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Buses in Malta - page 5. Imported Bedford buses and coaches part 2 (Plaxton bodies) (by Shane Conway)
Last updated 4 August 2024
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Thanks to David Gilbert who found the file and sent it to me, I have received a lot more of his father's photos and text files relating to this site. Among them are over 200 delightful photos of Maltese buses and coaches taken by Peter Skerry in 2006. As these would have been mostly swept away by the 2011 reform of the island's bus services, these pages will help to recall how things used to be in Malta. Having already covered the ex London Transport AEC Swift single deckers dating from 1969 to 1971, ex U.K. Bristol LH buses and one coach, ex U.K. Fords and ex U.K. Bedford buses and coaches with Duple or Marshall bodies, this page looks at the Bedford buses and coaches with Plaxton bodies which were exported to Malta. Again, Peter managed to work out the identities of each vehicle that he saw, and managed to photograph a total of 60 Bedfords, of which 30 are on this page. I am again indebted to both David and Peter for making these photos available. The photos are arranged in order of their chassis serial numbers.
Maltese route buses (from 1995 to 2011) were registered in the format DBY (or EBY or FBY) followed by three digits. Prior to 1995 they were plated as Y followed by four digits, and were all re-registered at that time, but maintained a direct link between both versions, e.g. Y-0475 became EBY 475 and so on.
First up is Bedford YRQ DBY 351 (chassis 1T482951), which dates from March 1971 and was new as XVY 198J with York Pullman, fleet number 98. Prior to its Maltese service it also operated for Tozer, Scarborough.
Next is FBY 717 (chassis 1T489467) which dates from October 1971, being new to Cross and Sobey, St Annes as JTD 615K. Before heading to Malta it was a second hand purchase by Morley, West Row.
EBY 550 has chassis 2T470725 and was new in February 1972 to Morley, West Row as WCF 539K, one of many Bedfords they bought over the years from 1942 to 1981. A new front panel has been substituted for the original Plaxton version.
Next up is chassis 2T470807, which became FBY 654 on Malta. It was new in May 1972 as RPR 740K in the fleet of Rendell, Parkstone, later passing to Adams, Hanley, prior to being exported.
DBY 335 was previously XAW 326K (2T471293) new to Hampson, Oswestry (fleet number 35) in January 1972 and
it later passed to Williams, Cwmdu. It is another recipient of the Maltese spec seating and windows as well as a Plaxton Supreme front
panel. The other vehicle bought by Hampson at that time (XAW 336K) stayed in Britain after being sold.
FBY 655 (2T472173) was originally UNU 178K and new in February 1973, new to Hartle, Buxton. Its Maltese owner had it fitted with a Plaxton Paramount front panel. For some reason it has been altered to move the emergency exit from behind the cab to the rear.
New to Craiggs, Amble as CJR 823K, EBY 563 (2T472433) dates from May 1972. It was later bought by Woodcock, Buxton before heading to Malta.
DBY 453 (chassis CW451055), was new as FNL 581L, part of a batch of twelve Plaxton bodied Bedfords bought by Moor-Dale, Newcastle in January 1973. It subsequently operated for Waldron and Grange, Nottingham. As with most imported coaches, it has had its sests and windows changed.
Next is DBY 400 (chassis CW451610) which was new to Walker,Brompton as CPY 580L in March 1973. It was also
operated by Carnell, Sutton Bridge before going to Malta.
EBY 587 was new as CNT 265L, the 2nd of a pair of coaches bought by Hampson, Oswestry (fleet number 34) in January 1973. Based on chassis CW451944, it had just one U.K. owner before export.
Based on chassis CW452743, EBY 580 was new in May 1973 as XWW 791L in the fleet of Central, Ripponden. It later served with Morley, West Row.
FBY 706 was previously PGW 638L (CW454872) new to Grey-Green in May 1973. It was one of a batch of seventeen similar coaches placed in service that year, later passing to Kirkbright, Colne before heading to Malta.
DBY 441 was new to Mawby,Crowcroft and Fell, Barnsley as SHE 199M (CW455665) in June 1974. Prior to arriving on Malta, it also served in the fleet of Morley, West Row.
