First Air-conditioned Leyland Olympian
of Kowloon Motor Bus
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Leyland Olympian AL1 is the first successful experimental air-conditioned double-decker introduced by Kowloon Motor Bus ("KMB") after the failure of the air-conditioned Leyland Victory-2 G544, Dennis Jubilant N364 and MCW Metrobus S3M145.

AL1 is powered by a Cummins LT10 engine with 4-speed ZF 4HP500 transmission. The air-conditioner is manufactured by Nippondenso of Japan. Similar to most of the other Leyland Olympians in the fleet, completely-knocked-down Alexander R-type body was built on the 11-metre chassis in Tuen Mun Depot. Opening windows with lock for each are used, so that in case the trial is finally a failure or if the air-conditioning accidentally breaks down, the bus can easily return into service as a non air-conditioned bus again.

The vehicle was registered as a public bus as DX 2437 on 12 May 1988 and sooner entered into service on Route 6 (Star Ferry - Mei Foo). Normal fare was charged, i.e. $1.20 per single journey and half-fare for children and students with "Student Travel Card" that no longer existed after October 1988. In the Winter of 1988/89 the air-conditioner was switched off and the bus was operated as a non air-conditioned bus with unlocked windows. In 1990 the bus started to serve other newly established air-conditioned routes such as 2, 238M and 238X. During most of the time, AL1 is an L-Depot reserved bus and can be found on many routes at any time that have a bus shortage.

Fleet number system was introduced starting from 1991 on all air-conditioned buses. The fleet number prefix "AL" just simply stands for "Air-conditioned Leyland", and finally there are altogether 150 AL's in the KMB fleet.

The original livery of AL1 was quite different from that is currently adopted. Advertisement of "Denso Air-conditioning" in large print was shown on each of both sides and the rear of the body. However, after 1991, AL1 was repainted to the standard livery that applies on other air-conditioned buses in the fleet.

AL1 has ended its service after serving for 17 years. The bus is preserved after its retirement.

Please click on the photographs for the enlarged version.

AL1 IN SERVICE
Route 2A
  • Date: 1998/11/01
    		•
    Route 2E
  • Date: 2002/12/31
    • Route 6
  • Date: 1992/06/04
  • Date: 2001/01/14
    • Route 6A
  • Date: 2000/03/19
    • Route 6C
  • Date: 1999/08/21
    • Route 6F
  • Date: 2004/04/11
    • Route 12
  • Date: 2003/09/08
  • Date: 2003/09/08
    • Route 12A
  • Date: 2002/06/29
  • Date: 2003/11/15
    • Route 33A
  • Date: 2000/12/30
    • Route 35A
  • Date: 2003/12/02
    • Route 36B
  • Date: 2003/05/11
  • Date: 2003/05/11
    • Route 37
  • Date: 2004/01/03
    • Route 40
  • Date: 2003/04/19
    • Route 42A
  • Date: 1998/05/06
  • Date: 2003/04/05
    • Route 42M
  • Date: 2003/11/28
    • Route 43A
  • Date: 2001/05/19
    • Route 44
  • Date: 2005/03/28
    • Route 44M
  • Date: 2004/07/25
    • Route 48X
  • Date: 2001/12/01
    • Route 60X
  • Date: 1998/02/28
    • Route 63X
  • Date: 1998/11/30
  • Date: 2000/11/18
    • Route 86
  • Date: 2001/03/03
    • Route 238M
  • Date: 1990/12/08
  • Date: 1991/05/21
  • Date: 1991/05/21
    • Route 238X
  • Date: 1997/01/31
    • Route 251M
  • Date: 2001/11/20
    • SPECIAL DUTIES
  • "Walk for a Million" Feeder Bus
  • Date: 1998/11/22
  • A "Bus Fan World" activity.
  • Date: 2002/02/24
  • Bus Show 2002.
  • Date: 2002/04/21
  • The farewell tour with other two Leyland Olympians.
  • Date: 2005/07/10
    • THE REAR VIEWS
  • Date: 1990/12/08
  • Date: 1991/09/14
  • Date: 1998/02/28
  • Date: 1998/05/06
  • Date: 1998/11/30
  • Date: 2003/04/05
  • Date: 2005/07/10
    • INSIDE COMPARTMENT
    Lower-deck
  • Date: 1998/02/28
  • Date: 2000/03/19
    • Upper-deck
  • Date: 2000/11/18
  • Date: 2000/11/18
  • Date: 2005/07/10
  • Date: 2005/07/10
    • OTHERS
    Initial Livery
  • Date: 1990/12/08
    • Driving Cab
  • Date: 2005/07/10
    • Stop Announcement
  • Date: 2005/07/10
  • Date: 2005/07/10
    • Registration Mark
  • Date: 2005/07/10
    • Fixed Glass
  • Date: 2005/07/10
    • Motor Vehicle Licence
  • Date: 2002/04/21
    • Capacity
  • Date: 2005/07/10

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