problem with the internal down pipes from the
guttering. An initial clean out of the drains they run into solved
most of the problem, but two down pipes at the rear are blocked
completely. When it rained (and we have had rather a lot of that
lately) the water cascaded down and a hole in the pipe produced
rivers across the floor until it found another drain. There was only
one thing left to try -- the pressure washer!
A ladder was placed near the pipe, the hose placed down the hole
at the top, and the pressure turned on. Well, it had to be seen to be
believed the thick black sludge that came up and out, ran down the
wall, splashed over me at the top of the ladder and Mike at the
bottom until it eventually cleared. The second down pipe took the
same treatment with not quite so much effort it also ran clear. The
clean up after was a big job with the shovel, brushing and hosing.
I do not know how Mike got on but when I got home I changed
my trousers, took them out the back and turned the garden hose on
them until they were clean enough to go in the washing machine.
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One of these down pipes has since blocked again, on removal this
was found to be packed full of leaves. We have now replaced it.
Painting was started in the pit area, the first coat was thinned
down to form a seal, and then with the second coat the bright
yellow started to show up the safety feature of such a colour. More
muted colours have been applied around the outsides. Pit lights
have been fitted. Two rear doors have been replaced and fitted
with push handles to open from the inside only; the third rear door
is a good solid metal door.
On the outside area, lockable posts have been fitted across the
front to keep illegal parkers off our patch. The road side wall has
had a fresh coat of paint to brighten it up, and two lamps have
been fitted and wired with light sensors for security. Lights have
now been fitted to cover the interior area.
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At first the centre office (below) was used for tea breaks, an
electric kettle providing boiling water. A couple of chairs and a
desk completed our home comforts. The drainage channel in front
of the door was effectively cleaned with new grills fitted. Doors
have had their boarding removed, cleaned up and rubbed down.
Glass has proved to be too expensive, so a call was made to
Wickes to obtain polycarbonate sheeting which has been cut and
fitted. The single door now has a working lock and the double
doors have a catch that works that with the addition of a new bolt
can be secured from the inside.
A gap in the ceiling boards the length of the room has now been
filled with ply wood, giving us a good storage area above. The
floor pressure washed, walls and floor painted we now have a tidy
office. This office is to be used for a display of our artefacts and
memorabilia. It is slowly turning into a museum with glass
cabinets, shelving units, and pictures on the walls. The outside
wall has received Western Welsh signs etc.
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Starting from the main entrance doors we have cleaned, scraped,
and painted right along to the paint shop doors, a mammoth task,
not helped by the persistent rain water leaks that, in spite of all our
efforts, seem to slow but not stop. It was decided to go back to the
original cream paint on the top, with black on the bottom, with a
dividing red line. The folding doors to the paint shop have rollers
on the bottom which are proving to be a problem as they are
seized. They refuse to free off and removing the doors seems to be
the only answer, but at the moment no-one is brave enough to
tackle it. GOT ANY IDEAS ANYONE?
All the lower broken glass panels have been removed, and have
been replaced with polycarbonate; the top row will be fitted with
ply wood, or left open. Meanwhile, behind these doors has been a
hive of activity with the old wiring and pipe work removed and
paint has been applied to the walls and floor. Benches are set in
the area between the paint shop and the pits, and tools etc., placed
in their cupboard ready for when we get back to working on the
buses. As spare parts are arriving they have been placed in the
various rooms at the rear of the building on the shelving that has
been assembled around the walls. Some sorting is taking place.
The two former office rooms facing the pits are being sorted,
suspended ceiling panels replaced, and walls cleaned and painted.
The doors have received some attention with locks still to be
fitted. The outside of the offices are receiving several coats of
paint.
Buses are arriving and are being arranged side by side in a row
towards the rear of the building, on the pits, and along the front
wall. We have now prepared and painted the front wall, the end
wall is a problem with three oil tanks in the way it will be
awkward to reach.
(Well done to everyone involved for their hard work! Ed.)
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A ‘WHO’S ZOO’ OF LEYLAND;
A light hearted look at some of the Leyland models.
In the early years Leyland Motors relied mainly on letters and
numbers to identify their various vehicle types.
From the mid 1920’s onwards they supplemented the type
designations by using mainly animal names for their goods and
passenger vehicles. Over the following 60 years over 30 animal
names were used. Some of these are listed below.
