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Second-hand Hong Kong tri-axle buses imported to the United Kingdom

In the early 2000s Stagecoach Group and other UK bus companies imported many 1980s/1990s built tri-axle double-decker buses second hand from operators in Hong Kong.

Their extra length and thus higher seating capacity over standard two-axle buses appealed to UK operators who were looking to transport large numbers of passengers in single vehicles. Stagecoach used them to set up their new low cost long distance express coach service, branded as Megabus brand, aswell as on low cost local bus routes, branded as Magic Bus. Other operators used them as school, rail replacement, private hire and open top sightseeing tour buses. Being larger than most UK buses, many operators of these imported buses have branded them with names and signwriting highlighting their large capacity, and in some cases, the fact that they also have air-conditioning.

Advantages of choosing ex-Hong Kong buses were firstly that, being a former British colony, the buses were already fitted as right-hand drive (left-side traffic) vehicles. In addition, they were all exported to Hong Kong from UK based manufacturers, thus sharing many components with 2 axle buses already in service in many fleets in the UK. The basic types imported were the tri-axle variants of the Leyland Olympian and MCW Metrobus. The Metrobuses were integral vehicles, while the Olympians had Alexander RH bodywork, a common option on UK buses also. The third design imported was the Dennis Dragon/Condor, which was the tri-axle development of the 2-axle Dennis Dominator. Unlike the Olympian or Metrobus however, these had Duple Metsec bodywork which, while being UK manufactured, was not familiar to Britain as it was designed for the export market - being shipped in kits and locally assembled.

Leyland Olympian/Alexander RH edit

Kowloon Motor Bus (3BL62-3BL163), 12m bus edit

Kowloon Motor Bus fleet no.s 3BL62-3BL163 (the 3BL class, sub-type C) were a batch of 12-metre long triple doored (one small entrance and two exits) bus seated (74 upstairs, 30 down) Leyland Olympians with Alexander RH bodywork, delivered in 1985 and 1986. The batch didn't have air-conditioning, but 3BL62-3BL107, 3BL109, 3BL111 & 3BL162 were fitted with a ventilation system. Some of these were later imported by both Stagecoach Group and Yorkshire school bus operator MASS Engineering (BrightBus Ltd) in 2002/3. The Stagecoach examples received fleetnumbers of the form 135xx in their national numbering scheme.

3BL64 (DH 5054) edit

No. 3BL64 (Hong Kong reg. DH 5054) was new in 1985, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2002. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Stagecoach Group, being allocated the UK registration plate C157 HBA and the company's fleetnumber 13514. For service in Britain it had its two exit doors removed, upping the downstairs seating capacity to 39. Upstairs however, some seats were removed, lowering it to 61. In Stagecoach ownership it was first allocated to Stagecoach Manchester (Greater Manchester South), who operated it on local low-cost bus services under the Magic Bus brand, painted in its allover blue livery with yellow Magic Bus fleetnames. In September 2006 it was transferred to Scotland to Stagecoach Bluebird (Northern Scottish), who painted it allover yellow, including painting over the destination display, with large "School Bus" fleetnames in blue (with the two O's in School replaced by the Stagecoach corporate logo). At some point it had it's front radiator panel changed for a flat piece. By March 2011 it was with Barnsley based dealers Hardwick's, and then Carlton PSV. By October 2011 it was with the coach and bus operator Simmonds based in Ivor, Berkshire, who painted the lower half blue and refitted an original radiator panel.

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    Simmonds
    reg. C157 HBA
    2012 Slough & Windsor running day
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    Simmonds
    reg. C157 HBA
    2012 Slough & Windsor running day
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    Simmonds
    reg. C157 HBA
    2012 Slough & Windsor running day

3BL127 (DH 9152) edit

No. 3BL127 (Hong Kong reg. DH 9152) was new in 1986, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2003. In the same year it was exported to the UK by MASS Engineering, being allocated the UK registration plate B942 GWJ. For service in the UK it was converted to a two-door bus by removing one of the original three doors, increasing the downstairs seating capacity to 47 seats. By 2004 it was part of MASS's BrightBus Ltd school bus subsidiary, numbered 6942, and wearing an yellow allover livery with red BrightBus fleetnames and allover signwriting featuring the names of various historical figures in blue. It later received the comany's allover green livery. By October 2011 it was withdrawn, and its remains, minus a roof, were being used to store old seats at the company's depot.

