Created 1-Apr-20
Modified 8-Mar-24
Rhondda Buses Ford Transit fleet comprised eight examples new to West Yorkshire along with a solitary example acquired with the services of Cyril Evans.
With one exception the buses from West Yorkshire were acquired at the end of 1992 and all were Ford Transit 190D with Carlyle B18F bodies on Dormobile shells:
19/20 (C82/87 AUB) were new as West Yorkshire 104/109 in early 1986 and passed with the business when AJS Holdings sold out to Yorkshire Rider in 1990. They were numbered 182/187 in the latter fleet and 187 at least passed to Rhondda via Stevenson's of Uttoxeter.
The second group is a little more complicated as they were not numbered in registration order and also had been re-registered before entering service. 21-25 (D529/523/524/525/528 HNW) had been originally registered C99/86/90/93/98 AUA but didn't enter service until August 1988 and therefore received the new registration. Numbered 121/108/112/115 and 120 in the West Yorkshire fleet, they were numbered 129/123-125/128 by Yorkshire Rider.
19 lasted until 1995 whilst 20 survived as a crew bus in Caerphilly bus station, not being replaced until mid-1996. 21 was a 1993 withdrawal whilst the withdrawal date of 22 isn't clear. 23 and 24 were re-instated to work the Treorchy to Cwmparc service, the tender for which was won from Shamrock in late 1994. 23 didn't last long but 24 lasted until 1996, after which it took over temporarily from 20 as a crew bus in Caerphilly. 25 was withdrawn in early 1995.
Finally, 1063 was a much later purchase, joining the fleet in 1996 from Tellings-Golden Miller in Byfleet. Registered C97 AUB it was from the same batch as 19/20, new as West Yorkshire 119 in January 1986, later becoming Yorkshire Rider 197. It was bought in mid-1996 and was bought as a replacement for 24 as crew bus at Caerphilly and given the number 1063 which was in the service stock series - it didn't operate in passenger service.
The remaining Ford Transit had been along with the services of Cyril Evans in May 1993. It was 26 (C503 NOE) which had been N4 in the Evans fleet but was new as London Buses FS28. It joined Cyril Evans in 1992 and didn't remain long with Rhondda before disposal.
© David Beilby
