ctpg

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).
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)

Barry Festival of Transport....held on 14 June 2009........report
The unbeatable combination of Sunshine, large turnout of entries and great summer crowd all made our 2009 event the best at Barry in many years, combined with our first Barry Bus Depot open day as the main attraction, which proved to be a hit with all our visitors. An official opening of the Depot was performed by Cllr.Gordon Kemp leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council who cut the bus ticket roll which had been placed across the depot doorway, in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Barry along with AM Jane Hutt and a local TV crew who were on hand to record the event. below are some pictures of the depot opening and rally event. (our photo review can be viewed by clicking here)

Two open-toppers prepare to tackle The Ship Hill during Barry Festival of Transport. The vehicles are, ex Cardiff Guy Arab V ABO434B and United Welsh liveried Bristol KSW5G WNO484. (photo by Paul Hamley)



above: Former National Welsh Leyland National ll BUH240V seen undergoing final preparations for MoT and return to the road hopefully in time to be seen at The Barry Festival of Transport which takes place at Hood Road, Barry Waterfront this coming Sunday 14 June 2009. (photo by owner, Gwyn Gardiner).

New exhibit arrives a The Bus Depot Barry former Red & White Leyland Tiger PS1 C350 HWO323 is now on loan to the CTPG at Barry and will be exhibited at the forth coming Barry Festival of Transport on Sunday 14 June 2009. New to Red & White in 1950 carrying fleet number 23 and allocated to Brynmawr Depot, later renumbered C350 in the new numbering system it served as a front line coach on excursion and long distance services until downgraded to bus duties when it was once again renumbered this time to S2050. After withdrawal it was purchased by Dan y Bryn Cheshire Home and converted to carry the disabled. It has been in preservation for some years and is now fully restored to coach specification. owners Barbara & Martin Bowring of Lydney, Gloucestershire have kindly agreed to place this vehicle on long term loan to the CTPG. (photo Mac Winfield)
The only surviving Cardiff City Tramways vehicle, Water Car number 131 is now on display at Crich Tramway Museum, Derbyshire.

Crich Tramway Village kicks off its 50th anniversary in style with the handover of the first tram on site - Cardiff 131. The tramcar which originated from Cardiff when the tram network was removed has been restored specially for the Tramway Museum's 50th anniversary occasion. Cardiff 131 was the first tram to arrive on the museum site in May 1959. 50 years on it has been handed over by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cardiff Keith Hyde to the Tramway Museum society Patron His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. The commemorative day which took place on the recent Spring Bank Holiday weekend started with the arrival of Cardiff 131 which was taken off the site on the previous evening and returned the next day on a 'low loader' to re-enact its' arrival 50 years earlier. The tramcar was then driven from the depot by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cardiff on to the main tramway street where it was officially handed over to His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester in the presence of the Tramway Museum Society's President Richard Clarke. HRH the Duke of Gloucester then proceeded to drive the car to the end of the line, followed by a procession of the museums restored trams carrying the days invited guests. The celebrations continued on the following weekend when Crich Parish were invited to celebrations at the museum on the Saturday. There were special tours around the museum and a chance to view behind the scenes. Crich Tramway Village is open until 1st November. It is situated near Matlock, Derbyshire, and eight miles from M1 junction 28. Admission prices: Adult £10.50. Senior £9.50. Child (3-15) £5.50. Family (2 adults, 3 children) £29.50. Information line 01773 854321 www.tramway.co.uk <http://www.tramway.co.uk/> .
CTPG prepares the return of	LNY903			to home soil in South Wales
A number of group members recently visited Consett, County Durham to make ready ex Caerphilly all Leyland PD2 LNY903 for transport to The Bus Depot Barry for eventual restoration and display. The move will likely take place near the end of June, all major parts are present and a number of items have already been delivered to Barry for storage prior to the move. below: are photos of LNY903 when in service in Caerphilly and as it appears today having already undergone some restoration work carried out by previous owner Robin Jenkinson.


above: radiator grille, core and outer shell, along with lamps.			above: Leyland monogrammed flywheel cover viewed from inside the lower saloon.

Newly delivered Cardiff Scania Omnicity 736 CN09EFH seen at Leckwith Garage on 7 May 2009. Delivered devoid of numbers fleetnames and logos.			Also present was 737 CN09EFJ

434 earning its' keep on 30 April when it was used to transport the retiring Cardiff Bus "Continuous Improvment Manager" Dave Cole after 30 years service. The bus is seen outside the Cardiff Bus Customer Service Centre in Wood Street (left) and (right) at Penarth Marina, where Dave alights carrying his retirement gifts from the Cardiff Bus staff.
Cardiff low floor Darts in line for face lift !


The above four shots show both MPD and SPDs 193 and 302 at Leckwith Depot prior to and after application of fleet numbers, decals, spots and Dragons on the 3rd (without) and 4th (with) April 2009. Both vehicles are to receive re-trims before re-entering service.

First viewing of Cardiff Bus MPD 193 displaying the soon to be rolled out standard livery seen minus fleet numbers and decals after spray painting by an outside contractor in Bristol. 302 is presently being painted in the same style at Leckwith Depot. 25/3/09.

