Created 2-Apr-20
Modified 8-Mar-24
The three vehicles covered by this gallery looked very different and just had in common the Mercedes-Benz 811D chassis. This was a chassis for a slightly heavier gross weight than the 711D which allowed a longer body and more seats.
151 (N151 MTG) was bought new at the same time (November 1995) as 152-160 but was on the longer chassis. Like them it also had a UVG body but this time seating 31 and entered service from Porth in the Rhondda Buses red livery with cream roof. It survived to join the Stagecoach fleet in 1997, retaining the same fleet number.
251 (E76 SWT) was a secondhand acquisition that was new to Harte, Greenock. It was again a Mercedes-Benz 811D although its Optare StarRider C33F (originally C31F with a large luggage pen) body eliminated the familiar Mercedes bonnet, giving a very different appearance. It was bought by Rhondda Buses not long after their formation but didn't stay long, being sold by mid-1994. Originally at Porth in the standard Rhondda livery it later transferred to the Caerphilly Busways fleet and received the revised livery with more cream.
252 was a further secondhand acquisition which should not be confused with the later 252, a Metrorider which was only acquired in 1996 and ran in the Parfitt fleet. This 252 (F985 EDS) was new in August 1988 to McConnachie, Port Glasgow and had an Alexander C33F body. Another purchase used to improve the fleet inherited from National Welsh, it joined Rhondda Buses in 1992 but left to join Stevenson's, Uttoxeter as their 245 in March 1994. This bus also moved from Rhondda Buses to Caerphilly Busways and received the later livery.
© David Beilby
