Created 15-Aug-19
Modified 8-Mar-24
The nature of the association between Parfitt's and Rhondda Buses means that there was, at times, a rather blurred line between the two, with vehicles passing from one to the other quite readily. For this reason, coupled with an eye to the future structure of the gallery to ensure things will still work correctly as it expands, I have grouped all the vehicles which operated from Rhondda but originated with Parfitt's together. Rhondda took over the Parfitt's business on 1-Apr-1995.
The first vehicles to move were three former London Transport Leyland Nationals. 383/393/397 had been London Transport LS383/393/397 and had the same numbers in both the Parfitt and Rhondda Buses fleets. Originally with B36D bodies they were all rebuilt to B44F before entering service with Parfitt's. 383 and 397 had been fitted with Volvo engines around the time they joined the Parfitt fleet but 397 had been fitted with a DAF engine (seemingly an experiment, it remained a one-off) in 1986 and remained as such with Parfitt's. They all moved to Rhondda Buses for a few months towards the end of 1995.
2128/2129 (E143/144 KYW) were two former London Buses MCW Metroriders which transferred briefly to Porth before their withdrawal in the spring of 1996. They had the distinction of being the highest-numbered vehicles in the combined fleet.
Two Dennis Darts transferred permanently during 1996. 99 (J454 JRH) was new in June 1992 as a Plaxton demonstrator before joining the Parfitt fleet. It was a Dennis Dart 98SDL3017 with a Plaxton Pointer B40F body and after the takeover became Stagecoach 599. 88 (L270 EHB) was a Dennis Dart 98SDL3035 with Plaxton Pointer B43F body that was new to Parfitt's in January 1994 and ultimately became Stagecoach 588.
The next vehicles to arrive from the Parfitt's fleet, later in 1996, were two Leyland Tigers new to West Yorkshire PTE in 1983 as their 1656/1657. They were TRBTL11/2R model chassis with Duple Dominant DP47F bodies. Numbered 698/699, 698 survived to become Stagecoach 926 but 699 was withdrawn in mid-1997 and sold to Blue Bus who fitted it with a new East Lancs body and re-registered it WJI 9074.
Towards the end of 1996 371 (GGM 71W) arrived from Parfitt's. This was a Leyland Leopard PSU3F/4R with Plaxton Supreme C49F coachwork. New as Alder Valley 11, it later became 1111 then Bee Line 715 before joining the Parfitt's fleet. It seems to have gone to and fro between the two fleets but survived to become Stagecoach 973.
In March 1997 499 arrived at Rhondda Buses. This was Leyland National 2 NL116L11/1R built with a B52F body and new as Bristol Omnibus 3525, later Badgerline 3525. It was re-seated, first to B48F then to DP48F and was one of just two Leyland National 2s fitted with ZF Ecomatic fully-automatic transmission. After sale by Bristol it passed to MTL Holdings as their 6199, ending up with their Heysham Travel subsidiary. It was bought by Parfitt's from MTL in October 1996 and entered service in MTL livery but did ultimately gain fleet livery in August 1997. It passed to Stagecoach at the takeover, retaining the same fleet number but was withdrawn in June 1998 with no recorded disposal.
The final ex-Parfitt's vehicle to consider is 301. This was one of two that were new to Harris, West Thurrock which became 301/302 (E308/309 HPU) in the Parfitt's fleet. They were Leyland Swift LBM6T/2RA chassis with Wadham Stringer B37F bodies. 302 remained at Parfitt's but 301 moved to Rhondda in mid-1997. 301/302 were renumbered 401/402 by Stagecoach.
© David Beilby
