Created 15-Aug-19
Modified 8-Mar-24
Rhondda Buses took over a quantity of minibuses from National Welsh on their formation and later took most of the original fleet when the last National Welsh depot in Barry closed. National Welsh referred to their minibuses as Bustlers.
The picture is quite complicated and confused, as in the very first days of Rhondda Buses the vehicle situation was very fluid and it isn't quite clear which vehicles Rhondda Buses took into ownership and even less clear which ones they actually operated. The list below shows the position as I understand it, but may well contain errors. I would welcome a more detailed and accurate account if anyone has one.
National Welsh's first minibuses were Ford Transits before they eventually standardised on Freight-Rover Sherpas, a decision they probably regretted as Transits seem to have proved more durable. These vehicles were Ford Transit 190Ds with Robin Hood B18F bodies built on a Dormobile shell. The ones that were bought by Rhondda Buses kept their previous National Welsh numbers and were 1-3/5-12 (C101-103/105-112 HKG), 13 (C113 HUH) and 18 (C118 HUH). None of these operated very long for Rhondda and it appears that 6 (C106 HKG) was the last withdrawn in early 1993. 2 (C102 HKG) and 18 (C118 HUH), at least, received Rhondda livery but operated for Caerphilly Busways.
The next group comprises vehicles from the batch of Iveco 49.10 minibuses with Robin Hood bodies, most of which had formed the initial Bustler allocation to Porth depot. The ones taken into Rhondda Buses stock were 24/31-36/39/42-50 (D24/31-36/39/42-50 KAX). A couple of these, at least, received Rhondda livery but most were withdrawn very quickly. 35 was the last of the type withdrawn in the summer of 1993.
The remaining vehicles were but a small proportion of the Freight-Rover Sherpa chassis with Carlyle Citybus 2 B20F bodies bought by National Welsh. The ones I have on record are 84 (E84 OUH), 110/113/114/117/118 (E110/113/114/117/118 RAX), 155 (E155 RNY) which were on 374D chassis and, on the 405D chassis 182-184 (E182-184 UKG). None of these remained very long, Rhondda Buses seemed to have little time for the Sherpa, notably buying secondhand Transits in preference.
© David Beilby
