Turning a London street into Hong Kong

While researching retired Hong Kong buses I came across an interesting scene – a London street turned into Hong Kong, with a Citybus double decker driving past stops covered in neon signs.


splashnews.com photo

The photos date back to December 2021 and the filming of the fifth series of Netflix television series The Crown, for an episode covering the July 1997 handover of the then-British colony of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China.

As for the backstory of the bus – it’s former Citybus tri-axle Leyland Olympian double decker #152, originally registered ET 778 in 1991. It transported to the UK in 2004 by then Citybus owner Stagecoach for further use on their operations there, eventually being saved from scrap by Dave Rogers, where it is now preserved.

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Delivering a new track machine to Hong Kong

A few weeks ago the Hong Kong MTR took delivery of a brand new Unimat Compact 08-275/3S-16 ballast tamping machine. Loaded on a MAFI cargo trailer, the tamper was first unloaded from a ro-ro vehicle carrier at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals.


Plasser & Theurer photo

Moved down onto the wharf.


Plasser & Theurer photo

And then transported to what appears to be MTR Siu Ho Wan Depot perway yard on Lantau Island for commissioning.


Plasser & Theurer photo

Footnote

The delivery date appears to be about a month ago, as pictured ro-ro vehicle carrier “Morning Celesta” last visited Hong Kong on 19 September 2024.

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More retro liveried KMB buses – this time for 90 years

Last time I wrote about the KMB 80th Anniversary and the retro liveried buses unveiled to mark the occasion. Well ten years on KMB did it again to mark their 90th anniversary, but this time with only two buses.


Photo by km30192002, via Wikimedia Commons

Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC bus E6M93 XA7911 in the beige and red “hot dog” non air-conditioned bus livery.

And Volvo B9TL with Alexander Dennis Enviro500 body bus AVBE59 NA8693 in the white and red “cold horse” air-conditioned bus livery.

Further reading

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Retro liveried buses for the KMB 80th anniversary

Last time I wrote about the MTR’s retro liveried train to mark their 45th anniversary, but it turns they aren’t the only Hong Kong transport operator doing this – Kowloon Motor Bus has did it back in 2013 to mark their 80th anniversary.

Buses at the KMB 80th Anniversary event
Photo by km30192002 via Wikimedia Commons

A total of eight modern buses received body wraps to replicate liveries previously worn by the KMB fleet.

Volvo B9TL AVBWU54 PS9280 in the 1949 livery of a Daimler CVG.

Volvo B9TL AVBWU253 RJ2733 in the livery of a 1960s AEC Regent V.

Alexander Dennis Enviro400 ATSE31 RV3531 in the 1960s livery of a Daimler Fleetline.

Volvo B9TL AVBWU252 RJ2681 in the 1970s livery of a one person operation Daimler CVG.

Alexander Dennis Enviro400 ATSE48 RW5779 in the 1970s livery as found on Leyland Victory Mark 2 and Dennis Jubilant buses.

Scania K310UD ASU19 PC5322 in the 1983 livery of a Mercedes-Benz O305 demonstrator.

Volvo B9TL AVBWU200 PZ8904 in the livery of a 1984 Volvo B10MD.

And Alexander Dennis Enviro500 ATEU5 NX3426 in the 1986 livery of an air-conditioned bus MCW Metrobus.

Further reading

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Retro liveried train to mark the MTR 45th anniversary

On 22 August 2024 the MTR launched something special to mark the 45th anniversary of the Mass Transit Railway – a retro liveried train set.


MTR photo

A Metro Cammell ‘M-Train’ set was chosen to be transformed.


MTR photo

A vinyl wrap was used to replicate the original red on white livery on the front of the train – lost in their 1990s refurbishment


MTR photo

And more vinyl wraps have also been applied inside the carriage.


MTR photo

Replicating the original orange ceilings.


MTR photo

And the modern straphangers have been replaced with the classic ball shaped version.


MTR photo

The train was launched at the first piece of the MTR to be built – Kowloon Bay Depot.


MTR photo

And then taken to the centre platform at Choi Hun station, where it was opened up for excited railfans to inspect.


MTR photo

The themed train will then enter public service, transporting passengers until the end of 2024.

Further reading

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