David Slater (Spoddendale)'s photos

FBY 003 Operator: Unknown Chassis: Iveco (former demonstrator) Body: Cacciamali At Victoria (Rabat) bus station

FBY 002 Operator: Fuguara Brothers, Fontana Chassis: MAN 11.192 (former demonstrator) Body: Integral? At Victoria (Rabat) bus station

FBY 002 Operator: Fuguara Brothers, Fontana Chassis: MAN 11.192 (former demonstrator) Body: Integral? At Victoria (Rabat) bus station

FBY 001 Operator: Unknown Chassis: Bedford YNV Body: Caetano Algarve New to Cobholm Hire Services (Caroline Seagull), Great Yarmouth, England in March 1988 as E348 TPW later becoming 6541 FN. (We rode lots of buses during this holiday but today had hired a car, the red Ford Escort in the background) Seen at the Basilica at Ta’ Pinu

FBY 052 Operator: Unknown Chassis: Hino Body: Debono Seen at the ferry port of Mgarr from where the ferries of the Gozo Channel Line sail across to Cirkewwa on Malta, a journey time of about 25 minutes. The vessel ‘Ghawdex’ is prominent in the photograph. Ghawdex (pronounced Howdesh) is the native name for Gozo.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – The ferry port of Cirkewwa on Malta’s west coast is where the ferries of the Gozo Channel Line sail across to Mgarr on the island of Gozo, a journey time of about 25 minutes. The vessel ‘Ghawdex’ is seen in the background of this photograph of EBY 511, a Schembri bodied International. Ghawdex (pronounced Howdesh) is the native name for Gozo. Bus service 45 links Cirkewwa with the Maltese capital, Valletta just over an hour’s ride on the bus.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – Our return from Sliema to the ferry port of Cirkewwa was on board FBY 780, a 1974 Duple Dominant bodied Bedford YRQ new as OHB 470N to Morlais Services of Merthyr Tydfyl, South Wales in August 1974. Now operated by Joseph Bugittil of Zabbar.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – FBY 787, a 1967 East Lancs bodied Leyland Tiger Cub, was new to Blackburn Corporation, UK as their number 18 (GBV 18E). It was seen at the bus terminus in Sliema being operated by Jason Borg of Zeebug.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – The lettering and badgework on DBY 303 might lead one to think this bus was a Leyland when in truth the top glass, showing Bristol, was the manufacturer of the LH chassis. It carries an Eastern Coachworks body with what appeared to be a Leyland Lynx lower front panel. It was new to Crosville Motor Services in February 1976 (fleet number SLL630). It was seen at the bus terminus in Sliema.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – In an effort to make major upgrades to its buses, Malta was taking delivery of new low floor single deckers from England. DBY 307 was a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart new in May 1997 and operated by Paramount Garage of Mosta. It was seen at the bus terminus in Sliema.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – In an effort to make major upgrades to its buses, Malta was taking delivery of new low floor single deckers from England. DBY 307 was a Plaxton Pointer bodied Dennis Dart new in May 1997 and operated by Paramount Garage of Mosta. It was seen at the bus terminus in Sliema.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – According to the PSV Circle fleet history, EBY 559 was a Farruiga bodied AEC Mercury (truck) chassis. The front grille is that of a Plaxton Paramount II. It was seen at the bus terminus in Sliema.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – It was good to see EBY 580, a 1973 Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied Bedford YRQ, now operated by Paradise Garage of Buggiba. It was no less than former Morley’s Grey Coaches XWW 791L. Morley’s Grey was based in West Row near Mildenhall, Suffolk just a few miles away from where I live and had been our most prominent coach operator in the area until the business closed in 1985. It was seen at the bus terminus in Sliema.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – EBY 580, a 1973 Plaxton Panorama Elite bodied Bedford YRQ, now operated by Paradise Garage of Buggiba. It was no less than former Morley’s Grey Coaches XWW 791L. Morley’s Grey was based in West Row near Mildenhall, Suffolk just a few miles away from where I live and had been our most prominent coach operator in the area until the business closed in 1985. It was seen at the bus terminus in Valletta.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – EBY 588 this bus has had a chequered history. Despite having a Bedford grille it was actually a Ford V8 that was built in 1945 to normal control (bonneted). It was subsequently modified to forward control and rebodied by Zammit. It was later modified by Brincat layout. It was seen at the main bus terminus in Valletta after working a trip of service 45 from Cirkewwa, a journey of just over the hour and on which we had travelled. It was noisy but performed well on the hills around Mellieha even with a full standing load.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – FBY 661 had a Willy’s chassis (perhaps of 1940s vintage?) fitted with a Dodge front and a Brincat body. Willys-Overland Motors was an American company known best for its design and production of military jeeps. It was seen at the main bus terminal at Valletta.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – FBY 673 was a 1977 Duple Dominant bodied Bedford YLQ which had been new to Reliance Motor Services of Newbury as their 153 (OAN 963R) and operated by them until the business closed in 1986. It was seen at the main bus terminal at Valletta.

Thursday 14 May 1998 – Despite what the windscreen lettering and grille badge says on the vehicle on the right, these two buses have lorry variant Bedford chassis. FBY 781 has a 1951 Barbara body on a OL type chassis from pre-1951. Y-0681 has a Debono body mounted on a 1945 QLD chassis. The latter still carried a registration number from the older series and would quite likely have been re-registered soon after. The pair were seen at the main bus terminal at Valletta.