ctpg

Latest News on Cardiff AEC Swift 512, MBO512F
We are pleased to report that our Swift MBO512F has this week been MoT'd. and will shortly arrive at the Bus Depot Barry where it will be made ready for display and use for the rest of the 2010 rally season. The MoT test was passed at the first attempt, all that now remains is to do a deep clean inside and a wash and polish outside, add any remaining fittings such as hand rails, strap hangers, notices and the like. We hope to trail the bus shortly to ensure it's mechanical reliability before undertaking journeys of any distance.
Will the real 512 now stand-up !


Friday 18 June 2010, saw the long awaited arrival of PAX466F ex Bedwas & Machen U.D.C. Leyland Titan PD3. This bus has been kindly loaned by Mr.Julian Peddle formerly of Rhondda Buses, now with Arriva (Derby). The bus is unique in being the last built conventional Low-bridge sunken gangway double-decker, once a common sight among the B.E.T and Tilling groups as well as many municipal and independently operated fleets the length and breadth of Britain, from the late 1920s to the early 1980s. The bus is presented in the livery of Stevensons of Uttoxeter a company that operated the bus for a number of years after sale by Rhymney Valley District Council into whose fold it was placed at the 1974 local government re-organisation. The bus later worked for MK Metro of Milton Keynes before retiring into preservation. Photos below show PAX at Derby before the long trip to South Wales and later at Barry Depot and at the Swansea Festival of Transport on Sunday 20 June. The CTPG would like to thank Mr. Peddle and Arriva Derby for the opportunity to use and display this bus at The Bus Depot Barry.


15 June 2010: Two surprises at the Barry Festival of Transport on the 6 June, were the appearance of the Cardiff Swift 512 and ex Western Welsh open top VRT VHB678S. The swift appeared very early in the day aboard a low-loader was duly removed and parked for the day on display. The VR arrived under its' own power and took part in the free open-top bus ride trips along with Cardiff Guy 434, and three ex SWT vehicles. seen below are 512 and VHB678S.


30 May 2010: A further report on the progress of Western Welsh 856 our ECW Leyland Tiger PS1 along with the latest photographs appears below:


A visit was made to Vintage Vehicle Restoration's new premises at Coatbridge near Glasgow on 27 May to deliver some destination equipment and check progress on 856. Above are four photographs which show the amount of rebuilding that has already taken place on this bus which was delivered to Tam as an almost completely stripped chassis and cab. The remaining body parts, mainly roof, window pans and corner panels were removed by group members during storage of the bus at Wenvoe near Cardiff these were delivered to the SVBM where the restoration of the bus was started by Tam Loggie of Vintage Vehicle Restorations. As reported previously restoration was slower than expected though major reconstruction of the body frame along with a chassis and engine major component overhaul was carried out. Work was halted temporarily recently due to the current financial squeeze, but now we are pleased to say work is once again underway. The bus has been moved to Tam's new premises as reported previously the photos above show the vehicle in largely rebuilt condition, the three doors (driver's, emergency and rear passenger door) have recently been sent to an outside specialist for complete frame reconstruction and on their return will be re-skinned and fitted by Tam. The radiator outer shell has also been sent for re-chroming by an outside contractor. Internally work has been started on the refitting of the overhead luggage racks the design and shape of which has been determined from the previously recovered internal brackets which had been bent flat against the body pillars after the removal of the racks when the bus was used as a caravan home, from these the angle of the original racks was obtained and along with photographs and a section of original ECW body racking obtained by Tam from William Staniforth a well known collector of vintage buses, the new racks can accurately be constructed. These can be seen under construction in the lower right photo above. New saloon heaters have been fitted under two of the nearside seat positions though seat frames are yet to be aphostered and fitted. The original heater ducting which was a prominent feature between the front bulkhead windows will be retained to preserve the original look (the ducting not yet reinstalled can be seen in the top right photo leaning against the driving cab). Most internal bodyside paneling has been fitted, along with internal roof coving. Panels have also been produced to line the luggage racks, all these will be covered in the appropriate vinyl or moquette. A feature asked for by us was the fitting of a spare wheel carriage under the chassis extension as was carried by a number of Western Welsh PS1s, this has been constructed and fitted by Tam and was demonstrated in operation to me on my visit. From the amount of work still to be carried out it seems a further delay to the projected date will be inevetable. Further updates will be posted as progress continues. Mac Winfield.
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A step closer, seen above, on 30 April is our ex-Cardiff Swift 512 minus as yet rear number plate MBO521F. We are informed that the last few jobs on this bus are being undertaken. As can be seen the rear lamps are in process of fitting and the vehicle has been lifted to complete work on the hydraulic throttle system and re-connection of the electro-pneumatic gear selection controls. This bus may yet appear at the forth coming Barry Festival of Transport. (fingers still crossed however)
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update 24 April 2010: Update on body works, shows reconstruction and new paneling on two exWelsh Municipal buses, Ponty 8 and Caerphilly 32.

