Omnibus 152 - June 2003
In Search Of An 'SON' On Malta by Roger F. de
Boer
One of the purposes of my return to Malta in March 2003 was the
hope of identifying the BMMO chassis - referred to in the 1980 PSV
Circle list as “this mysterious bus” - which had carried the old
licence number 1977 (current number DBY 429). I had, in fact,
photographed 1977 on my first visit to Malta by land and sea in 1977,
which I had found mildly amusing.
There had been a report that a photograph of the BMMO chassis
exported to Malta had been seen - and it was thought to have been an
ONC - but my source was uncertain.
There are three to four hundred route buses on Malta so that the
chance of riding on 1977 was restricted except that sight of the
roster (once Police-controlled but now under the Public Transport
Association) could narrow things down. I did not choose to preview
that rota however and quite by chance when returning to Valletta bus
station, no sooner had I alighted from the previous bus, I saw 1977
coming down the slope in service and lost no time in jumping onto it
(this was on the Saturday). It was plying the no. 40 route to Attard
via Msida and Birkirkara. Here I was travelling on a 65-years old
chassis powered by a Leyland 401 diesel engine whose pull was
excellent. Only the body - now some 45 years old - was determining its
withdrawal from service in the next 2/3 months. Already a new bus was
being built by Scharnif of Luqa on an MAN chassis. The driver, who was
not the owner on this occasion, drove with the usual Maltese tenacity,
and skillfully took avoiding action when a gang of tearaway teenage
cyclists attempted to ride along the road against the bus in the
narrow street of a village. After a few minutes rest at the terminus,
I returned on the bus to Valletta on the 75 route via St. Luke’s
Hospital (at 3.45 p.m. many buses head for that place to synchronize
with visiting hours). Back at Valletta asked the driver whether he had
seen a photograph of the bus with its original English body, but his
reply was in the negative.
Apart from old photographs there is another possibility to identify a
vehicle’s origin; that is from the files held in the Licensing Office.
Things had changed since 1978 when I was allowed access (but to the
dead bus files only) when those records were held at the Police
Headquarters in Floriana. I had managed this concession then through
acquaintance with a Maltese lady at my office who had attended the
same school as the then Assistant Commissioner of Police. Now those
records had moved to a different building and were controlled by
another government department. There was no influential help now; I
was on my own.
On this March 2003 visit I had the good fortune to meet a Maltese
bus buff through the auspices of a South Wales enthusiast with whom I
had originally corresponded regarding the Maltese Scammell Scarabs;
Farsons in particular. He directed me to the Licensing Office - still
in Floriana - but otherwise unrecognizable as such to tourists for
there was no identification outside the building except for three
letters A, B and C jutting out of its walls. (The locals of course
would know what it was).
On entering office A (it is now Monday) I was informed that it was
office B which I required for the information which I sought. At the
customer services counter I was advised to write in (this was my last
whole day on Malta before the holiday ended) but when I suggested I
might write the letter on the spot, I was handed two pieces of paper
with carbon insert for the purpose. I soon wrote the letter mentioning
that this was my 22nd visit to the island. The helpful staff then said
that the matter could be dealt with unofficially and if I would care
to wait about a quarter of an hour the file would be brought for my
inspection, for it had to be fetched from some distance from the
office where I had entered.
Although a replacement for DBY429 was in build when Roger de
Boer visited Malta in March, the much-rebuilt ‘SON’ was still running
on 26 April 2003 - this time on route 44. [photos:- Mike Greenwood]
These old files could have been in danger of destruction since the
vehicle records are now kept upon computer, but the Maltese appear to
have had the foresight to have retained these old records. On
production of the file I was then guided to a desk on the other side
of the counter in order to peruse it in greater comfort (than in the
public area). Once I had the file in my hands it was not long before
on enclosure no. 89 the answer to the quest was satisfied. In July
l958 the chassis with English registration GHA323 was released to a
Mr. Brincat of the Strand, Sliema. It was bodied by Barbara of Luqa
and entered service in July l959. It was already twenty years old when
imported, being built in l938. It had been rebodied by Nudd Brothers
in 1950, and amongst the Midland Red garages it had served were
Hereford and Shrewsbury. With BMMO engine when new it carried a
Gardner one by the time it reached Malta. It was only to have one
alteration to its body when its front and back were “modernised” by
its first owner. He also had its front axle changed, and when the
second owner (father of the present one) acquired it the rear axle was
altered to suit. Then followed a succession of engines: Perkins R6,
Perkins 3654 V8, Leyland 400 to the present one.
This information was obtained in the morning - in the same
afternoon “1977” was found again in the Bus Station lay-by. This time
the owner was aboard and was greatly interested to learn of its
English number. Moreover, he led me to believe that sixteen seat
frames now on the bus were the originals from GHA323, although
subsequent research indicates that this is not the case.
DBY429, once 1977, but originally GHA323, on route 75 from
St.Luke’s Hospital to central Valletta in March 2003. [photo:- Roger
de Boer]
Editor’s note:- Roger is not alone in his efforts to identify
the Maltese “BMMO”. John Seale visited Malta on business for BMC (UK)
Ltd. in June 2002, and asked local agent Charlie Micallef of
International Auto Centre, Qormi, if he could check the chassis number
of DBY429. A few weeks later, Charlie phoned John to tell him he had
inspected the SOS with bus operator and mechanic Tony Falzon of
Etienne Garage, Qormi. He had looked for the chassis number on the
front nearside sidemember, where it should have been, only to find
that at some time a replacement spring had been fitted with a much
larger hanger bracket than the original. The replacement bracket
obscured part of the stamped letters BMO, and completely obscured the
number, thus making identification impossible. The bus was still
running in late April 2003, when photographed by Mike Greenwood. We
would appreciate any further news of GHA323.
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Birmingham B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail
us
|