South Wales Transport • Part 1

South Wales Transport • Part 1

An archive of views taken in the pre-NBC era, including more recently preserved examples restored to historic liveries. This album also includes the vehicles of N & C Luxury Coaches, Thomas Bros. (Port Talbot) Ltd., United Welsh Services Ltd. and Western Welsh which became part of the enlarged SWT fleet between 1969 and 1971.

<DIV ALIGN=left>Of the many AEC bus designs which operated in this area, the ‘400s’ are well remembered. The name refers to a batch of AEC Regent Mark Five double deckers numbered in the 400 series and whose most distinctive trademark was the growling AV470 engine, often heard several streets away! Perhaps they weren’t really that loud; there was less traffic in those days...
The buses first came into the SWT fleet in 1955 with deliveries continuing until 1957. The earliest examples were amongst the first production Regent Mk.Vs, carrying chassis numbers 003 upwards, underlining SWT’s willingness to purchase new designs.
There were three basic varieties of ‘Four Hundreds’; normal height with Weymann bodywork, normal height with Willowbrook bodywork and the low height Weymann design. All had their entrances at the rear.
The first deliveries were the normal height Weymann type (numbered 440 to 449, MCY 400-409), looking very smart in their deep red and cream livery. Indeed, the type was the last to carry the cream waistband which was a feature of the 1960s fleet.
The earliest examples were allocated to Llanelli and some had platform doors at the rear - unusual in the SWT fleet and reportedly for use on the Llanelli to Swansea service 2.
Recreating the past: Preserved 1955 AEC Regent V/Weymann H33/26RD 447 (MCY 407) in Station Road, Llanelli.</DIV>

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Of the many AEC bus designs which operated in this area, the ‘400s’ are well remembered. The name refers to a batch of AEC Regent Mark Five double deckers numbered in the 400 series and whose most distinctive trademark was the growling AV470 engine, often heard several streets away! Perhaps they weren’t really that loud; there was less traffic in those days... The buses first came into the SWT fleet in 1955 with deliveries continuing until 1957. The earliest examples were amongst the first production Regent Mk.Vs, carrying chassis numbers 003 upwards, underlining SWT’s willingness to purchase new designs. There were three basic varieties of ‘Four Hundreds’; normal height with Weymann bodywork, normal height with Willowbrook bodywork and the low height Weymann design. All had their entrances at the rear. The first deliveries were the normal height Weymann type (numbered 440 to 449, MCY 400-409), looking very smart in their deep red and cream livery. Indeed, the type was the last to carry the cream waistband which was a feature of the 1960s fleet. The earliest examples were allocated to Llanelli and some had platform doors at the rear - unusual in the SWT fleet and reportedly for use on the Llanelli to Swansea service 2. Recreating the past: Preserved 1955 AEC Regent V/Weymann H33/26RD 447 (MCY 407) in Station Road, Llanelli.