The latest additions to the Cardiff fleet are seen in Slupsk, Poland, in convoy on-route to Cardiff on 20/3/09 (photo by Patryk Chmura)
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*New Year...New arrival...at the New Barry Depot* ex Royal Blue Bristol MW 1423 EDV505D arrived on Saturday 17/1/09 for storage and display at the depot. Owner Richard Johnson has offered the group the use of this very well restored coach to attend the forthcoming Bristol "Flowers Hill" running day scheduled for Sunday 29 March 2009. The vehicle will also likely be used on one of our planned evening road runs later in the year. the CTPG wishes to thank owner Richard Johnson for his kind offers and we look keenly forward to these events.

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below: ex Cardiff Clipper, Metrorider 143 N143PTG seen left in the paint shop of Sixty-Sixty Coaches and right, almost completed in the yard flanked by two other ex Cardiff Metroriders, one of which has donated a number of parts toward the total restoration of 143. Thanks go to member Glyn Bowen and Sixty-Sixty Coaches for work carried out on behalf of the CTPG. photos by Glyn Bowen (Nov 08).

Cardiff's new Solars fleet numbers 761 - 767, started to arrive on Friday 31/10/08 with the first two, deliveries of the other five continuing into the following week. Re-trimming of the upholstery was not after all carried out, all vehicles keeping their original seat moquette, though the electronic destination equipment is shortly to be changed from Indicators International as supplied, to the Vultron system to maintain compatibility with that of the rest of the fleet.

Cardiff Solar 761 prior to the addition of the spot graphics. 6/11/08			Driver familiarisation commenced on the new Solars on 6/11/08.

ex Taff-Ely number 8 is prepared for the trip to its' new home at The Bus Depot Barry on Sunday 2/11/08.			Another new arrival at Barry is this ex Western Welsh Harrington bodied, Albion Nimbus TUH 13 new in 1960 which arrived on the same day.

Cardiff Bus offered 14 Scania Solars from cancelled order, will they, won't they, lets wait and see? >>>>>Yes ! an order was placed during September for the seven already built Wright Solars, just a re-trim and the "Best Impressions" treatment required before delivery<<<<<

above: Cardiff Olympian 510 journeys home on an almost empty M50 on Saturday 30 August 2008. (photo Mac Winfield).

Latest News from "The Bus Depot Barry" >>>click here for latest news from the website of The Bus Depot Barry<<<

Thursday 7 August saw the official handover of the the Bus Depot Barry lease agreement to Cardiff Transport Preservation Group in a short ceremony at the garage attended by Vale of Glamorgan Council leader Gordon Kemp. Also making an impromptu appearance was a Scania Omnilink tri-axle saloon which at the time was under evaluation at Cardiff Bus, now the main operator in Barry after the demise of National Welsh some seventeen years earlier.

The two photos above show, one of six posters produced for the event which were displayed in the original National Welsh timetable cases which are still attached to the depot's outer wall. The other shows local group member and former driver at Barry Depot Viv Corbin, dressed in full length Western Welsh 1950s style dust coat and cap, sporting a Bell Punch Bellgraphic ticket machine once widely used by the company.
Later in the day group members were treated to a short excursion to Penarth Esplanade in preserved Silver Star Burlingham bodied AEC Regal III which was arranged by group member Berwyn Jones as the vehicle was by chance attending this years National Eisteddfod in Cardiff.


The Bus Depot Barry - A Reality ! On Thursday 31 July 2008 the lease to The Bus Depot, Broad Street, Barry was signed by CTPG Chairman Mike Taylor thus beginning a new chapter in Bus Preservation in South Wales. The above view shows excited members the previous week after viewing the old depot soon to be home to around thirty vehicles spanning the years 1947 to 1994.

JULY 2008 NEWS: Western Welsh Leopard to join our collection.

The above Western Welsh Plaxton Panorama Elite, Leyland Leopard PSU3A/4R OUH177G will shortly take up residence at The Bus depot Barry, once a front line coach and later demoted to schools work operating from both Barry and Bridgend depots. The purchase of this coach has now been agreed by the CTPG and a consortium of group members. Modern coaches seem to be particularly under represented in preservation, especially those formerly operated by Welsh bus companies, we hope to go some way to address this situation by the acquisition of this vehicle which was originally saved and rallied by "Gwent Diecast and Model Club". (photo by Paul Dudley).
Taff-Ely AEC Regent V number 8 UTG313G seen displaying a version of the PUDC livery while attending a rally in Cardiff Civic Centre during 1985.					Seen in storage at Swansea number 8 displays the original livery carried by this bus when delivered new to Pontypridd Urban District Council in 1969.
Cardiff Transport Preservation Group can now announce that ex Taff-Ely and Pontypridd Willowbrook bodied Regent V will take its place at the Bus Depot Barry as ownership of this fine front entrance AEC by the group is now confirmed.

Our Leyland Tiger CUH856 displays the number KHY392 on the temporary radiator fitted. Progress on the rebuild has been slow due to a number of time critical lottery backed jobs, it is hoped that progress will now be speeded up and that completion will be achieved during 2008. The above pictures were taken on the 14th March 2008. (photos by Mac Winfield).
Three Buses presented to Cardiff Transport Preservation Group by Cardiff Bus. Wednesday 30 January saw the acquisition of three Cardiff Bus vehicles two of which were donated to the group for preservation and display at various rallies and events that we attend. Cardiff Transport Preservation Group would like to thank Cardiff Bus Managing Director David Brown and Engineering Director Andrew Hoseason for their generosity and help given to our group.