Malta & Gozo 2008 Part I

Richard Stedall (Chairman Buses Worldwide) ran an enthusiasts trip to Malta from 12th to 20th April 2008. There were three day trips organised as part of the overall week long visit.

Monday 14th April - "Malta" trip
Thursday 17th April - "Gozo" trip
Friday 18th April - "Open Top" and possible "Harbour Cruise" trip

I will be writing up some information about each of the organised days. Today is about the "Malta Trip"

The plan for the Monday was :-

Our vehicle for the day will be one of Paramount's 53-seat Dennis Javelin / Plaxton coaches dating from the late 80s. We will be numbering around 40 for this day trip – as well as some locals joining us around 8 other enthusiasts who will be out there will be coming along before they go home on the 15th. Including VAT the total per person for the coach hire will come to around E4.50 (around £3.60). The plan at the moment is to visit the Government facility at Pembroke to see the Ministry of Education stored Swifts and other odds and ends. The rest of the day will see visits to operators Paramount, Cancu and Garden of Eden, the premises of body builder / repairer Scarnif and the new Luqa premises of Zinnu's Coachworks. I am also trying to arrange one or two other stops and will confirm things on the day of the trip. Departure time from the Palm Court will be 0830 – please make sure you are ready to leave promptly as otherwise we will have to shorten the time spent at the locations we are visiting.

Here are a few photos of the day. More detailed photos and observations will follow.



JCY 850 was provided by Paramount (Grech, Mosta) as our coach for the day. My records (which may not be correct) give this as being F669 PAY Ds Jv 11SDL1905/374 Plaxton Paramount 3200 8911HEA0761 C53F New to Snowdon,Easington Colliery 11 1/89 arriving in Malta 6/93.

First stop was Pembroke and apart from being tidier not too much has changed !



Here the Ministry of Education Swifts are maintained.

Swift/Marshall GVH130 former M-1531, originally AML 35H.



There are also others "for spares"



Swift/MCW u/r M-1511, originally JGF 736K.

On to Mosta to visit Paramount



There was plenty of activity in and around Paramount Garages on our arrival at their premises in Constitution street, Mosta. Here Dennis Javelin GX/Plaxton Excalibur JCY989 is seen being driven past Leyland Royal Tiger/Paramount JCY905. The Excalibur is the third of four operated by Paramount. Three were delivered new as 990 (a ‘Bus & Coach’ show vehicle), 988 and 989. The other, LCY860 was a demonstrator vehicle and came later.



Including cleaning of one of the Dart route buses



Th Irizar bodied Mercedes Benz was hiding away. Not that often out in service but with the numerous cruise ships visiting during the week she indeed did venture out.

The store was another highlight.



Former DBY313 Thames/Casha B36F (159), former Y-0462 Bedford OB/Aquilina B36C (2151) and former ADT731 Thames/Aquilina B36F(3298).





A great opportunity to study these fine machines in detail.

However the next stop had to be aborted as the vehicle was need elsewhere ! Just managed this shot as she disappeared to the airport.



On to Cancu Supreme and the open top activity !







G294 OGE being re-panelled.



OHV 808Y finished but awaiting its plates. Since then this has entered service as COY010.



The chassis plate of B10M 22957 (G688 PNS) that has since then become COY011.

Next stop Scarnif



FBY 002 MAN 11.192 Dorteller B45F



Below: Commer Avenger EBY 629 has had the front axle moved back. Here is the strenghtened chassis !





On to Garden of Eden and........



.. the hidden OB !



Bedford/Tonna B32C former A-2441 which became J-4792 during subsequent years. This has been in storage since 1986.

Final stop was Zinnu's Coachworks. Major rebuilding underway.









The Bedford YMP/Marshall is FBY646 from the ‘tal-Honey’ fleet.

The Beford YLQ/Duple Dominant ii DBY344 from the ‘ta’ Lippa’ fleet.

Work this one out !



Chassis plate from the Zonda coach that should become Amphicoach GTS Mkii number 3.


One ability that such a trip as this, is that thanks to "local knowledge," individual vehicles can be found !



DBY379 all Leyland Lynx former Preston Bus F213 YHG which has finally displaced the long stored AEC Swift/Marshall originally AML 20H.



FBY661 Willys/Brincat B34F seen at Fgura near its owner’s garage. At one time this used to be unscheduled bus 3036.



AEC tipper JAI438


E & O E. All comments are believed to be accurate but remember I have had a bus pass for many many years !

Thanks to Marco Zammit - our man in Malta - for his invaluable help with the captions and then proof reading what I actually type :-)

Updated 12.30 15-06-08

NB. Right click on images to access larger (1600 x 1200) images.