| [diecast models] - [information] - [links] - [news] - [plastic models] - [resin models] - [trams] - [xtra] |
 |
Oriental Buses
in the UK ... Ex-Citybus Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian 606 |
 |
The front cover
of Danny Chan's 'Hong Kong Buses Yearbook 1997' shows the arrival of the
first batch.
North Point Ferry Terminal on 1st December 2009 © Oriental Model Buses
Sha Tin - November 2017 © Donald MacRae
© Philip Chan On 31st October 2020 I reported that the bus was on its way back to the UK for preservation and Buses Magazine published the following article on 19th November 2020. "Dave Rogers has enhanced his collection of preserved British-built Far East buses by securing ex-Citybus 606 (HP 1158), a Northern Counties-bodied tri-axle Volvo Olympian, from Hong Kong. It was the first of 15 delivered in January 1998, followed on from 20 similar vehicles new the previous year. There was a huge demand then from Hong Kong for new air-conditioned double-deckers, and while Volvo could readily produce the chassis, Alexander was unable to keep up with demand for bodies, so Citybus sought alternatives and turned to Northern Counties. For marketing reasons, they were badged as Plaxton bodies with Plaxton body plates inside alongside the Volvo chassis plates.At 12m, these 99-seaters and two similar 110-seaters for Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (HACTL) were the largest buses ever built at the Wigan factory. Citybus specified Alexander front windscreens for standardisation, which along with bonded glazing altered the look of their Palatine bodywork. Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) received eight similar, but shorter (11m) 92-seaters in 1997, fitted with the standard Northern Counties windscreen and destination layout. This bus was the last survivor of the type, one of a small number transferred to the non-franchised division of Citybus for use on residents’ services and private hire duties following mandatory retirement from franchised bus work at age 17, which gave it a short reprieve from being scrapped. It was shipped back to the UK in late October, loaded aboard a ship that had just delivered new Wright Gemini 3-bodied Volvo B8Ls for Citybus. A large amount of restoration was carried out in Hong Kong after its retirement from service two years ago, and it will be restored to original condition after it reaches its new home in Wiltshire."
© Dave Rogers
On 6th April 2021, having completed the the installation of the new destination box, Dave posted the above photographs. On Sunday 23rd July 2023, Dave posted the following photograph and statement via his Facebook page:-
"Following a lot of hard work and years of restoration, former Citybus 606 was finally revealed to the public this week, by way of a photograph published in the August edition of Buses Magazine. So may I present the last remaining Citybus NC Volvo Olympian, and the only tri-axle Volvo Olympian in the UK!" |
