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| There are one or two privileges that come with being the owner of a website, and I make no apologies for today's post! On Sunday, my son Chris, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), took part in the London Marathon in support of the MS Trust. Having only taken up running two years ago, he has been training hard over the past few months, and as I reported back on 12th March, he completed the Brighton Half Marathon at the beginning of March and in doing so achieved a Guinness World Record, as detailed below.
Well, my wife and I travelled up to London to support him. With around 59,000 runners taking part, taking photographs proved difficult, but fortunately, there were some professionals doing a good job, and I have included a few of these here, along with one featuring me! Anyway, Chris completed the Marathon in 4 hours, 10 minutes and 34 seconds and in doing so has managed to reach his target of £3,000 for the MS Trust, but he is keen to try and increase this.
So, if you would
like
to support him, and the Trust, and make my wife and I even prouder, his JustGiving page
can be found here
it's a once in a lifetime event and perhaps you could consider a donation, no matter how small, as your "lifetime subscription" to the Oriental Model Buses website!! Thank you for your time and a big 'Thank You' to those who have already made a donation. 29th April 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Released today in Hong Kong is this Citybus Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8L from Model 1. It features 52104 (WU5824) promoting the new route 582 from Pak Shek Kok to Sai Sha, which commenced on the 28th April 2024 (63639/CM213). A new page and further photographs have now been added.
Meanwhile, a further Citybus model has been announced to their staff, this being part open-top Enviro500NG 59907 (SH6325) on route H2K (CM217). 28th April 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Citybus 'retro' liveried Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B8L 52108 (WP1057) has been renumbered 8807 and at the same time the yellow trim surrounding the destination screen has been removed, as can be seen in the above 'before' and 'after' photographs. 27th April 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A BYD B11 demonstrator was spotted in my hometown this afternoon, operating morebus route 40 from Swanage to Poole. 17th April 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© Unknown Posted earlier today on the Bournemouth Transport Heritage Archive Facebook page is this photograph of former Bournemouth Corporation Transport Daimler Fleetline no. 193 (CRU193C). Purchased by Bournemouth in 1965, it was subsequently acquired by Citybus and was registered CA4143 in Hong Kong in September 1979, becoming fleet no. D6. It is seen here in the early 1980s carrying MTR logos and decals advertising that it was operating a free shuttle bus between Tsim Sha Tsui Station and Tsim Sha Tsui East. The original photographer is unknown and permission has been obtained from the member of the above group who posted the photograph. Finally, can anyone identify this location? If you can, please e-mail me. 15th April 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kowloon Motor Bus (1933) Ltd celebrates its 93rd anniversary today, and to mark the occasion, I thought I would post a few photographs of some models from my collection that represent the various decades.
All the images are 'clickable'.
Another milestone has been achieved today, namely that my current website tracker, which I installed on 16th September 2008, recorded that the 5 millionth visit to the site was made today!
13th April 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Published 25 years ago today was the second volume of Hong Kong Model Buses. Unfortunately, Volume 3 was never published - I think an encyclopedia would be required today 🤣. For more information on this book, just follow this link.
© Rheneas Choi
© David Bai Model 1 has released a 1/76 scale model of the unique New World First Bus 12.8 metre MAN A95, fleet no. 6090, which was first announced back in February last year. The model represents the bus before entering service and displays a route number of '123' and destination of 'Hanover Displays', with no New World First Bus logos. It carries a trade plate of T10733 in the front windscreen. It is limited to 695 pieces and the box carries the wording 'Model 1 - bus model enthusiast since 2010' with a '15th' logo. The product code is confirmed as being 63227. My thanks to Rheneas Choi and David Bai for allowing me to share their photographs, more of which have now been added to a new page, just follow the above link. 12th April 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© Andrew Webb My thanks to Andrew Webb for sending me the above photograph of former Kowloon Motor Bus AEC Regent A165. It was spotted awaiting its turn in the Restoration Shed of the Zero2 Bus Museum in Essex, which opened yesterday. In 2008 I featured this bus in the XTRA section of my site, just follow the link. 4th April 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© Alan Wong The Kowloon Motor Bus 93rd Anniversary decorated Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 was noted in service today, and as expected, it was operating route 93K! My thanks to Bus Dream Land and Alan Wong for allowing me to share their photographs, more of which have been added to a new page in the XTRA section of the site. 3rd April 2026 |
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© Kowloon Motor Bus To mark the company's 93rd anniversary, which takes place on 13th April, Kowloon Motor Bus has today unveiled an image of a suitably decorated bus, namely Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 bodied Volvo B9TL AVBWU225 (RE1213). The company advises that the bus will be mainly used on route 93K, which operates between Mong Kok East Station and Po Lam. No doubt a model will follow!
Released in the UK 20 years ago today is this Citybus Leyland Olympian No. 152. Dave Rogers commissioned the model and the actual bus forms part of his collection of former Hong Kong buses here in the UK. Further details of the model can be found here. 2nd April 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
My plan for the revised 'header' on this News page is to feature a different model each month. This month sees China Motor Bus Duple Metsec bodied Dennis Condor DL1 (CV4990). The actual bus arrived in Hong Kong in May 1982 and carried this unique livery. With a passenger capacity of 171, it made it Hong Kong's highest capacity bus. The model, from Best Choose (02031), was issued in late May 2002 and was the company's second release.
© Felix Fung I am grateful to Felix Fung for allowing me to share his photographs. The above shows a repainted Enviro500, matching the actual bus that recently joined the Park Island Transport fleet. The photograph below includes the above model alongside a repainted Volvo B7RLE. I must say, I am very impressed!!
© Felix Fung And finally, two MCV Evolution bodied Volvo B7RLEs, the only two such vehicles in the Park Island Transport.
© Felix Fung 1st April 2026 |
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