Cardiff Corporation Transport City of Cardiff Transport Cardiff Bus Details of vehicles purchased new and secondhand from 1947 onwards Part 4 1973 to 1980 Cardiff buses which carried advertising liveries will be detailed in a future part of this listing; as a taster, 1978 Alexander-bodied Bristol VRT 327 (WTG 327T) is seen advertising Debenhams new Cardiff store on 28 th June 1981. It was one of a number of vehicles in advertising livery at that year s Cardiff Bus Rally. All photographs by Mike Street Cardiff s Buses Page 1
1973 Seddon Pennine IV 101 (RNY 101M) is seen in Wood Street during its first week in service, on 25 th March 1974. The 100-series of routes were introduced by these vehicles. 101 103 RNY 101 103M Seddon Pennine IV-236 Pennine DP25F 101-103 (RNY 101-103M) were the first vehicles delivered in the new light orange and white livery in 10-11/73. They did not enter service until March 1974. 101-102 (RNY 101-102M) were withdrawn in early 1984 but not sold until 7/86. 7/86: 101-2 1988: 103 Cardiff s Buses Page 2
1974 The first new vehicles to enter service in the light orange and white livery were Bristol VRT/SL2/6Gs 586 to 605 from December 1973 to March 1974. Here 602 (PKG 602M), a February 1974 example, heads from Greyfriars Road to Kingsway on 3 rd March 1976. 201 RUH 201M Leyland National Leyland National B40D 10351/2R 202 211 GBO 137 146N Leyland National Leyland National B40D 10351/2R 586 605 PKG 586 605M Bristol VRT/SL2/6G ECW H43/31F 586 605 (PKG 586 605M) were the first new vehicles to enter service in the light orange and white livery, from December 1973 to March 1974. 591-593 (PKG 591-593M) were renumbered 091-3 as driver trainers -/87, 3/86 or 9/86 and were sold in 7/91, 7/90, 7/90 respectively. 1982: 210 1984: 596 3/86: 592 6/86: 600 7/86: 201-2 9/86: 593 1987: 206-8, 586-91/7-9 1989: 203-5/9/11, 594/5, 601-5 Cardiff s Buses Page 3
(above) Cardiff bought Leyland Nationals following the visit of demonstrator FRM 499K in March 1973. The first, 201 (RUH 201M) new in March 1974, was photographed in Wood Street on 22 nd April of that year. (below) Ten further Leyland Nationals followed in late 1974, including 207 (GBO 142N) which is seen in Newport Bus Station on 6 th April 1975. Cardiff s Buses Page 4
1975 1975 saw the last delivery of Leyland Nationals to Cardiff. The final example, 221 (JBO 351N), is seen in Cardiff Bus Station in January 1987 after conversion from B40D to B44F. 212 214 JBO 352 354N Leyland National 10351/2R 215 221 JBO 345 351N Leyland National 10351/2R Leyland National Leyland National B40D B40D 212-213 (JBO 352 353N) were converted to B44F in 12/84, 2/85 respectively. 214/6-21 (JBO 345/7-51N) were converted to B44F in 3/85, 5/85, 6/85, 4/85, 6/85, 7/85 respectively. 1984: 214 1988: 213 1989: 212/5-21 Cardiff s Buses Page 5
1976 Only three vehicles were bought by Cardiff in 1976 two were Bristol LHS6Ls with ECW bodywork containing 27 coach seats. 105 (LUH 105P) is seen in Central Square on 4 th June 1976, when still very new. 1 NWO 901R Leyland PSU3C/4R Duple C51F 104 105 LUH 104 105P Bristol LHS6L ECW DP27F 1 (NWO 901R) was reregistered 76-LH-23 7/89. 1988: 104-5 1989: 1 Cardiff s Buses Page 6
(above) The third vehicle bought in 1976 was Cardiff s first post-world War II coach. 1 (NWO 901R) was an 11-metre Leyland Leopard PSU3C/4R with Duple 51-seat coachwork. As a Bus Grant vehicle it had to spend some time on stage carriage services, and when photographed on 12 th July 1988 it was running on the City Circle route 2. (below) When Seddon Pennine IV-236 106 (MJK 94L) came from Eastbourne in March 1977, it was the first secondhand vehicle purchased since 1947. It was photographed at Roath Depot on 28 th May 1977. Cardiff s Buses Page 7