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    BrightBus
    no. 6942
    reg. B942 GWJ
    Showbus 2004
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    BrightBus
    no. 6942
    reg. B942 GWJ
    Showbus 2004

3BL149 (DJ 3052) edit

No. 3BL149 (Hong Kong reg. DJ 3052) was new in 1986, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2003. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Stagecoach Group, being allocated the UK registration plate C50 HNF and the company's fleetnumber 13517. For service in Britain it had its two exit doors removed, upping the downstairs seating capacity to 39. Upstairs however, some seats were removed, lowering it to 61. In Stagecoach ownership it was first allocated to Stagecoach Manchester (Greater Manchester South), who operated it on local low-cost bus services under the Magic Bus brand, painted in its allover blue livery with yellow Magic Bus fleetnames. In December 2006 it was transferred to Scotland to Stagecoach Bluebird (Northern Scottish), who painted in standard Stagecoach bus livery, but operated it on school services (the company also had similar buses in Yellow School Bus livery). By 2011 it had passed to BrightBus Ltd, the South Yorkshire school bus operator. Allocated fleetnumber 6050, they painted it in their allover green livery and panelled over its front destination display.

3BL152 (DJ 3770) edit

No. 3BL152 (Hong Kong reg. DJ 3770) was new in 1986, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2003. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Stagecoach Group, being allocated the UK registration plate C45 HNF and the company's fleetnumber 13509. For service in Britain it had its two exit doors removed, upping the downstairs seating capacity to 39. Upstairs however, some seats were removed, lowering it to 61. In Stagecoach ownership it was used on low-cost bus services under the Magic Bus brand, painted in its allover blue livery with yellow Magic Bus fleetnames. Having been sold to dealers Stafford Bus Centre by February 2007, still in Magic Bus blue, it passed from Stagecoach to Arthurs Coaches of Coatbridge in August 2007, and then to J&L Coaches in December 2009, for whom it operates in allover white.

Kowloon Motor Bus (S3BL106-S3BL370), 11m bus edit

Kowloon Motor Bus fleet no.s S3BL106-S3BL370 (the second grouping of the S3BL class) were batches of 11-metre long dual doored bus seated (69 upstairs, 40 down) Leyland Olympians with Alexander RH bodywork, delivered between 1987 and 1989. The batch didn't have air-conditioning, but were fitted with a ventilation system. With most being withdrawn between 2002 and 2006, 22 of the batch were later imported to the UK by The Big Bus Company for their sightseeing operations in London, being converted into either partial or full open top buses, with capacity reduced to 59 upstairs, 34 down. They all received registrations of the form Dxxx UGT, Exxx NUV (plus one as F90 SYE), fleetnumbers of the form MBO/MBH, and had names applied to their fronts, of the form Olympian x (where x is a number from 1 to 22).

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    The Big Bus Company
    ?
    Cockspur Street
    18 October 2008

S3BL256 (DW 4358) edit

No. S3BL256 (Hong Kong reg. DW 4358) was new in 1988, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2005. In the same year it was exported to the UK by The Big Bus Company of London, being allocated the UK registration plate E336 NUV. The company converted it to a fully open top bus, and repainted it into their burgundy/cream livery for use on their London sightseeing tours, allocating it fleetnumber MBO336 and name Olympian 3. By May 2012 it had been sold overseas, possibly having become redunant with the delivery of 20 brand new Chinese built Anhui Ankai tri-axle double-decker open top buses.

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    The Big Bus Company
    no. MBO336 "Olympian 3"
    reg. E336 NUV
    Park Lane
    31 December 2007

S3BL333 (EC 1588) edit

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    The Big Bus Company
    no. MHO360 "Olympian 22"
    E360 NUV
    Lambeth Bridge
    26 November 2011

S3BL360 (EC 8251) edit

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    The Big Bus Company
    no. MHO358 "Olympian 19"
    E358 NUV
    Marylebone Road
    3 December 2009
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    The Big Bus Company
    no. MHO358 "Olympian 19"
    E358 NUV
    Westminster Bridge
    26 November 2011

Citybus (106-204) 11m coach edit

Citybus fleet no.s 106-204 were a batch of 11-metre long single doored air-conditioned coach seated (53 upstairs, 41 downstairs) Leyland Olympians with Alexander RH bodywork, delivered between 1989 and 1992. 106-129 were originally numbered with a C-prefix. A large number of these were later imported by Stagecoach Group in 2003/4, receiving fleetnumbers of the form 136xx in their national numbering scheme.

