Created 21-Jun-19
Modified 8-Mar-24
As well as the Tiger Cubs, the 1968 RTG-F series of registrations was also used on three Leyland Leopards 319-321 (RTG 319-321F). Like the last three Tiger Cubs these were dual-purpose vehicles and were easily confused with the Tiger Cubs as they carried the same green livery and had BET Federation standard bodies. However, the Leopards had Willowbrook bodies with many detail differences plus a major one of their length, as they were 36'-0" long - the first Rhondda vehicles of this length.
This extra length no doubt restricted their use as many of the Rhondda single-deck routes were quite tortuous, however as dual-purpose vehicles they were mainly occupied on private hire and excursion work. The length was probably one of the reasons why they moved away from Porth in their latter years, two going to Bridgend and one to Crosskeys.
On absorption by Western Welsh they became 2319-2321 and in NBC days first UD4-668 in 1974 and then in 1975 UD40-4268. In 1977 they were downgraded to buses and became U40-4268, with U4168 being fitted with bus seats in 1978. They went from green straight to the poppy red and white dual-purpose livery in 1973 and finished in poppy red with a white band after being downgraded to buses.
All were withdrawn in 1980 and none of the batch appears to have gone to another operator, all going for scrap.
© David Beilby
