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Buses in Malta - page 3. Imported Ford R series buses and coaches (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 of 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 and ex U.K. Bristol LH buses and one coach, this page looks at the small number of Ford buses and coaches which were exported to Malta. Again, Peter managed to work out the identities of each vehicle that he saw, and managed to photograph all eight that were there. 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 Plaxton bodied DBY 405 (chassis BC04ML62668), formerly VYC 869M which was new to Andrews of Marshfield in March 1974. The coach seats it had when new were replaced by bus seats for Maltese services, as can be seen.

Next is DBY 355 (chassis BC04TC61183) which dates from February 1978, being new to Wilson of Carnwath as XHS 122S, although it was with Drew of Gainsborough before going to Malta. It differs from DBY 405 by having the newer Plaxton Supreme body, fitted with a Bristol dome above the windscreens. Again its coach seats have given way to a set of bus ones.

Our third example, EBY 568 has a Duple Dominant body on chassis BC04TE61648 and was new in July 1978 to Newton of Dingwall as NJS 622S, its only U. K. owner. Its another with bus seats and also some interesting signwriting on the front.

Switching now to a Willowbrook product on chassis BC04TJ66287, EBY 619 was new as XKX 856S in the fleet of Whytes of Colnbrook for shuttle work at Heathrow Airport. Originally a B31D layout, it was altered to single door for Malta routes. New in June 1978, it was bought from Hampton, London SE1.

Duple Dominant II FBY 724 was previously LHO 418T (BCRSUL58384) new to Marchwood of Totton in August 1978, as part of a batch of three coaches. It too received a set of bus seats on Malta.

EBY 473 was originally a Willowbrook airport bus new to Whytes as XBH 859S (BCRSUL58645) in July 1978. It has been rebodied on Malta with a local Caruana body, utilizing a Plaxton Paramount style front end.

EBY 595, claiming to be both a Leyland-DAF and a Ford, could well be considered a limited edition as the sign writing proclaims. New as a Ford demonstrator on chassis BCRSUY21460 in December 1978 as COO 242T, it was later bought by Suffolk County Council.

EBY 499 was the newest Ford photographed by Peter. Originally A994 ADL and then A666 BDL, this former Isle of Wight Duple Dominant bus on chassis BCRSCS16395 dates from September 1983. Behind can be seen DBY 425, which is a Duple Dominant bodied Bedford YLQ, despite the visual clues seen in the photo.

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