Buses change appearance, livery and location frequently and it is quite possible to put together before-and-after comparisons.  However, a very unusual combination has occurred on this site recently as there are now three photographs of the same bus in three completely different liveries, but notably all in the same location.

The bus in question is a Leyland National that started out as 24 (RBO 24R) with Taff-Ely.  When they were taken over by National Welsh this bus remained initially in Taff-Ely blue working from National Welsh's depot in Bedwas and this is how it appears in the first photograph in Newport bus station.  In the second photograph it has been repainted in the bright red and yellow livery used for National Welsh's operations based around Caerphilly which used the fleet name Caerphilly Buslink.  In January 1991 it passed to Glyn Williams in Crosskeys who painted in their standard green and white livery.  Newport was a key destination for Glyn Williams's operations so it was inevitable that this bus would appear there, as seen in the final picture.

Thanks as always go to the photographers who have made this unusual combination of views possible.

125-3641Subject: National Welsh N655 (RBO 24R)
Chassis: Leyland National 11351A/1R
Body: Leyland National B49F
Location: Newport bus station
Date: 26-Oct-1988

This is the first (chronologically) of three shots of this bus in approximately the same location but carrying three very different liveries.

In this view the former Taff-Ely 24 has just started working for National Welsh but still carries full Taff-Ely livery. It appears to be on hire to National Welsh which fits with it not becoming part of the fleet until November despite a takeover date of 5th September. This bus would become N655 in the National Welsh fleet.

Photograph by courtesy of Andrew Mann CBS16915Subject: Glyn Williams 3 (RBO 24R)
Chassis: Leyland National 11351A/1R
Body: Leyland National B49F
Location: Newport bus station
Date: 6-Apr-1991

Former Taff-Ely 24 moved on again after a period as National Welsh N655. It passed to Bulwark Transport Engineering, based at the former Red & White workshops in Chepstow and was refurbished with the intention of becoming part of their hire fleet. However, it very quickly passed to Glyn Williams of Crosskeys, with whom it is here working the 151 service to Blackwood.

Photograph by courtesy of Carl Berry.