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Buses in Malta - page 6. Imported Leyland 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 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. Bedfords (two pages), this page looks at the Leyland 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 a total of fifteen Leylands. 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. Two of the vehicles on this page are in the CY (coach) series of registrations, these being for private hire and tours work.

First up is what was then Malta's oldest service bus, DBY 401. Underneath that modern Debono bodywork, is a 1932 Leyland Tiger TS4. New to Charlton of Hebburn, it was originally UP 7220 and passed to United Automobile in 1935. It was taken over by the War Department in 1943, later going to Malta and being rebodied in 1952 as a half cab, then getting a full front in 1965. So by 2006, the chassis was 74 years old, a long lived vehicle indeed.

Next is FBY 716 (chassis 292672) which dates 1939 and was new as AWX 763. The original owner and body maker isn't known, but after arrival on Malta it was rebodied by Aquilina. At the age of 67 in 2006, it was then Malta's second oldest route bus.

BCY 881, on Royal Tiger chassis 512934, was new to Southdown in May 1952 with a Harrington coach body registered LUF 826. In 1972 it passed to a Maltese owner and was rebodied as a Brincat C40F, and remained with the same owner for over 20 years.

DBY 306 was a slightly younger ex Southdown Royal Tiger (chassis 530332), which was new in May 1953 as MUF 650. Originally carrying a Duple C41C body, it was rebodied as Aquilina B40F on arrival in Malta in 1973. It returned to the U.K. in 2014.

EBY 622 was previously FCK 433 (530532) new to Ribble in June 1953 with a Burlingham coach body. On arrival in Malta it recieved an Aquilina B40F, with a Duple Viceroy styled front end.

JCY 905 was the second newest Royal Tiger observed by Peter. New in May 1953 on chassis 530585, it was originally with Western Welsh as GUH 462 with a Weymann bus body. By 1975 it was running in Malta with a new Daina coach body, having previously operated for Skey of Sywell in Northamptonshire. During 1996 it wss rebodied again, this time by its Maltese owner (Paramount Coaches) using Plaxton Paramount parts, several years after the end of Paramount production in Scarborough.

EBY 620 (chassis 532052), was the youngest Royal Tiger seen. One of a batch of six dual door Burlingham bodied buses new to Bournemouth in 1954, all became single door by 1959. NLJ 270 was exported to Malta and rebodied as a Caruana B40F, featuring a Duple Dominant II front panel.

Tiger Cub FBY 787 was previously GBV 18E (L72071) and was new to Blackburn Corporation in February 1967. Its Maltese life saw it getting a new Scarnif body.

Sister vehicle to FBY 787, 785 (L72072) was also new to Blackburn as FCB 12D in January 1967. Originally East Lancs bodied, this was changed to a new Scarnif body on Malta.

EBY 637 (L72134) was a third ex Blackburn Tiger Cub, new as GBV 13E in January 1967. It was still carrying its original bodywork when photographed.

DBY 378 (L72311), was the sole ex Darwen East Lancs bodied Tiger Cub seen, this being new as YTD 290D in November 1966.

The fourth ex Blackburn Tiger Cub, DBY 444 (L72370) was new as GBV 17E in February 1967, it later got a Scarnif body with a Plaxton Paramount front panel.

EBY 479 (702237) is a Marshall bodied PSU4 Leopard new to Yorkshire Traction in April 1968 as NHE 10F. From 1971 it was with Calderdale Joint Omnibus Committee later passing to West Yorkshire P.T.E. It was exported to Malta in 1980 and was upgraded with a newer style front.

DBY 427 (7200201) was new as GKE 457L in the Maidstone and District fleet in November 1972. Like the Yorkshire Traction bus above, it also retains its original body but with a revamped front.

Based on chassis 7500473, EBY 543 was originally LUG 524P. New to West Yorkshire P.T.E. in April 1976, it has a Plaxton Derwent bus body.

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