1977 The first 26 of Cardiff s 97 Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXBs had Willowbrook bodywork of a rather plain design. 304 (SWO 304S) was photographed in Cardiff Bus Station on 2 nd December 1977, it had been new the previous month. 106 MJK 94L Seddon Pennine IV-236 Pennine DP25F 301 326 SWO 301 326S Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB Willowbrook H43/31F 106 (MJK 94L) was acquired from Eastbourne B.T. (ES) no. 94 in 3/77, it was new in 3/73. It was the first vehicle purchased secondhand since 1947. 319 (SWO 319S) became an office / crew rest room in 11/91 and was sold by 10/95. To accelerate the conversion to one-person-operation numerous vehicles were loaned to Cardiff in late 1977 and early 1988. These will be detailed in a later section of the list. The vehicles subsequently purchased are detailed under the 1978 heading. 1988: 106, 320 1989: 321-6 1990: 301/4/6/8/11-6 1991: 302/3/5/7/10/7-9 1993: 309 Cardiff s Buses Page 8
1978 During 1978 it was intended to purchase five different vehicles for evaluation. East Lancs-bodied Dennis Dominator 51 (WTX 51T) was the first to arrive, others being loaned for evaluation. It was photographed on Kingsway in 1982. 2 WTG 902T Leyland PSU3E/4R Plaxton C51F 3 LVK 406L Leyland PSU3B/4R Willowbrook C51F 51 WTX 51T Dennis Dominator DD110 East Lancs H43/31F 327 358 WTG 327 358T Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB Alexander H43/31F 506 509 WJY 749/54/6-7 Leyland PDR1/1 Metro Cammell H44/31F 510 512 16/9, 24 JVK Leyland PDR1/1 Weymann H44/31F 513 514 30, 41 JVK Leyland PDR1/1 Mk.II Alexander H44/31F 515 516 ETN 89, 97C Leyland PDR1/1 Mk.II Weymann H44/31F 517 KBB 111D Leyland PDR1/1 Mk.II Metro Cammell H44/31F 518 ETN 74C Leyland PDR1/1 Mk.II Alexander H44/31F 519 ETN 103C Leyland PDR1/1 Mk.II Weymann H44/31F 3 (LVK 406L) was on loan from Tyne & Wear P.T.E. (TW) no. 406 from 4/78 to 3/79 and was repainted in the Cardiff white and orange coach livery (hence the inclusion in this section); it was an exchange for Cardiff 600 (PKG 600M) which was loaned to Tyne & Wear P.T.E. 327 358 (WTG 327 358T) when new these vehicles had opening upper-deck front windows (see photograph of 360 on page 15), but these were replaced by plain glass in 1980. 351 (WTG 351T) was reregistered OIL 4473 9/00, WTG 351T 2/02. 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. 506-509 (WJY 749/54/6/7) were new in 1962; they were acquired from Plymouth C.T. (DN) nos. 149/54/6/7 in 1/78, having been on loan since 9/77 as H44/34F; they were reseated on purchase. Cardiff s Buses Page 9
510 512 (16/9, 24 JVK) were new in 1963, they were acquired from Tyne & Wear P.T.E. (TW) nos. 116/9/24 in 1/78, having been on loan since 9/77 as H44/34F; they were reseated on purchase. 513 514 (30, 41 JVK) were new in 1964, they were acquired from Tyne & Wear P.T.E. (TW) nos. 130/41 in 1/78, having been on loan since 9/77 as H44/34F; they were reseated on purchase. 515/6/8/9 (ETN 89C etc) were new in 1965, they were acquired from Tyne & Wear P.T.E. (TW) nos. 189/97/74, 203 in 1/78, having been on loan since 9/77 as H44/34F; they were reseated on purchase. 517 (KBB 111D) was new in 1966, it was acquired from Tyne & Wear P.T.E. (TW) no. 211 in 1/78, having been on loan since 9/77 as H44/34F; it was reseated on purchase. 