FALCONER AND WATTS FLEET LIST

THE FIRST FIFTEEN COACHES, AS RECALLED BY P. W. WATTS
Reg. No.	Chassis / Chassis No.	Body / Body No.	Year / Seats	Purchased / Sold	Previous Owner
?	Fiat	?	? 14	1922 – ?	C. Hinton, Cardiff
?	Crossley	J. Norman	? 14	1925 – ?	C. Hinton, Cardiff
?	Crossley	J. Norman	? 14	1927 – ?	?
?	Bean	?	? 14	?	?
?	Crossley	?	?	?	C. Hinton, Cardiff
?	Clement-Talbot	?	? 14	?	War Department
?	Berliet	?	? 29	?	?
?	Berliet	?	? 29	?	?
?	Berliet	?	? 29	?	?
?	Lancia	?	? 27	1930 – ?	?
?	Lancia	?	?	?	?
?	Reo	?	?	?	?
?	Reo	?	?	?	?
?	Reo	?	?	?	?
UH 7564	Leyland Tiger TS2 60871 (or 60870 ?)	Burlingham (with canvas roof)	1930 32	08/1938 (or 1934 ?) – around 02/1941	(New to) Cridland’s, Cardiff (see Footnote 3)

VARIOUS COACHES ACQUIRED SUBSEQUENTLY
Reg. No.	Chassis / Chassis No.	Body / Body No.	Year / Seats	Purchased / Sold	Previous Owner
BXM ?	Bedford	?	1935	?	? NOTE : Probably BXM 562, 563, 568, or 569, but probably not BXM 568 (see Footnote 2)
DPU ?	Bedford	?	1936	?	?
BDL 322	Bedford WTB 111417	Duple 8691	6/1937 C25F	03/1941 – ?	Coombes Brothers, Shanklin, Isle of Wight (fleet number 7) NOTE : This was the first coach to carry the golden brown and light buff livery
HLG 101	Bedford WLB 109178	Duple 3701	1933 C17F ?	1946 – 1948	Sykes Motor Tours, Sale (new to J. Pearson & Sons, Liverpool) NOTE : Also, at various times, registered LV 4640 and BMN 802 (see Footnote 1)
UJ 7338	Bedford WTB 110459	Willowbrook 2879	6/1936 C25F		? New to Smith, Trench
DAD 240	Bedford WTB 112329	Duple 5210	1938 C25F	? – 06/1951	? NOTE : DAD 240 was rebodied for Falconer and Watts by Hall and Baynum of Cardiff