134 (ER 6587) edit

No. 134 (Hong Kong reg. ER 6587) was new in 1990, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2003. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Stagecoach Group, being allocated the UK registration plate H723 KDY and the company's fleetnumber 13620. It was first allocated to Stagecoach Southdown, who operated it on long distance low-cost coach services from the south coast to London under the Megabus brand, painted in its allover blue livery with yellow megabus.com fleetnames. In June 2006 it moved along the coast to Stagecoach Hampshire Bus, who repainted it into a dedicated red, white, orange and blue South West Trains livery complete with SWT fleetnames, for use on rail replacement services for the Stagecoach owned train operating company. In Autumn 2009 while still in SWT livery it was re-registered with the ageless Northern Irish registration NDZ 3020 (originally allocated to a 1993 Dennis Dart, London Buses No. DWL20). Having been returned to the plate H723 KDY, in August 2011 it passed to Howards Travel Group.

147 (ET 1848) edit

No. 147 (Hong Kong reg. ET 1848) was new in 1991, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2003. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Stagecoach Group, being allocated the UK registration plate H495 LNA and the company's fleetnumber 13629. It was first allocated to Stagecoach East Midland (Midland Red South), who operated it on long distance low-cost coach services to London under the Megabus brand, painted in its allover blue livery with yellow megabus.com fleetnames. In December 2005 it was transferred to Stagecoach Hampshire Bus, who painted it into a dedicated red, white, orange and blue South West Trains livery complete with SWT fleetnames, for use on rail replacement services for the Stagecoach owned train operating company. In Autumn 2009 while still in SWT livery it was re-registered with the ageless registration 408 DCD, a cherished plate owned by the company through having originally been allocated to Southdown Motor Services 408, a 1964 Leyland Titan PD3). In February 2011 it was returned to the plate H495 LNA.

158 (ET 160) edit

No. 158 (Hong Kong reg. ET 160) was new in 1991, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2003. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Stagecoach Group, being allocated the UK registration plate H778 VHL and the company's fleetnumber 13632. It was first allocated to Stagecoach East Midland (Midland Red South), who operated it on long distance low-cost coach services to London under the Megabus brand, painted in its allover blue livery with yellow megabus.com fleetnames. In August 2005 it transferred to Stagecoach Manchester (Greater Manchester South), who operated it on local low-cost bus services under the Magic Bus brand, repainting it into that brands allover blue livery with yellow Magic Bus fleetnames. In February 2009 it was transferred to Stagecoach West Scotland (Western Buses), who repainted it into allover yellow school bus livery with 'Skool Bus' fleetnames, and panelled over its front destination display.

162 (ET 1746) edit

No. 162 (Hong Kong reg. ET 1746) was new in 1991, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2004. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Stagecoach Group, being allocated the UK registration plate H462 EJR and the company's fleetnumber 13652. It was first allocated to Stagecoach North East (Busways Travel Services), who operated it on long distance low-cost coach services to London under the Megabus brand, painted in its allover blue livery with yellow megabus.com fleetnames. By 2005 it was allocated to Stagecoach East Midland (Midland Red South), moving on to Stagecoach West Scotland (Western Buses) in August 2005. In December 2005 it was transferred to Stagecoach Hampshire Bus, who painted it into a dedicated red, white, orange and blue South West Trains livery complete with SWT fleetnames, for use on rail replacement services for the Stagecoach owned train operating company. In June 2009 while still in SWT livery it was re-registered with the ageless registration 421 DCD. In June 2010 it was returned to the plate H462 EJR. In August 2011 it passed to Howards Travel Group who have since re-registered it with the cherished registration F18 HOW and named it “Max Kian”. They repainted it in their cream, green and blue livery. Its size is advertised with “MAXRIDER” branding, and signage highlighting its “92 seats” and posing the question “Why hire 2 buses?”.

