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MMC01
- MCW Metrobus
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China
Motor Bus
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Following closely on the heels of the release
of the 1/50 scale Metrobus under the Collector's Model branding, this smaller
version, approximately 1/130 scale, is released under the Peak Horse name.
The MC (Metrobus Coach) class consisted of
12 MCW Metrobus Mk 1. These vehicles were purchased new in 1978 in order
to encourage the motorist to commute by bus to the Central business district
in conjunction with the other bus priority schemes introduced at the time.
They were the first double-deck coaches operating in the Territory.
In September 1978, 10 MCs were allocated
to two new coach routes introduced between the Central district and the
more affluent residential areas of Stanley and Chung Hom Kok. No standing
was allowed, thus avoiding overcrowding.
These vehicles continued to serve on these
two coach routes until they were relieved by single-deck air-conditioned
Dennis Darts in late 1991, when they were re-allocated as buses to operate
on route 13, on the mid-levels of Hong Kong Island. The MCs contributed
significantly to CMB's order for the very high capacity buses, forty 11
metre two-axle MB class vehicles and eighty-four 12 metre three-axle ML
class vehicles in the following years.
When CMB lost its franchise of Hong Kong
Island, and cross-harbour tunnel routes in 1998, all 12 MCs, among others
in the fleet, were sold to New World First Bus. In an attempt to convert
the whole New World First Bus fleet to air-conditioned vehicles, the MCs
were withdrawn from passenger service in 1999 and three of them were converted
to training vehicles, to assist in the massive recruitment programme. The
story continues below...........
| Manufacturer
of model |
Peak
Horse |
| Scale |
1:130
(approx) |
| Prototype chassis |
MCW
Metrobus Mk1 |
| Prototype bodywork |
- |
| Prototype length |
9.7
metres |
| Fleet number |
MC9 |
| Registration
number |
BV
2052 |
| Route number |
780 |
| Destination |
Central |
| Quantity (total) |
3,000 |
| |
Hong Kong
|
United Kingdom
|
| Quantities (if
known) |
?
|
?
|
| Date released |
28th April 2001
|
-
|
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 |
Photographs courtesy of
Stephen Cho of KMB 2E Bus Page
I have kindly been sent the above photos
of MC9 in Australia, taken at Sydney, before heading to its final destination,
Canberra. It was sold to City Sightseeing last year to replace the three-axle
Metrobus ML28, which had a cracked chassis. The bottom photograph shows
MC9 still carrying its BV 2052 Hong Kong registration number.
