Created 15-Aug-19
Modified 8-Mar-24
These vehicles were a batch of three Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R chassis with Willowbrook C49F bodies and were new to South Wales Transport in January 1980 as their 481-483 (BTH 481-483V). On 3-May-1982 South Wales took over the Swansea operations of National Travel (South West) and to clear a block of numbers for the acquired coaches these Leopards were renumbered 173-175.
BTH 481V joined the Cyril Evans fleet in February 1991 but the other two had arrived earlier in June 1990. Cyril Evans bought another four similar vehicles from South Wales around the same time. Originally operating without fleet numbers the three coaches received numbers around February 1992 - BTH 481-483V being numbered W28, W24 and W23.
These three Leopards were acquired by Rhondda with the bus services of Cyril Evans on 15-May-1993 and Rhondda gave them numbers 385-387. The numbers were applied as small numbers inside a black rectangle instead of the normal plates, which perhaps indicated the intention to dispose of them quickly, which is what happened as all were sold to Baber of Penygraig in October 1993. As was the case with the rest of the fleet Rhondda acquired from Cyril Evans, they were operated with the 'Cyril' part of the fleetname removed so that it just showed 'Evans'.
© David Beilby