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    Stagecoach in Hampshire
    no. 13652
    reg. H462 EJR
    Ryde bus station
    31 October 2010
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    Stagecoach in Hampshire
    no. 13652
    reg. H462 EJR
    Ryde bus station
    31 October 2010
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    Stagecoach in Hampshire
    no. 13652
    reg. H462 EJR
    Ryde Esplanade
    31 October 2010
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    Stagecoach in Hampshire
    no. 13652
    reg. H462 EJR
    Ryde bus station
    31 October 2010
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    Stagecoach in Hampshire
    no. 13652
    reg. H462 EJR
    Ryde bus station
    31 October 2010

164 (EW 9215) edit

No. 164 (Hong Kong reg. EW 9215) was new in 1991, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2003. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Stagecoach Group, being allocated the UK registration plate J703 HMY and the company's fleetnumber 13607. It was first allocated to Stagecoach East London, who operated it on long distance low-cost coach services under the Megabus brand, painted in its allover blue livery with yellow megabus.com fleetnames. By 2007 it had been transferred to Stagecoach Manchester (Greater Manchester South), who operated it on local low-cost bus services under the Magic Bus brand, repainting it into that brands allover blue livery with yellow Magic Bus fleetnames. In April 2008 it was sold to dealer Ensignbus, who sold it a month later to Bear Buses of Feltham, a small private hire operator. By 2011 it had passed to Abbey Travel of Leicester. They repainted it in a yellow livery with green Abbey travel fleetnames, and named it "Amy-May". Its size is advertised with "Super Decker" branding and signage highlighting its "92 coach seats (with seat belts)" and that it is "Air conditioned".

169 (EX 166) edit

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    Magic Bus
    no. 13654
    reg. J688 TNF
    Manchester
    14 July 2007

204 (FJ 4674) edit

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    Magic Bus
    no. 13628
    reg. K688 CBA
    Manchester
    28 April 2007

China Light & Power (300-314) 12m dual purpose edit

China Light & Power fleet no.s 300-314 were a batch of 12-metre long dual purpose seated (57 upstairs, 44 downstairs) single doored Leyland Olympians with Alexander RH bodywork, delivered in 1992. These were for use by the power company as staff buses, and wore a dedicated blue & white livery, but were operated on behalf of CLP by Citybus. By 2009 the fleet had been replaced by 5 Alexander Dennis Enviro500s. Citybus took direct ownership of four buses (301/306/310/312) in 1997, and another (304) in 2001, retaining the same fleetnumbers. All of the batch (except 311 which was preserved) were eventually exported to UK operators, including the Citybus examples (the only bus not exported directly from CLP or citybus was 308). The largest single customer was Kinchs of Minety, who took 7 direct from CLP in 2009.

304 (FC 1714) edit

No. 304 (Hong Kong reg. FC 1714) was new in 1992, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2005. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Talisman Coach Lines of Great Bromley, Colchester, being allocated the UK registration plate J534 CEV and retaining the Citybus fleetnumber 304. Talisman painted it in a yellow with blue livery and Talisman fleetnames. Its size is advertised with prominent red lettered "Mega Dekka" branding and signage highlighting its "102 coach seats, belts & air conditioning". In June 2009 is passed to Lodge's Coaches of High Easter, Essex, who repainted it into their cream and blue livery, and panelled over its front destination display.

308 (FC 7695) edit

No. 308 (Hong Kong reg. FC 7695) was new in 1992, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2001. In the same year it passed to Fung Choi Travel Company Ltd of Ping Wu Garden, Hong Kong. In 2006 it was exported to the UK by Patron Travel of Flintham, Nottinghamshire, being allocated the UK registration plate J629 CEV. With Patron it was re-registered with the ageless registration BIG 8385, and painted into a cream and brown livery, with brown Patron Travel fleetnames. A nickname applied to the front, "Hong Kong Fuey", hinted at its far east origins, while other signage highlighted that customers can "Hire this 102 seater with seat belts fitted". In January 2010 Skills of Nottingham purchased Patron Travel's contracts and BIG 8385, described in the local news as "the largest coach in the Midlands." Skills repainted it into the yellow & white livery used for their budget coach hire division. They used it mainly on school contracts, keeping the Patron Travel fleetname (in two tone green). By 2012 it was in the care of The Bus Works still in Skills yellow/white but with the Patron Travel fleetnames having been removed, and having been restored to the plate J629 CEV.