COACHES ACQUIRED FROM 1947 ONWARD
Reg. No.	Chassis / Chassis No.	Body / Body No.	Year / Seats	Purchased / Sold	Previous Owner
DKG 759	Commer Commando 17A0631	Harrington 170	1947 C29F	09/1947 – ?	New
EKG 466	Commer Q4 15B5643S	Thurgood (first bodied as a coach 1948) 504	1948 C33F	09/1948 – ?	New (previously a War Department vehicle : Falconer and Watts was the first owner of the vehicle as a coach)
EKG 674	Commer Q4 Commando 15A38165	Pearson (first bodied as a coach 1949)	1949 C30F	1949 – 04/1952	New (previously a War Department vehicle : Falconer and Watts was the first owner of the vehicle as a coach)
EDM 324	Leyland PS1/1 Tiger 470565	Pearson	1947 C33F	1951 – ?	(New to) W. G. Richardson & Sons, Buckley
DAW 473	Bedford OB 31145	Duple 43059	1946 C29F	1950 – ?	? NOTE : according to PSV Circle records, DAW 473 was later exported to Cyprus and reregistered TAD 858
FBO 57	Bedford OB 131686	Duple 55899	1950 C29F	3/1950 – ?	New
KXJ 287	Bedford OB 137922	Duple 49721	1950 C29F	1951 – ?	(New to) Silver Grey (Morecambe Motors), Morecambe
DVL 789	Bedford OB 129442	Duple 55825	1950 C29F	1951 – ?	Coastal Coaches, Hull (new to Green, Doncaster in May 1950)
GBO 319	Bedford SBG 5767	Duple 1006/486	1951 C33F	1951 – ?	New
JTX 505	Commer Avenger 23A0348	Plaxton 1087	1950 C33F	? – ?	James (F. James Luxury Tours), Pontarddulais
NKG 507	Bedford SBG 50296	Duple Vega 1074/90	1957 C41F	1957 – 16/03/65	New
GTH 180	Bedford SBG 3597	Duple 57041	1951 C33F	1959 – ?	Thomas, Pontcrynfe Mill (Llangadog)
LVC 408	Karrier Q25 32A0725	Reading	1952 C14F	? – 04/1963	E. Shaw & Son, Maxey
ODW 831	Bedford SB3 60714	Duple Vega 1090/146	1958 C41F	1961 – 16/03/65	R. Williams, Newport (Gwent)
VNP 400	Bedford C4Z2 2313	Duple Vista 108954	1958 C29F	1961 – 08/11/65	?
218 GPH	Bedford SB3 63123	Duple Vega 1090 352	1958 C41F	1961 – 16/03/65	?
RHP 919	Karrier AF 2523 52 A2322	Reading 5195	1955 C14F	1962 – 19/01/67	?
PTK 514	Bedford SB3 85089	Duple Super Vega 72243	1961 C41F	16/03/65 – 01/04/71	Cosy Coaches, Poole
33 SRB	Bedford SB3 85260	Duple Super Vega 72244	1961 C41F	16/03/65 – 12/06/69	Blue Bus, Willington
4281 TJ	Bedford VAS/1 1435	Duple Bella Vista 75214	1963 C29F	08/11/65 – 29/06/67	Davies and Mawson, Walkden
DUE 512C	Bedford VAS/1 1815	Duple Bella Vista 77411	1965 C29F	29/06/67 – 14/10/71	Cotton’s Coaches, Rugby
BOT 21C	Commer ¾ ton Series II A LBD 340883	Harrington CO 311	1965 Mb12	19/11/68 – 26/01/71	Fleet Coaches, Fleet
3097 UP	Bedford SB5 91186	Duple Bella Vega 74996	1963 C41F	12/06/69 – 05/06/70	Fred Burley, Selby
OMB 4D	Bedford SB3 6819582	Duple Bella Vega 78720	17/02/66 C41F	26/05/70 – 31/08/72	M. Thomson, Stoke-on-Trent
YAP 423	Bedford J2SZ2 136770	Duple C/F J2/134	01/12/62 B19F	02/08/70 – 21/08/72	C. K. Barnett, Kings Langley (new to Russell of Letchworth) NOTE : YAP 423 also had a courier seat
FNT 234D	Bedford SB3 6817870	Duple Bella Vega 78473	01/04/66 C41F	01/04/71 – 03/05/72	M. Thomson, Stoke-on-Trent
JKT 109E	Bedford VAS 5 7832103	Duple Vista 25 80013	01/05/67 C29F	14/10/71 – 23/01/73	Bywater, Rochdale
KRP 2E	Bedford VAM 5 6861022	Duple Viceroy 80072	16/03/67 C45F	27/04/72 – 28/08/74	Heeps, Guilsborough
BHA 365C	Bedford J2SZ10 220331	Duple J2 / 272 / 77135	01/01/65 C19F	05/06/72 – 05/10/74	Thistle, Doncaster (new to Morris of Bearwood) NOTE : BHA 365C also had a courier seat
KDY 220H	Bedford VAM 70 TRP2D9T 466234	Duple Viceroy 82196	07/04/70 C45F	22/08/72 – 26/10/75	Hastings Coachways, St. Leonards-on-Sea
CKG 470L	Bedford VAS 5 472741	Duple Vista 25 248 70	01/02/73 C29F	01/03/73 – 30/04/75	New
MBM 585G	Ford R226 55750	Plaxton Panorama Elite 702819	23/07/69 C53F	04/04/73 – 13/02/75	Terraneau, South Molton (new to Smith, Long Itchington)
RVO 285F	Ford Transit Custom 118″ BC05GM07600/DAP	Deansgate Luxury Coach	10/05/68 C12F	26/09/73 – 20/12/74	Stan Davies, Cardiff
FUP 821C	Ford 676 E A39335	Duple Mariner 77682	19/03/65 C52F	04/05/74 – 30/09/75	Tellyn, Romford
HDA 290J	Ford R226 BCO4KA48558	Duple Viceroy 37 230 / 154	13/07/71 C53F	14/08/74 – 11/03/78	Goldline, London
LLG 923L	Austin-Morris 440-EA 011149F	Asco Clubman 7220402	06/12/72 C19F	08/01/75 – 16/02/78	Crawford, Crawley NOTE : LLG 923L may have been exhibited at the 1972 Commercial Motor Show, as 8286 ZD
HDW 873N	Ford R1114 BCO4PB55337	Plaxton Panorama Elite III 7511FC046	11/02/75 C53F	14/02/75 – 12/04/81	New
XKN 158J	Ford R192 BCO4KA46530	Plaxton Panorama Elite II 712601	18/03/71 C45F	02/05/75 – see below	(New to) Heasman, Gillingham NOTE : XKN 158J apparently featured in a 1992 BBC documentary about travellers
BOD 807L	Ford R1114 BCO4MR59019	Duple Dominant 270 367	09/03/73 C53F	26/10/75 – 17/11/78	Waddon, Caerphilly (new to Trathen, Yelverton)
MTX 106P	Ford R1014 BCO4RM63671	Duple Dominant 621 4018	01/05/76 C45F	03/05/76 – 06/05/80	New
349 DMJ	Bedford J2SZ7 84383	Plaxton 612510	25/02/61 C20F	20/07/76 – 17/02/77	Smith, Molash (new to Taylor of Meppershall, apparently as C18F) NOTE 1 : 349 DMJ had been an award-winner in the Seventh British Coach Rally in Brighton in 1961 NOTE 2 : 349 DMJ was hardly, if ever, used, as it was originally purchased to be fitted with a new chassis
RHB 114R	Ford A0609 BCLBSG61583	Moseley Continental Faro III 102477	22/04/77 C25F	12/05/77 – 28/10/80	New NOTE : RHB 114R was entered in the 1977 British Coach Rally in Brighton, but failed to win any awards
LNV 1E	Bedford VAL 70 7807347	Duple Viceroy 80766	09/06/67 C52F	11/03/78 – 22/11/78	Walton’s, Cardiff NOTE : LNV 1E was never operated
UTG 320S	Ford R1114 Tornado BCO4TC65204	Plaxton Supreme 7811FCMT069	01/03/78 C53F	25/04/78 – see below	New NOTE : UTG 320S was entered in the 1978 British Coach Rally in Brighton, but failed to win any awards
XKG 808T	Ford R1114 BCO4TD60086	Duple Dominant II 923/4427	15/01/79 C53F	17/01/79 – see below	New
DKG 321V	Ford R1114 Tornado BCRSWC494110	Plaxton Supreme IV 80.11.FC.007	01/01/80 C53F	17/01/80 – see below	New NOTE : DKG 321V was entered in the 1980 British Coach Rally in Brighton, but failed to win any awards
CNY 812V	Ford A0609 BCLWWK364230	Moseley Continental Faro III 147779	15/08/79 C25F	03/11/80 – see below	Main Line, Tonyrefail
GBO 304W	Ford R1114 BCRSAB454980	Duple Dominant SDIV 123/4566	22/04/81 C53F	29/04/81 – see below	New NOTE 1 : GBO 304W was entered in the 1981 British Coach Rally in Brighton, and won the ‘Cymru Trophy’ NOTE 2 : As of October 23 2006, GBO 304W was in the Kells Transport Museum in Ireland, reregistered 81 KE 398

