The two STA 0305 mercs owned by Samlov City Transport, 2375 & 2513 ,one is registered B527 Does any one know which one is registered,the other one is for parts.

LB608 wrote:The two STA 0305 mercs owned by Samlov City Transport, 2375 & 2513 ,one is registered B527 Does any one know which one is registered,the other one is for parts.

Thanks for those fleet numbers, sorry cant help with which is which
Do you know if B527 is still running

PT

Peter do you know if Samlov still have the carcass of the other STA Mk2 0305 sitting in their depot yard? This might be the only way to determine which one is living and the other dead.Or if have you time go for a ride on it or catch it at the end of its run.

not sure if B527 is still running.

Bedford-29 wrote:Peter do you know if Samlov still have the carcass of the other STA Mk2 0305 sitting in their depot yard? This might be the only way to determine which one is living and the other dead.Or if have you time go for a ride on it or catch it at the end of its run.

Um theres about 600 mjiles of water and the Tonga trench between where I live and where those buses are.........


... and I dont think there are any airlines opeating a service anymore and one has to travel via Fiji or Auckland... ahem


Peter

I came across this photo of what seems to be one of them in use in Tonga in 2015

And guess it would be the one that became B527 if only one was put into service

Peter

Have just returned from 4 days in Tonga and located and photographed two STA Mk2 Mercedes.

One is 2513 and carries plate B452 but to me it looks to be the same bus posted by "Punchbowl Tiger Cub" in red as B527. B452 plate would have been issued a couple of years at least before 2006 when 2513 was withdrawn in Australia so may have been replated. (I found a two derelicts in the Samlov yard, a Coaster and a Civilian both carrying rego B454 - one with pressed plates and one painted numbers!!!!)

I could see no sign of 2375 as reported being with Samlov in the long grass at the Samlov yard.

I found the second Mk2 at Liu Brothers Transport in Manuka numbered as B604 and thought intially it may be 2375 but an online pic of 2375 shows the header lights to be positioned differently. It has had the rear door plated over and thus fits the description of STA2379/Veolia m/o 1484.which was up for export by mid 2012 which coincides with the issue of B604 rego in Tonga

I will post pics in a day or so as I am puzzling what my have become of 2375 because there are many old wrecks at the Samlov yard which probably predate 2375 arrival in the fleet

PS. the 2015 pic with all the people in front is B604. It has only one door and the destination is the same as on B604
Regards
Peter Trevor

Thank you for 2513's rego,another gap filled,only have to get 2375 and 2379 sorted.2379 went 1/2012 to Tupou Collage,hope that helps

If 2379 went to Tupou College it was only for a short period because it has been with Liu Brothers since at least Mid 2015 with the destination blind Niutoua as B604. As per the photo on this thread
The bus with Liu Brothers is NOT 2375. Ill post pics shortly. Please bear with me as I have 600 Tonga bus photos to edit and catalogue.

Tupou College have a Leyland Royal Tiger Cub in magnificent condition which while I was there was out and about all over the island because of students being transported for inter school for exams. I saw it in the garage on one dayand there was a vacant bay alongside it but no evidence was seen anywhere of another bus. The used to have an Australian Ford but that was no where to be seen. I think they only have one bus but will try to find out if there is another.

Regards

Would it be possible for you or indeed anyone to supply me with photos of all three, 2375 2379 and 2513, that I may post on our Pacific Buses site and too to use for recognition and reconciliation with the photos I took

Heres Mercedes STA2513 as Tonga B452 (I believe it was previously plated B527 )

Heres Mercedes STA2379 as Tonga B604

Sorry i can't help you, i don't photos of any of them

you solved another puzzle 2375 would have to be the parts bus

Have been looking at a GE of the depot taken in Jun2016 and there is only one big bus on shed and it has a red roof. Its safe to assume thats B527 cum B452. Incidentely Im just going through pics of the derelicts at that yard and found two cases of swapped plates. No doubt there are others. I have old pics of the same plates on other buses

So yes its probably safe to say 2375 has gone to its grave sometime between 2009 and mid 2016

Proof regarding whats become of the plates B527 that were on STS2513 initially. One at least is now slightly modified as B522 and on a clapped out Coaster that used to be a stable mate of STS2513 at "Samlov City Transport"

Regards