China Motor Bus (LM1-LM10), 11.3m bus edit

fleet no.s LM1-LM10 were a batch of ten 11.3-metre long dual doored bus seated (69 upstairs, 40 down) Leyland Olympians with Alexander RH bodywork, entering service in December 1993. They were the last non-air conditioned buses ordered by the company. The whole batch passed into the fleet of New World First Bus when they took over the franchise in 1998, but were all withdrawn in early 2000. The whole batch were then converted to single door, refurbished and exported to the UK for use by First PMT. They were initially turned out in PMT red/yellow livery. They were later transferred to First Manchester, where they gained First corporate livery & national fleetnumbers. Staying together, they were then transferred to First Glasgow and finally First Eastern Counties (Great Yarmouth).

LM10 (FW 3858) - preserved edit

No. LM10 (Hong Kong reg. FW 3858) was the last of the batch. Upon arrival in the UK, it was allocated the UK registration plate K481 EUX. Under the First national fleet numbering scheme, it became 30097. After withdrawal it was bought for preservation, leaving Great Yarmouth on 22 July 2011. It was still in its old First livery until at least April 2012. Following a restoration to CMB livery, it made its debut at the Newbury Bus Rally on Sunday 22nd July 2012. It has alternated between displaying its UK registration and its original Hong Kong plate while in preservation - so presumably the latter is only used as a cosmetic plate.

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    Showbus 2012
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    Showbus 2012
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    Showbus 2012
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    Showbus 2012
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    Showbus 2012
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    Showbus 2012
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    Showbus 2012
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    2014 LBPT Spring gathering (Brooklands)

MCW Metrobus edit

China Motor Bus (ML3-ML44 & ML45-84) 12m bus edit

China Motor Bus fleet no.s ML3-ML84 were a batch of 12-metre long dual-doored bus seated (75 upstairs*, 33 downstairs) MCW Super Metrobuses. The batch were delivered in two phases, ML3-ML44 over 1983/4, and ML45-84 over 1987/8. The class lacked air-conditioning, but the second phases was fitted with ventilation equipment. *ML3-ML25 originally had 1 extra seat upstairs). The whole batch passed into the fleet of New World First Bus when they took over the franchise in 1998, with withdrawals starting that year, and completed by 2000. The majority of the first batch were subsequently exported to Australia for use by City Sightseeing. Most of the second batch went to the UK for use by The Original Tour in London, who also then bought many of the Australian buses in 2006 too.

ML16 (CY 9368) edit

No. ML16 (Hong Kong reg. CY 9368) was new in 1983, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2000. In the same year it was exported to City Sightseeing Australia in 2000, who renumbered it 407. It was never used by the company, but was converted to full open top style as used on similar buses which did enter service in various cities, painted in the appropriate red City Sightseeing livery. In 2006 it was exported to the UK by The Original Tour of London, being allocated the UK registration plate UAR 773Y and the company's fleetnumber EMB779. The company kept it as a full open topper, but painted it in their red & white The Original Tour London Sightseeing livery. It was later re-registered by the company with the ageless registration MXT 179. It was eventually withdrawn by The Original Tour in November 2011.

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    The Original Tour
    no. EMB779
    reg. MXT 179
    Buckingham Palace Road
    15 October 2009
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    The Original Tour
    no. EMB779
    reg. MXT 179
    Fleet Street, City of London
    25 August 2010

ML43 (DB 1959) edit

No. ML43 (Hong Kong reg. DB 1959) was new in 1984, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2000. In the same year it was exported to City Sightseeing Australia in 2000, who renumbered it 408. It was never used by the company, but was converted to full open top style as used on similar buses which did enter service in various cities, painted in the appropriate red City Sightseeing livery. In 2006 it was exported to the UK by The Original Tour of London, being allocated the UK registration plate A755 WEV and the company's fleetnumber EMB780. The company kept it as a full open topper, but painted it in their red & white The Original Tour London Sightseeing livery. It was eventually withdrawn by The Original Tour in November 2011.

