STA Buses in Tonga

Overseas Transport Discussion

Moderator: Mr OC Benz

Post Reply
LB608
Posts: 1106
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 8:56 pm
Location: New Zealand

STA Buses in Tonga

Post by LB608 »

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.
User avatar
ptlivestock
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:07 am

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by ptlivestock »

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
User avatar
Bedford-29
Posts: 4942
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:31 pm

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by Bedford-29 »

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.
Previoulsy known as United Diesel 15
LB608
Posts: 1106
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 8:56 pm
Location: New Zealand

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by LB608 »

not sure if B527 is still running.
User avatar
ptlivestock
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:07 am

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by ptlivestock »

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
User avatar
ptlivestock
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:07 am

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by ptlivestock »

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

Image
User avatar
ptlivestock
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:07 am

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by ptlivestock »

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
LB608
Posts: 1106
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 8:56 pm
Location: New Zealand

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by LB608 »

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
User avatar
ptlivestock
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:07 am

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by ptlivestock »

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
Last edited by ptlivestock on Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:12 am, edited 4 times in total.
User avatar
ptlivestock
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:07 am

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by ptlivestock »

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 ;-)
User avatar
ptlivestock
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:07 am

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by ptlivestock »

Heres Mercedes STA2513 as Tonga B452 (I believe it was previously plated B527 )
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
User avatar
ptlivestock
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:07 am

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by ptlivestock »

Heres Mercedes STA2379 as Tonga B604
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
LB608
Posts: 1106
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 8:56 pm
Location: New Zealand

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by LB608 »

Sorry i can't help you, i don't photos of any of them
User avatar
ptlivestock
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:07 am

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by ptlivestock »

:(
LB608
Posts: 1106
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 8:56 pm
Location: New Zealand

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by LB608 »

you solved another puzzle 2375 would have to be the parts bus
User avatar
ptlivestock
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:07 am

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by ptlivestock »

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
User avatar
ptlivestock
Posts: 366
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:07 am

Re: STA Buses in Tonga

Post by ptlivestock »

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
Attachments
DSC03640xxn - Tonga B527 plate overpainted) as B522 - 8Nov2017.JPG
DSC03640xxn - Tonga B527 plate overpainted) as B522 - 8Nov2017.JPG (159.2 KiB) Viewed 22622 times
Post Reply

Return to “Overseas Transport Discussion”