DBY 324

DBY 324 was a Ford V8, fitted in 1952 with a Casha B39F body.  454, A-0454, Y-1025 & Y-0324 were its registrations carried previously.

FBY 029

FBY 029 was a Bedford YLQ, fitted with Duple Dominant C45F bodywork, new as YRG 702V to Tindale, Low Fell, t/a Low Fell Coaches. It was previously registered Y-0842 on Gozo.

Ministry of Education/Education Department GVH 133

Seen at the Education Department site at Floriana, now part of the Park & Ride site, is GVH 133, formerly known as EGN 266J, a 1970 AEC Swift, new to London Transport as fleet number SMS266.

Photographed 4th March 2005.

  

Photographed 19th November 2008.

KCY 884

KCY 884 was another rebuilt AEC Reliance which ended up working for Zarb Coaches.

New in 1968 as EJP 561F to Smith, Wigan, carrying a Plaxton C44F body, it was overhauled in 1979 and had a new Plaxton Supreme C53F body fitted, being reregistered HPG 650V for Thomas, West Ewell.  It entered service with Zarb Coaches as Y-0884 in 1986.

In 2001, it was shortened, had the air conditioning unit removed and it became route bus DBY333, replacing a 1952 Ford ET7.

DBY 323

DBY 323 was a Bedford YRQ, fitted with Duple Dominant C45F body.  New to Bullock, Cheadle in 1973 as NLG 105L.  It was previously registered Y-0323 in Malta.

 

FBY 028

 

FBY 028 is a 1977 Hino BT51, carrying Debono DP45F bodywork.  Originally used as a route bus in Malta, and carried registrations 2362, A-2362, Y-1588, Y-0888 and Y-0840.

Malta Sightseeing Buses - COY 004

COY 004, formerly known as FPT 588C, is a 1965 AEC Routemaster, new with fleet number 2118 to Northern General Transport, Gateshead, with a Park Royal H41/31F body.  Operated by The Big Bus Company in London before export to Malta, it operated in their livery until major repairs were undertaken at Zinnu Bus & Coach Works, and it appeared as seen above.

Photo showing bodywork issue, as mentioned above.

 

As it originally operated in Malta, before repair and repaint.

DBY 322

DBY 322 was a Tonna B39F bodied forward control Malta Docks/Bedford dating from 1974.  It previously carried registrations 360, A-0360, Y-1023 & Y-0322.

Photographed in Sliema in May 2009.

 

FBY 027

FBY 027 was a 1942 forward control International K, fitted with Casha B36F.  Originally a Malta Route Bus, registered 1126, A-1126 & Y-1511, before moving to Gozo in 1974 and becoming Y-0810.

Photographed in Victoria Bus Station, Gozo

JCY 883

JCY 883 was a 1967 AEC Reliance, new to Devon General carrying a Duple Northern C49F body and registered HOD 39E, fleet number 39.

In 1979, the vehicle was rebuilt (chassis overhaul and new body fitted) and emerged as CPM 520T, with a Plaxton Supreme body.  Arriving in Malta in 1987, it joined the fleet of Zarb Coaches, an enthusiastic user of the AEC Reliance, registered Y-0883.

DBY 321

DBY 321 was a 1970 AEC Swift, fitted with Marshall B53F body, new to London Transport as AML 13H, fleet number SM13.  Original seating capacity was B42F.  Originally operating for the Maltese Ministry of Education before becoming a Route Bus.  Previous registrations carried were M-0878 & Y-0321.

 

FBY 025

FBY 025 was a 1962 Bedford SB8, fitted with Aquilina B36F body.  Previously registered 31503, C-1503, Y-1535 & Y-0832.

 

DBY 319

DBY 319 was a Bedford YRQ, fitted with a 45 seat Duple Dominant body.  New as VBX 518L to Williams, Lower Tumble, Carmarthenshire, fleet number 52.

It carried registrations Y-1020 & Y-0319 whilst on Malta.

FBY 024

FBY 024 was a 1962 Leyland Leopard, new as 6781 DD to Black & White Roadways.  Rebuilt in 1977 and fitted with a Plaxton Supreme C53F body, it was then registered OBN 534R.

It came to Gozo after use as an unscheduled bus in Malta, carrying registration Y-0897 and Y-0809. 

 

Ministry of Education/Education Department GVH 132

GVH 132 was a 1970 AEC Swift, new to London Transport as EGN 260J, fleet number SMS260.