ML48 (DT 9187) edit

No. ML48 (Hong Kong reg. DT 9187) was new in 1987, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2000. In the same year it was exported to the UK by The Original Tour of London, being allocated the UK registration plate E771 JAR and the company's fleetnumber EMB771. The company converted it to a partial open top bus and painted it in their red & white The Original Tour London Sightseeing livery. It was eventually withdrawn by The Original Tour in November 2011.

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    The Original Tour
    no. EMB771
    reg. E771 JAR
    Showbus 2004
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    The Original Tour
    no. EMB771
    reg. E771 JAR
    Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria
    9 October 2008

ML51 (DU 1637) edit

No. ML51 (Hong Kong reg. DU 1637) was new in 1987, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2000. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Patron Travel of Flintham, Nottinghamshire, being allocated the UK registration plate E817 JAR, although it was later re-registered with the ageless registration OIL 4201, and painted into a cream and brown livery, with brown Patron Travel fleetnames. A nickname applied to the front, "Hong Kong Fuey", hinted at its far east origins.

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    Patron Travel
    "Hong Kong Fuey"
    reg. OIL 4201
    Showbus 2004
    26 September 2004

ML52 (DU 3481) edit

No. ML52 (Hong Kong reg. DU 3481) was new in 1987, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2000. In the same year it was exported to the UK by The Original Tour of London, being allocated the UK registration plate E773 JAR and the company's fleetnumber EMB773. The company converted it to a partial open top bus and painted it in their red & white The Original Tour London Sightseeing livery. It was eventually withdrawn by The Original Tour in November 2011.

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    The Original Tour
    no. EMB773
    reg. E773 JAR
    Duke Street Hill, London Bridge
    17 January 2009

ML54 (DU 3460) edit

No. ML54 (Hong Kong reg. DU 3460) was new in 1987, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2000. In the same year it was exported to the UK by The Original Tour of London, being allocated the UK registration plate E767 JAR and the company's fleetnumber EMB767. The company converted it to a partial open top bus and painted it in their red & white The Original Tour London Sightseeing livery. In April 2011 it was exported by dealer Ensigbus to the Republic of Ireland, to Dualway Coaches of Rathcoole, Dublin, the City Sightseeing franchise holder for Dublin, as a long term loan following a depot fire. They re-registered it as 87-D-39113, and applied red City Sightseeing Dublin branding and partial painting, while retaining the Original Tour livery base of red & white (see image similarly treated loanee EMB768 (reg. 87 D 39112, ex-E768 JAR), originally ML57 (DU 8346)). By February 2012 it was back in the UK, still wearing its Irish plate and being returned to Ensign on trade plates.

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    The Original Tour
    no. EMB767
    reg. E767 JAR
    Park Lane, Westminster
    13 December 2007

ML55 (DU 5325) edit

No. ML55 (Hong Kong reg. DU 5325) was new in 1987, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2000. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Ensign Bus being allocated the UK registration plate E811 JAR. The bus joined the fleet of Top Line Travel of York Ltd in September 2001 being branded in yellow and blue livery. In 2008 when Top Line Travel was taken over by Transdev York the vehicle was transferred to Intack depot at Blackburn and is currently part of the Bank View Travel fleet in Preston.

ML64 (DV 4883) edit

No. ML64 (Hong Kong reg. DV 4883) was new in 1988, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2000. In the same year it was exported to the UK by The Original Tour of London, being allocated the UK registration plate E965 JAR and the company's fleetnumber EMB765. The company converted it to a partial open top bus and painted it in their red & white The Original Tour London Sightseeing livery. It was eventually withdrawn by The Original Tour in November 2011.

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    The Original Tour
    no. EMB765
    reg. E965 JAR
    Grosvenor Gardens, Victoria
    25 January 2009
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    The Original Tour
    no. EMB765
    reg. E965 JAR
    Wellington Arch, Westminster
    26 June 2011

ML84 (EA 4952) edit

No. ML84 (Hong Kong reg. EA 4952) was new in 1988, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 1999. In 2000 it was exported to the UK by Mullanys Coaches of Watford, being allocated the UK registration plate F97 UJN. It later passed to J&L Coaches for whom it operates in allover white. At some point it has been re-registered with the ageless registration EBZ 6295.