510 519 were all new to Newcastle-upon-Tyne C.T. (ND) with the same fleet numbers as carried in the Tyne & Wear fleet. Details of the vehicles loaned for evaluation will be published in a later section of the list. Alexander-bodied Bristol VRT/SL3 343 (WTG 343T) was repainted in Cardiff Corporation Tramways livery in 1977 to celebrate 75 years of municipal operation. It was photographed in Cardiff Bus Station in August 1980. 1978: 507 1979: 3, 506/8/9 By 1/80: 510-9 7/86: 51 1989: 2 1992: 357 1994: 358 1995: 327/9/52 1996: 328/30-7 1997: 338-47/50-1/3-5 1998: 348-9 1999: 356 Cardiff s Buses Page 10
(above) The second post-war coach purchased was this Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R with Plaxton Supreme Express coachwork. 2 (WTG 902T) was new in August 1978 and photographed at Sloper Road depot in March 1983. (below) Loaned vehicles will be detailed in a later section of this list, but Willowbrookbodied Leyland Leopard PSU3B/4R 3 (LVK 406L), which was on loan from Tyne & Wear PTE (TW) 406 from April 1978 to March 1979 is included as it gained Cardiff livery. Cardiff Bristol VRT/SL2 600 (PKG 600M) went to Tyne & Wear PTE in exchange. Cardiff s Buses Page 11
(above) Four Metro Cammell-bodied Leyland Atlanteans were purchased from Plymouth in January 1978, after being on loan since the previous September. Cardiff 506 (WJY 749) was originally Plymouth 149. (below) Similarly, ten Leyland Atlanteans were purchased from Tyne & Wear P.T.E. Cardiff 515 (ETN 89C), with Weymann bodywork, was previously Tyne & Wear 189. Cardiff s Buses Page 12
1979 Two of the 1978/9 delivery of Alexander-bodied Bristol VRT/SL3s were convertible to open-top for use on city tours. 360 (WTG 360T) is seen loading in Wood Street on 29 th July 1992. 359 360 WTG 359 360T Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB Alexander CO44/31F 361 381 WTG 361 381T Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB Alexander H44/31F 359 360 (WTG 359 360T) when new these vehicles had opening upper-deck front windows (see photograph on page 15), but these were replaced by plain glass in 1980. 361 381 (WTG 361 381T) were delivered with plain glass upper-deck front windows. 362 (WTG 362T) was reregistered NGP 989 c12/99. 367 (WTG 367T) was reregistered OIL 5276 9/00, WTG 367T 2/02. 369 (WTG 369T) was reregistered OIL 4474 9/00, WTG 369T 2/02. 1993: 378 1994: 364/79 1995: 366/71 1997: 363/72 1998: 373 1999: 359-62/5/7-70/4-7/80/1 Cardiff s Buses Page 13
1980 1980 saw the delivery of two Duple Dominant-bodied Leyland Leopard coaches, the second of which, 4 (GTG 634W), is seen in Westgate Street on 31 st August 1990. Note the revised livery of white, brown and orange. 3 4 GTG 633 634W Leyland PSU3E/4R Duple C53F 382 397 CTX 382 397V Bristol VRT/SL3/6LXB Alexander H44/31F 3 (GTG 633W) was reregistered MIW 1239 2/92, HTY 305W 8/95. 4 (GTG 634W) was reregistered WXI 7393 7/96. 387 (CTX 387V) was reregistered 3762 KX 9/94. 390 (CTX 390V) was reregistered 9945 NE 9/94. 1989: 3 1994: 4, 385/7/90/7 1995: 383 1999: 382/4/6/8/9/91-6 Cardiff s Buses Page 14
(above ) One of Cardiff s last delivery of Alexander-bodied Bristol VRTs, 392 (CTX 392V), runs from Newport Road into Dumfries Place on service 47 from Llanrumney in June 1987. (below) When new, Alexander-bodied Bristol VRTs 327-360 (including the two convertible to open-top) had opening upper-deck front windows as shown on 360 (WTG 360T) on 8 th April 1979; these were replaced by plain glass in 1980. Cardiff s Buses Page 15