'.....in a rickety bus with worn-out tyres, few windows, and a broken exhaust. Inside, the bus was adorned with many ecclesiastical prints and postcards of the Virgin Mary and child.....'
This could easily be some of the buses in Malta today but in fact this description dates back to 1942 and is taken from a book I am reading at the moment called 'The Air Battle For Malta, The Diaries of a Spitfire Pilot'
I will miss travelling in them if they all go and are replaced by modern air-conditioned boxes
In 1993 on our first visit to Malta when we had our first ride on them it was so much fun, the drivers drive them like racing cars and it was better than being at Alton Towers.
It is a sad end for them but like other places perhaps they will do some of them and run historical tours in them.
Dave
I can remember the buses on my first visit in 1981. Seems like a lifetime ago but in those days the buses were all painted green and I think I might know why they were able to keep these grand old machines going for so many years.
During the late 60s when I was a student I used to work in a garage during spare time and hols to earn some money. I recall how 'Joe Bloggs' could work on his car and service, tune and sup up etc. I even spoke to one guy who said he used to replace big end bearings on one old 'ice cream' vending vehicle, by melting the metallic medium and 'lapping' it onto the crankshaft. I don't know if he was winding me up and I have never seen this done (maybe someone might know about this?), but if this is true then it's because these old buses can be repaired, and engines easily refurbished time after time that has kept them going all these many years.
Nowadays engine are so sofisticated that there is very little the you can do to a modern vehicle without involving computerised diagnostic tools!!!
Trev
Post a Reply
Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.
Similar Topics
-
Malta buses are changing again
Posted by Helenllama in Malta and Gozo Discussion Forum
-
Old Malta buses sold for Lm100.50c
Posted by ingliza in Malta and Gozo Discussion Forum
-
Anyone familiar with Orihuela???
Posted by Bev B in Spain - Costa Blanca Discussion Forum
-
New place each year or stick with the familiar?
Posted by Fiona in General Holiday Enquiries, Hints and Tips
-
Is anybody familiar vith this complex and its location ?
Posted by doe in Spain - Canary Islands - Lanzarote Discussion Forums