above: ex PUDC and Taff-Ely number 8 (UTG313G), has received some re-paneling of the rear end after reconstruction work on the body frame and is now nearing completion,. The rear number- plate will be reinstated in the correct position after the fabrication of a new holder now installed in the o/s rear panel.	above: Caerphilly 32 (GNY432C) is now receiving attention to the upper deck emergency door which has been stripped, re-built and re-fitted by Derek & Alan, seen in this view in the process of making front mudguard retaining clamps for the same bus.
7 Feb 2010, Update on the new Cardiff MPD model from Creative Master Northcord. Cardiff Bus has just received a small consignment of the new model featured here on the 25 November 2009 see below: (they should by now appear in models shops in the UK).
7 Feb 2010. Work continues on our Barry Depot and a number of our vehicles are undergoing work some of it involving major body repairs. below are a number of photographs of vehicles currently receiving attention from our resident "body-makers" Derek and Alan who are nearing the completion of work on the Caerphilly Leyland PD3 GNY432C which was started before we had the luxury of undercover accommodation. Also receiving attention is Taff-Ely number 8 UTG313G which has now had its' lower deck emergency door repaired and refitted along with some of the internal and external rear paneling, though there is still some way to go. Our AEC Swift which has been out of the news for some time has suffered some set backs due to problems encountered after the refitting of the AEC 505 power unit and massive oil leak from the flywheel "Llewellyn Gland" which we had great difficulty obtaining, this is now been overcome and the engine is now running and free from leaks. There are still a number of outstanding jobs which are being undertaken by an outside firm. As we have made predictions in the past on this vehicles return, only to encounter other mechanical problems perhaps we should say as to its' return, lets wait and see. (below are some photographs showing the vehicles mentioned above).

Caerphilly PD3 has received structural rebuilding below the saloon window line on both sides involving welding and some re-paneling both front mudguards have been repaired along with the replacement of cab steps and door frame, work is ongoing.	Willowbrook AEC Regent V number 8 UTG313G is shown after arrival at Barry at the end of 2008. Work on this bus has only just started but should not take long to complete.

Cardiff Swift MBO512F is seen in the workshop where the remaining jobs on the lighting and electrical gear-change system are being carried out. Replacement corner panels have been fitted to the rear, the holes for tail lights and flashers are yet to be cut.
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23 January 2010: (below) from left to right Our PS1 CUH856 stands alongside Robin Jenkinson's, Mann-Egerton Leyland Royal Tiger "half-decker" and Mike Walker's ECW Bristol Omnibus PD1 at Tam Loggie's new "Vintage Vehicle Restorations" workshop near Glasgow. (photo courtesy of Dr. Mike Walker. 21/1/10).

It's been some time since the promised update on our Western Welsh ECW bodied Leyland Tiger PS1. We are now pleased to say that after a break in the restoration of a number of months, work is once again underway on our bus. The bus was moved just before Christmas 2009 from the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum's site in Lathalmond, Fife to Tam Loggie's new premises near Glasgow for completion of the work started by Tam at the SVBM. The complete restoration of this vehicle has taken longer than first anticipated due to various factors but now we have a revised completion date of May 2010 (so fingers crossed).