DBY 373 (DW454800) is a rare example of a rebodied ex U.K. Bedford. In this case a Scarnif body has
replaced its original Plaxton Derwent 37 seat bus body. Originally SYO 601N, it was the middle of a batch of three buses new to Wilder,
Feltham in September 1974.
DBY 406 (chassis EW452721) was new to Grogan, Rainhill in August 1975 as KUR 304P. Later owned by Fletcher, Skelmersdale, it is also known to have been with one of the bus breakers in Barnsley, before going to Malta.
EBY 475 has chassis EW454201 and was new in April 1976 to Florence, Morecambe with registration SBV 284P. Following withdrawal in April 1979, it then operated on the Isle of Man as A111 MAN until February 1986 before going to the island of Malta.
EBY 491 (chassis EW454516) was originally LBR 270N, new in July 1975 to Gypsy Queen, Langley Park. As is usual on Malta it has received bus seats and opening windows, as well as Leyland-DAF signage on the side.
Based on chassis EW456754, FBY 762 was new as LRG 65P in the fleet of Rochester and Marshall, Great Whittington. One of three Bedford coaches bought new in March 1976, the others being another YRQ (LRG 66P) along with a YRT (LRG 67P), all Plaxton bodied.
EBY 615 was previously NTO 34P (EW456903) new to Skill, Nottingham (number 29) in May 1976. It was joined by a Bedford YRT (NTO 35P) and a Leyland Leopard (NTO 36P), all with Plaxton bodies.
DBY 442 (FW453232) was new in January 1977 to Stanley, Hersham as RGS 98R, one of a batch of three purchased at the time by that operator, well known for their fleet of pink and grey coaches and buses.
DBY 385 was new in April 1977 to Hills, Tredegar as RBO 669R (chassis FW453827), the first of a batch of five identical coaches (RBO 669 to 673R) as well as Leopard RBO 674R in July that year. It was later operated by Williams, Cwmdu, before being exported to Malta.
Next we have EBY 558 (FW453987), which was formerly NVA 45R new to Miller, Foxton in November 1976, it being joined by YRT/Plaxton NVA 53R at the same time.
FBY 643 (on chassis FW454198) was new in March 1977 to Bicknell, Godalming as MPX 7R. This is a Bedford YLQ, fitted with the larger 500 series engine.
EBY 577 had chassis number FW455588 and was new in May 1977 to Thomas, Barry in South Wales as OHY 790R. Similarly registered coaches were supplied around the same time to Cattermole, Bristol (YMT/Duple OHY 791/92/93R) and Leopard/Plaxton OHY 789R to Llynfi, Maesteg.
EBY 626 (on chassis FW455690) was new in July 1978 to Razey, Thruxton as CAA 840R, its sole British owner. It was one of the few coaches on Malta with the two piece entrance door, and is seen here on route 55.
EBY 605 was new as TWT 504R (FW456046), one of two YLQs bought new by Anderton, Keighley in March 1977. It later passed to Evans, Tregarron, before heading to Malta.
FBY 683 was new as STA 259R (FW456548), new to Snell, Newton Abbot in April 1977 as a Bedford YMT 53 seater. On arrival in Malta, however, it was shortened by removing the small window bay ahead of the emergency exit, and moving the rear axle forward. It then operated as a ten metre 45 seater. See here for a photo of how it looked originally. It is also recorded as being ex Snell, so who are Matthews as depicted on the front destination glass?
DBY 358 was new in April 1977 to Standish, East Hardwick as UWU 628R, its only U.K. operator. Based on
chassis GW450941, its another to have modified windows and replacement seats.
EBY 591 (GW450993) was originally PET 214R, new in March 1977 to Hartle, Buxton. Maltese alterations included the obligatory slider windows and Paramount front, but it kept its coach seats.
EBY 630 was new as UFT 912T (HW453518), one of two YLQs bought new by Curtis, Dudley in August 1978. 911 and 912 were part of a batch of eighteen consecutively registered coaches shared between Curtis, Moor-Dale, Newcastle and Rochester and Marshall, Great Whittington. Two were Volvo B58s, the others Bedfords and all with Plaxton bodies. All three companies were under common ownership.
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