Prepare to Meet thy Maker
Rhondda Buses purchased a pair of impressive Optare Prisma-bodied Mercedes 0405s - 550/1 (N550/1 MTG) - in late 1995. More were expected to follow, though this was not to be because Stagecoach purchased the business in December 1997.
Under Stagecoach ownership they became 23950/1 and remained at Porth depot until early 2009. They then transferred to Blackwood as replacements for some of the former Glyn Williams BMC Falcons, where they were usually allocated to Service X18 (Ebbw Vale-Newbridge-Risca-Newport). They came out of service in Summer 2010, and despite a concerted effort to find a buyer interested in preserving at least one of them, this was to no avail. Sadly, both passed to Abba Scrap of Dowlais in March 2011.
In this shot taken the following month, a battle scarred 23950 sits with Marshall Capital-bodied Dart 33281 and a former Islwyn Optare Vecta-bodied MAN awaiting her fates.
Prepare to Meet thy Maker
Rhondda Buses purchased a pair of impressive Optare Prisma-bodied Mercedes 0405s - 550/1 (N550/1 MTG) - in late 1995. More were expected to follow, though this was not to be because Stagecoach purchased the business in December 1997.
Under Stagecoach ownership they became 23950/1 and remained at Porth depot until early 2009. They then transferred to Blackwood as replacements for some of the former Glyn Williams BMC Falcons, where they were usually allocated to Service X18 (Ebbw Vale-Newbridge-Risca-Newport). They came out of service in Summer 2010, and despite a concerted effort to find a buyer interested in preserving at least one of them, this was to no avail. Sadly, both passed to Abba Scrap of Dowlais in March 2011.
In this shot taken the following month, a battle scarred 23950 sits with Marshall Capital-bodied Dart 33281 and a former Islwyn Optare Vecta-bodied MAN awaiting her fates.