Caerphilly U. D. C. No.1 - LTX 311
SPECIFICATIONS:-
LEYLAND PS2/5 520623
Year of Manufacture 1952
Engine - Leyland 0.600
Body - Massey B35F
Fleet No. - 1 (as delivered) |
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Originally ordered with bodywork by Bruce of Cardiff, this changed to Massey of Wigan, on the closure of the Bruce business.
As new, the livery applied to LTX was Mid Brunswick Green with an Ivory waist band. At the time of its first re-paint, the Ivory was continued upward to include the window surrounds.
Withdrawn from PSV service in July 1969, the vehicle was converted for use as a tow bus and driver trainer. Becoming part of the Rhymney Valley District Council fleet in April 1974, it was renumbered 51 and adopted a reverse form of the "Banana Split" colour scheme of the main fleet.
July 1977 saw it sold to a Mr. Cornock, Abertillery as part of the Jones Preservation Group. It was initially returned to Caerphilly livery but was changed to the "Jones of Aberbeeg" livery soon after. By April 1980, it was with the "311 Group" of Newport.
August 1986, it was sold to Peakes of Pontypool and repainted into the Grey/Cream livery of that concern but passed within a year to Austin Howells of Ynsddu.
1989 and it was off again, this time to Messrs Williams and Gwynne, of Ystrad Mynach. Here it languished for a number of years, laterally undercover, with some effort made at preservation.
Salvation came in 1998, when it came into the ownership of the Reliance Bus Preservation Group. As purchased, it was in a semi-dismantled condition. There was no passenger door.The front entrance steps and floor were non-existant, as were the rear wheel arches, mudguards and cab floor. Some windows were also missing.
On Tuesday, 24th February the bus was towed to the "Group's" headquarters, near Raglan.
LTX 311 passed its first M.o.T. test in our ownership on 7th October 2002, after a complete re-build.
The title photograph shows LTX "on location" whilst filming for the BBC4 documentary celebrating 60 years of the NHS.
Update 5th Feb 2009 - LTX has now been completely re-upholstered and is a joy to behold!