Lion (psv)
Lioness (psv)
Octopus (goods)
Lion Cub (psv)
Boxer (goods)
Lion (rear engine psv)
Mastiff (goods)
Tiger (psv)
Hippo (goods)
Tigress (psv)
Super Hippo (goods)
Royal Tiger (psv)
Retriever (goods)
Royal Tiger Cub (psv)
Bison (goods)
Tiger Cub (psv)
Buffalo (goods)
Cub (goods/psv)
Terrier (goods)
Cheetah (psv)
Rhino (goods)
Leopard (psv)
Llama (goods)
Panther (psv)
Leveret (goods/psv)
Panther Cub (psv)
Badger (goods/psv)
Panda (psv)
Comet (goods/psv)
Swift (psv; not AEC)
Super Comet (goods)
Gnu (psv)
Lynx (goods/psv)
Steer (goods/psv for export only)
Beaver (goods)
Super Beaver (goods/psv for export only)
Bull (goods/psv)
Bull Moose (goods-Canada)
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Leyland used many names from the cat family but not ‘Pussy’.
Several cattle names were also used but not ‘Bullocks’.
I think there was only one model named after a bird, but certain
models may be regarded by some as turkeys. Eventually British
Leyland took over Jaguar and Rover, the former a really fast cat
but the latter became a right dog!
If readers (other than Chris Taylor) can name any other Leyland
animals please contact the editor.
A Leyland advertisment from 1950.
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MALTA and GOZO – A Welsh vehicle update.
Words & photos by Glyn Bowen.
The Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo have long been an
attraction for the British bus enthusiast not least because of the
large number of vehicles with UK origins. A few operate in almost
original condition but most have been extensively rebuilt over the
years by their enthusiastic owners anxious not only to prolong the
useful life of their vehicle but also to embellish it with chrome,
badges and individual artistic designs.
The magnificent DBY300 (formerly TNY 495G) awaits departure, Valletta
Bus Station, March 2009.
The purpose of this article is to identify the various route buses
that were new to Welsh operators and carried Welsh registration
marks. Therefore, touring and private hire coaches are not
included and neither are the vehicles that were not new to Welsh
operators but passed through the hands of Welsh operators before
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arriving in Malta. Perhaps these could be the focus of a future
article.
At the time of my latest visit to Malta, March 2009, pride of place
must undoubtedly go to Willowbrook bodied AEC Reliance
DBY300. This magnificent machine, now unfortunately fitted
with a Cummins engine, was new to Aberdare UDC in 1968 and
registered TNY495G. It passed to Cynon Valley DC on Local
Government reorganisation in 1974 and was exported to Malta by
May 1981. The centre doors were removed before it entered
service. Sister vehicle DBY345 (ex TNY494G) remains in service
but is generally in very poor condition. The third example,
formerly EBY510 (ex TNY493G) was withdrawn from service in
2003 and replaced by a new low floor King Long. However, it was
one of the vehicles retained by the Government for possible use on
heritage/tourist services and it still survives in outside storage
albeit in rapidly deteriorating condition.
The not so magnificent DBY345 at Blue Grotto terminus, March 2009
19

A remarkable survivor is former Rhondda Transport AEC Regal
GNY764. New in 1948 it was fitted with a new body by Debono,
Malta in 1963 and now carries the registration EBY484. To add to
the disguise, it now has a Bedford style front although AEC
badges are still proudly displayed.
Not what it seems at first sight, the chassis of EBY484 is based on an ex
Rhondda Transport AEC Regal.
The only other former service bus is DBY352 that started life as
Davies (Pencader) Bristol LH6L/ ECW HBX948N that arrived in
Malta in 1986.
All the other route buses with Welsh registrations were new as
coaches with their original owners. Some retain coach seating
whilst others have service bus seating. Again some have been
extensively rebuilt. EBY611 (ex RDE298S) is a Bristol LH6L
with Plaxton coach body that was new to Silcox, Pembroke Dock
in 1977.
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All the remainder are Bedfords with Duple Dominant I coach
bodies with the exception of YLQ DBY385 (ex RBO669R) that
has a Plaxton Supreme body and was new to Hills, Tredegar.
Williams, Cwmdu were the original owners of EBY519 (ex
MTX250L) and FBY780 (ex OHB470N) both YRQs. Another
Williams, this time Gwyn Williams, Lower Tumble, was the first
owner of another YRQ, DBY319 (ex VBX518L). Two further
YRQs are DBY449 (ex JWO48P) new to Bebbs, Llantwit Fardre
and EBY596 another former Davies (Pencader) vehicle (ex
KBX39P). Another Bedford YLQ is FBY650 (ex MTX661P)
originating with Rees, Llanelly Hill.
