Ex UK 1953 AEC RT4189 in Foxton

A reboot of a snap thought to be taken in 2003, the year that Foxton's iconic Dutch windmill was officially opened, a scene that rekindles memories of the halcyon era that the small Horowhenua township has nowadays moved on from, a ex London Transport double decker that was once a familiar sight around the streets of Foxton, but nowadays living in Wellington at New Zealand Coach Services (NCS) in Taita where it can be hired for special occasions (weddings etc).

 

During its time in Foxton however, the double decker bus holds the mantle of being the first bus to cross over the new bridge across the Manawatu River at Moutoa on the Foxton-Shannon Rd. during the bridge opening in 1992.

 

RT4189 has been in New Zealand since 1986 after being shipped from New South Wales in Australia to MOTAT in Auckland. Was then acquired by Wayne and Tania Little and was restored in Lincoln Green LT country area livery in September 2010, when the stewardship of the Foxton trolleybus museum operation was under the watch of Wayne following the passing of his father, Ian, some two years earlier. Ian Little founded the museum undertaking in the mid to late 1980s.

 

A history of RT4189 LYF 248: 7/51 new, Weymann body 7070: 3RT8 7/51 WA new into service on 351 (Watford High Street) 6/52 GR transfer with 351 (Garston) 53-54 GR 7/55 GR to overhaul 8/55 WA from o/h 56-58 WA 4/59 GR transfer (Garston: WA closes) */59 GR used on 306, RT8 10/59 GR to Aldenham overhaul 10/59 TG from o/h (Tring) 60-2 TG 9/63 TG to Aldenham overhaul 9/63 GY from o/h (Grays) 1964 GY 8/65 GY into store 11/65 DT transfer (Dartford) 2/66 MA transfer (Amersham) 3/66 SA transfer (St.Albans).. 3/66 GR ..transfer 1967 GR 11/68 GR to Aldenham overhaul 11/68 WD from o/h, (Wandsworth), red Weymann body 7055, 3RT8 69-70 WD 7/71 WD to Aldenham repaint, and return 6/72 SP transfer (Sidcup) 8/73 SP into store, CoF expired 11/73 SP ..and out, recertificated, and back into store 1/74 HT transfer (Holloway) 1/75 HT into store, CoF expiry 6/75 R change store (Riverside) 7/75 HT transfer, recertificated 8/75 SW transfer (Stockwell).. 8/75 HW ..transfer (Southall) 76-7 HW 4/78 BX transfer, trainer (Bexleyheath) 7/78 BX into store, CoF expiry 8/78 Q change store (Camberwell) 9/78 CA change store (Clapham) 10/78 Q change store 11/78 AV transfer, staff bus (Hounslow) 7/79 AV into store, delicensed 7/79 sold to E.Brakell, (Cheam), first NZ registration 6/1986; bought by T&W Little, Wellington, from the Museum of Transport and Technolgy in Auckland.

 

Year: 1953

Make: AEC

Model: MISC

Colour: Red

Body Style: Heavy Bus/Service Coach

Plate: MR4925

Engine No: 12724

Chassis: RT4189

Vehicle Type: Bus

Seats: 57

CC rating: 9,600cc

Fuel Type: Diesel

Assembly Type: Unknown

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Gross Vehicle Mass: 11,496kg

Tare Weight: 7,620kg

Axle Type: 2-Axle

Axles: 2

Wheelbase: 5,000

Front Axle Group Rating: 6,859

Rear Axle Group Rating: 9,138

Vehicle Equipment Class: XME

Industry Class: PRIVATE

Registration Status:

Plate: MR4925

Plate Type: Standard

Origin: Import from Australia

Used as: Commercial Passenger vehicle

Cause of Latest Registration: Used

NZ First Registration: 29 June 1986

 

RT4189 on a Route 44 service in the UK inJune 1972 by trolleyjohn654...

www.flickr.com/photos/42632508@N02/6719518041/in/photolis...

 

LT AEC Regent RT4189 at Shepherds Bush Green 23/4/1978:

www.flickr.com/photos/mjrprestonbus/9505999943/in/photoli...

 

 

Done