Dennis Dragon-Condor/Duple Metsec edit

Kowloon Motor Bus (3N4-3N191) 12m bus edit

Kowloon Motor Bus fleet no.s 3N4-3N191 were a batch of 12-metre long triple doored (one small entrance and two exits) bus seated (75 upstairs, 33 down) Dennis Dragons with Duple Metsec bodywork, delivered from 1983 to 1986. The class lacked air-conditioning, but buses 3N13, 3N94-3N140 and 3N155-3N157 were fitted with ventilation equipment. A small number were bought by Yorkshire school bus operator MASS Engineering (BrightBus Ltd) in 2003.

3N124 (DK 340) edit

No. 3N124 (Hong Kong reg. DK 340) was new in 1986, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2003. In the same year it was exported to the UK by MASS Engineering, being allocated the UK registration plate B957 GWJ. For service in the UK it was converted to a two-door bus by removing one of the original three doors, increasing the downstairs seating capacity to 51 seats. By 2006 it was part of MASS's BrightBus Ltd school bus subsidiary, numbered 6635. They initially repainted it into BrightBus green livery with black window surrounds, with blue 'BRIGHTBUS' fleetnames, and retaining the black/chrome grille detail. It July 2009 it re-registered with the ageless registration BIG 7635. By 2010 the green livery had been extended to includ the window surrounds and whole grille. The side painted fleetnames were also removed, replaced by a small BrightBus.co.uk web address on the front above the destination display, which was also later panelled over.

China Motor Bus (DL3-DL48) 12m bus edit

China Motor Bus fleet no.s DL3-DL48 were a batch of 12-metre long dual-doored bus seated (72 upstairs, 35 downstairs) Dennis Condors with Duple Metsec bodywork. The batch were delivered largely in 1989 (the last two being 1990). The class lacked air-conditioning, but was fitted with ventilation equipment. The whole class passed into the fleet of New World First Bus when they took over the franchise in 1998, with most then being withdrawn in 2000/1. The majority were then exported to new owners in the UK, with most going to The Big Bus Company in London for their sightseeing operations.

DL16 (EG 857) edit

No. DL16 (Hong Kong reg. EG 857) was new in 1989, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2000. In 2001 it was exported to the UK by The Big Bus Company of London, being allocated the UK registration plate G939 FVX and the company's fleetnumber HD939. The company converted it to a two-door partial open top bus, removing one of the original three doors, and repainted it into their burgundy/cream livery for use on their London sightseeing tours.

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    The Big Bus Company
    no. HD939
    reg. G939 FVX
    Cannon Street, City of London
    10 May 2007

China Motor Bus (DA1-DA56) 11m bus edit

China Motor Bus fleet no.s DA1-DA56 were a batch of air-conditioned 11-metre long dual-doored bus seated (53 upstairs, 40 downstairs) Dennis Condors with Duple Metsec bodywork. The batch were delivered in 1990 (DA1-DA12), 1991 (DA13-DA36) and 1993 (DA37-DA56). The whole batch passed into the fleet of New World First Bus when they took over the franchise in 1998. The 1990/1 buses were withdrawn between 2004 and 2009, with the 1993 buses following in 2010/11. Some of the earlier buses were exported to the UK, to a variety of operators.

DA2 (EM 8983) edit

No. DA2 (Hong Kong reg. EM 8983) was new in 1990, and saw service in the territory until withdrawal in 2004. In the same year it was exported to the UK by Ensignbus, being allocated the UK registration plate G355 FWC. After being converted to a hospitality bus, by 2006 it was with Andronics Coffee of Corby as an espresso bar, with a blue base livery and large coffee bean vinyl applied along the mid-deck. It has since been renamed 'Hamiltons', but with the same blue base/coffee bean vinyl.

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    Hamiltons
    G355 FWC
    Festival Gardens, Liverpool
    4 January 2013
  •  
    Hamiltons
    G355 FWC
    Festival Gardens, Liverpool
    4 January 2013
  •  
    Hamiltons
    G355 FWC
    Festival Gardens, Liverpool
    8 July 2012
  •  
    Hamiltons
    G355 FWC
    Festival Gardens, Liverpool
    8 July 2012
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