Note : the year in column 4 is the approximate date built, but, if a full date is given, this is the date of original registration

Footnote 1 : HLG 101 was originally registered LV 4640, when new to J. Pearson & Sons (Happy Days Motorways), Liverpool 7/33. To Crosville 5/35 as U49. Renumbered U12 in 1936. To Corlett, Douglas, Isle of Man 3/37 as C17F, and re-registered BMN802. To Sykes Motor Tours, Sale 3/42, and re-registered HLG 101. To Falconer and Watts, Cardiff 10/46. To C. W. Andrews, Cheddow Fitzpaine, Somerset 1948. Last licensed 9/51. (I am indebted to Dick Gilbert for this information and for other details in this fleet list)

NB : A Crosville fleet list (http://www.petergould.co.uk/local_transport_history/fleetlists/crosville2.htm) has LV 4640 as C16F (September 15 2011)

Footnote 2 (from http://wakefieldfiles.co.uk/bxm568.htm) : “BXM 568 (CMN 986), one of the earliest surviving Bedford coaches, has found a new owner who will restore it to its former glory. Built on a Bedford WTL goods chassis with a Duple 20-seat coach body (chassis number 875523 and body number 5058), it was supplied new in June 1935 to Mitcham Belle Coaches, Mitcham, Surrey. Later, in 1938, it went to the Isle of Man, to Cronin, trading as Sunny Hours Coaches, where it did tours around the island. It was re registered CMN 986 … Returning to the mainland in 1962, it reverted back to BXM 568, passing to Jones of Winchester, and then later to Priory Coaches of Gosport (its last PSV operator).”

Footnote 3 : There is a great deal of confusion regarding this coach, which was discussed in the Leyland Torque Magazine issues 30, 31 and 35. Mr. Watts had believed it to have been acquired in 1934 and to have been rebodied by Duple in 1936. However Torque said (Issue 30) “… The chassis is one of a pair of Tiger TS1s (amended to TS2 in subsequent issues), chassis numbers 60870-1, UH 7563-4, which were new to Cridland of Cardiff in 1930 …” ; (Issue 31) “… Thereafter it passed to J. Knape (Jubilee Motors) of Burnley, and then with other Tigers to Central of Walsall 2/41, and quickly on to Mann of Smethwick in 9/41 …” ; and (Issue 35) “Leyland Tiger TS2, UH 7564 (Torque Nos. 30-1) : Chris Taylor confirms most of the published history : it was new to Cridland, passing to Falconer & Watts of Llanishen, Cardiff in August 1938. Falconer advertised it for sale in February 1941 as a 32-seat Leyland Tiger Burlingham coach. Mr. Falconer told Chris that it still had a canvas roof when sold. Its use in Walsall 3/41 and Smethwick 1/42 is confirmed. The body thus would have needed major updating, at least, and no doubt this was carried out in the West Midlands.”

CUK 511C (a 1965 Ford Duple Mariner 52-seater) and PLG 109H (a 1970 Ford Plaxton Panorama Elite 45-seater) were both hired from coach dealers Don Everall of Wolverhampton for short periods in 1974, but were never owned.

The six coaches passed to Warners Fairfax Tours of Tewkesbury when Falconer and Watts was sold on April 07 1982 were XKN 158J, UTG 320S, XKG 808T, DKG 321V, CNY 812V, and GBO 304W.

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