Latest addition to the "Bus Depot Barry" fleet, ex Stagecoach Mercedes 41164 awaits collection in a little January sunshine at Brynmawr Depot. 23/1/10.		41164 Seen after arrival at its' new home in Barry. 23/1/10. See our 8 December 2009 news item below for details of this bus.

21 December 2009: above Cardiff Transport Preservation Group are pleased to announce that Julian Peddle's ex Bedwas and Machen U. D. C. Massey bodied low-bridge Leyland PD3 PAX466F is to take a place at "The Bus Depot Barry" early in 2010. This significant Welsh bus fills one of the remaining gaps in the south Wales municipal collection displayed at Barry. The bus was the last low-bridge sunken gangway vehicle built in the UK. After service with Rhymney Valley District Council it worked for Stevensons of Uttoxeter in whose livery it is currently presented, it is hoped that PAX will arrive soon in the new year, ready for the 2010 rally season.

8 December 2009: Cardiff Transport Preservation Group are pleased to announce that Stagecoach in South Wales has donated recently withdrawn ex Rhondda Mercedes minibus P164TNY to the group. This has come about as a direct result of group member Glyn Bowen making a direct approach to Brian Souter who readily agreed to donate the bus to the group for preservation, this vehicle bridges the gap between the fall of National Welsh and the emergence of Rhondda Buses prior to the eventual takeover by the Stagecoach company. The bus is thought to have spent its' entire working life at the Rhondda Porth Depot and will join our Cardiff Optare Metrorider and National Welsh Bustler at "The Bus Depot Barry"as representatives of the de-regulation minibus boom of the late 1980s. We would of course like to thank Glyn for his efforts and Mr Brian Souter for his generosity.
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25 November 2009---------preview: New model from Creative Master Northcord
Cardiff Bus has just received two pre-production 1:76 scale models of MPD 193 in the recently introduced revised livery. This new model will complement the previous MPD model which appeared in 2003 in the Cardiff, Burgess Blue and cream scheme. Below are two photographs of the pre-production model, once Cardiff Bus has examined and accepted the model production will likely start, although as yet the release date is not known.

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27 August 2009: Amid much interest and speculation by enthusiasts in South Wales and from further afield, we can now announce that ex City of Cardiff Transport East Lancs bodied Guy Arab V open-topper ABO424B has returned to South Wales after an absence of around 28 years.

The bus is seen above prior to and during its' return home, it is evident that if this vehicle is to be returned to running condition it will take some considerable time. (27 August 2009). photos by David Reynolds.
Cardiff 193 in the news again

Cardiff Bus's new livery modeled here by MPD 193 is to be the subject of a new variation of the Creative Master Northcord model, company Director and General Manager, Danny Chann is seen above on a visit to the Cardiff Bus Leckwith Depot and Offices on 18 August 2009. This was Mr. Chann's second visit to Cardiff Bus and Commercial Manager Peter Heath accompanied by Commercial Team Leader Gareth Stevens were on hand to welcome Mr.Chann. A large number of photographs were taken of 193 both internal and external in order to make an as accurate model as possible, details of the new style graphics paint colour identification numbers will also be provided by Ray Stenning of the leading industry design house, Best Impressions. (photo by mac winfield).
Cardiff Bus received the remainder of there latest Scania Omnicity order over the 12th and 13th August 2009 The five vehicles are: 740 CN09FYY; 741 CN09FYZ; 742 CN09FZA; 743 CN09FZB and 744 CN09FZC (it should be noted however that these vehicles were re-registered prior to entry into service) they were delivered in the now standard orange and green minus fleet numbers and body-side graphics which will be applied before entering service.
day out at Bristol see below:

above: ex Red & White 1950 Leyland Tiger PS1 C350 HWO323 made its' first appearance for some years on Sunday 9 August at the Bristol Brislington event, now in the care of Cardiff Transport Preservation Group, it appeared in the company of ex Royal Blue Bristol MW EDV505D another resident of The Bus Depot Barry along with our sales stand on an enjoyable, hot and sunny day on the other side of the bridge.
Caerphilly number 3 LNY903 arrived in Barry Depot 18 July 2009 (see photos below)