FBY058, a former Bebbs Dennis Javelin, standing in Victoria Bus Station,
Gozo.
Whilst confirming the first owners of these vehicles, group
member David Donati mentioned that a group of vehicle owners
from Malta used to travel to Wales to source suitable vehicles
from friendly operators and arrangements for transporting them to
21

Malta were then left to Martin Perry of Bromyard. Martin still has
dealings with Malta through the supply of spares for the ageing
fleet.
To complete the picture, the short ferry trip to Gozo reveals a
further three vehicles that can be found both on service work and
private hire duties. Two FBY058 (ex E38SBO) and FBY073 (ex
E32SBO) are Dennis Javelins with Duple 320 bodies from the
fleet of Bebb, Llantwit Fardre whilst FBY060 (ex F327YTG) is a
Plaxton Paramount 3200 on a Bedford YNT chassis new to East
Glamorgan, Nelson.
What the future holds for all of these vehicles is uncertain. If
Government plans are fully implemented, it is likely that single
operators will take over the services in Malta and Gozo with fleets
of low floor buses to replace the existing vehicles. The owners of
the old vehicles will be compensated but the replaced buses will
pass to the Government for scrapping. A campaign has been
organised to save some of the ousted vehicles and, at the time of
writing, it appears that the Government may be prepared to do a U
turn and allow some old buses to be retained and possibly used on
heritage type services. However, an autumn 2009 trip is
recommended if you want to see traditional Maltese vehicles and
the older UK imports in normal service.
-----------------------------------
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
14 th June; Barry Festival of Transport & Depot Open Day.
(marshalls are urgently required for anytime during the
day -- please help out)
17 th June; CTPG Evening Road Run with Glyn Millington’s
former Wigan Leyland PD2, DEK 3D
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20/21 st June; Royal Blue/Associated Motorways Express road
run from Cheltenham.
(Join Richard Johnson on his MW coach. Depart Barry at 0700
Saturday via Cheltenham & Bath to Weymouth for the Vintage
Running Day. Optional B&B for Sat. night available @ £30 approx.
or return home by rail Sat. Eve. @ £30 approx. Try rail enquiries
for special offers. On Sunday travel from the rally site to
Southampton via Swanage, Corfe, and Bournemouth returning to
Cardiff & Barry on Sunday evening)
21 st June Under Milk Wood Road Run, Swansea.
28 th June; Stroud Group Running Day.
(Join Richard’s MW at 0730 from Barry. Pick-ups at Cardiff by arrangement)
28 th June; Welsh Heartlands Transport Festival, Nelson
15 th July; CTPG Evening Road Run (to be confirmed)
31 st July–2 nd Aug. The 35 th Transport Rally at Kemble, Glos.
9 th August; Bristol V.B.G./Avon Valley Railway Running Day
15/16 th Aug; Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Open Weekend.
19 th Aug; CTPG Evening Road Run with Bristol Greyhound.
6 th Sept. BUS & COACH WALES 2009 at Merthyr Tydfil.
(Despite early doubts, the second major CTPG event of the year is
now confirmed. For details contact Glyn Bowen 01443-693696.
Marshalls will be needed on the day.)
6 th Sept. Torbay Vintage Bus Running Day.
16 th Sept; CTPG / O.S. joint event with James Freeman on
S.W.T. and Friends of King Alfred Motor Services.
20 th Sept; W.H.O.T.T. Rally at Exeter.
21 st October CTPG meeting; Mike Walker presents the 2 nd part
of ‘Life on the Buses.’
18 th Nov; CTPG meeting (T.B.C.)
17 th Dec; CTPG Quiz Night presented by Chris Taylor.
PLEASE CHECK FOR UPDATES ON OUR WEBSITE
WWW.CTPG.CO.UK
23

OVER THE BRIDGE
Ian Barlow’s former Plymouth Corporation Crossley DD42 at the River Usk
Transporter Bridge at Newport on the group evening trip in July 2004. (V.C.)
This could be 50 years ago! The group’s former Red & White Lodekka TAX 235
crosses the Wye at Chepstow during the Red & White Day in May 2007. (V.C.)
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