Carrying a Park Royal B33D body.  Its' previous Maltese registration was M-0557.

GVH 132 photographed on 19th November 2008.

JCY 882

JCY 882 was a 1978 AEC Reliance, fitted with Plaxton Supreme C53F bodywork, new to Essex County Coaches, London, E15, and registered YMJ 550S.  Arriving in Malta in 1986 and carrying the registration Y-0882, it was operated by Zarb Coaches, Iklin.

In 2001, the AEC was replaced by a 1992 Volvo B10M-60, another Plaxton C53F bodied vehicle, this time a Premier 350, new to Wallace Arnold as J716 CWT.  It also carried OIL 5640 whilst in the UK.

JCY 882 (J716 CWT) rests in Marsaxlokk whilst undertaking a tour.

DBY 318

DBY 318 is a forward control Malta Docks/Bedford. fitted with Brincat B45F body.  It was rebuilt by Cassar between 1996 - 1999.  Previous Maltese registrations 236, A-0236, Y-1019 & Y-0318.  Photographed in the layover area, City Gate Terminus, Valletta, during October 2010.

DBY 318, seen undergoing restoration at Zinnu Bus & Coach Works, Luqa, in May 2013.
Believe this was destined for a UK owner.

FBY 023

FBY 023 was a Duple Dominant C45F bodied Bedford YRQ,  which was new as HSG 724N to Silver Fox, Edinburgh.  Previously registered Y-0839 on Gozo.

Malta Sightseeing Buses - COY 003

COY 003, seen here resting at the exit from Vallettas' City Gate Terminus, was new to Thamesdown Transport as UMR 193T and carried fleet number 193.  Carrying an ECW H43/31F body, although now obviously open topped.  This spent some time in storage in Malta before entering service, this on, I believe, operated by Cancu Supreme Travel..

 

DBY 317

 DBY 317 was a1962 Bedford SB fitted with Barbara B40F body.  Previous registrations carried were 234, A-0234, Y-1018 & Y-0317.

Photographed in the City Gate Terminus, Valletta.

FBY 021

FBY 021 was a 1953 Ford ET7 forward control bus, fitted with a Borg B40F body.  Previously registered 3062, A-3062, Y-1525 and Y-0824.

BCY 881

BCY 811 was a 1952 Leyland Royal Tiger, new to Southdown Motor Services as LUF 826.  Originally carrying a Harrington Wayfarer body in the UK, it arrived in Malta and was fitted with its' current body, a C40F Brincat, in 1972.

Part of the Unscheduled fleet all its' life, and, I believe, for one operator, it was withdrawn after receiving accident damage in 2008.

During its' life on Malta, it carried 215, A-0215, Y-1581 and Y-0881.  As can be seen in the above photograph, its' original registration number was applied to the front.

DBY 316

DBY 316, a 1978 Bedford YLQ, fitted with Duple Dominant C45F bodywork, is seen here departing City Gate Terminus, Valletta, Malta, in October 2009.  New to Corvedale, Ludlow, registered VNT 48S, fleet number 48.  It also carried registration Y-0316 whilst in Malta.

 

FBY 019

FBY 019 was an AEC Mercury fitted with Aquilina B36F body, photographed near the bus station in Victoria, Gozo.  It previously carried registrations 2483, A-2483, Y-1519 & Y-0818.

DBY 315

DBY 315 was a 1961 forward control Leyland Comet, fitted with Sammut B40F body.  It was formerly registered 218, A-0218, Y-1016 and Y-0315.  It was replaced in 2008 by a 1989 Leyland Lynx, G168 EOG, new to West Midlands Travel, fleet number 1168.

 

DBY 315, 1989 Leyland Lynx (G168 EOG) photographed at City Gate Terminus, Valletta, Malta.

FBY 018

FBY 018 is a Duple Dominant C45F bodied Bedford YLQ, new as AGG 934S to Strathmore Coaches, Dundee.  It previously carried registration number Y-0841 whilst on Gozo.

Currently undergoing restoration - see here and here.

Ministry of Education/Education Department GVH 130

Pictured in the Pembroke maintenance facility of the Education Department is GVH 130, a 1970 AEC Swift, fitted with Marshall B42F bodywork.  It was new to London Transport, carrying registration number AML 35H and fleet number SM35.

It also carried the Maltese registration M-1531.  After withdrawal, it was donated to Malta Historic Vehicle Trust, based in Hal Far, where the above photo was taken in May 2013.

This bus has since returned to the UK for preservation.