11m non-air conditioned Olympians

KMB began to acquire 11-metre vehicles in 1986 because of the low flexibility of the 12-metre ones. In fact, orders of 11-metre double-deckers were sent to Dennis, MCW and Leyland and Leyland was the first one to provide these new buses. Up to now, KMB has purchased 470 of them and their importance in the fleet is even greater than that of the 12-metre ones.

The first batch, S3BL1-105, arrived in 1986. Like all other Leyland Olympians in the fleet that time, they are equipped with Gardner 6LXCT engines and Voith transmissions, and built with Alexander bodywork. However S3BL100-104 are equipped with Cummins LT10 engines instead for evaluation purposes.

Starting from the second batch (S3BL106-150) new buses in the fleet are installed with ventilators. These buses, as a similarity with the previous ones, are powered by Gardners 6LXCT engines and Voith transmissions. Later came two batches of 50 and 61 of exactly the same specifications.

The fifth batch, S3BL262-370, are of different mechanical specifications themselves. 90 of them, like most others, are powered by Gardners engines and Voith transmissions. 9 of them (S3BL264-272) are equipped with Cummins LT10 engines and ZF4HP500 gearboxes. The rest 10 (S3BL273, 275, 280, 284, 291, 292, 294, 296 and 299) are powered by Gardner 6LXCT engines and ZF4HP500 transmissions. However, they still look exactly the same as the previous batches.

The sixth batch, S3BL371-420, came in 1992. This time the combination of Cummins LT10 engines and Voith D863 gearboxes is used. The main difference in terms of appearance of these buses and the previous ones is that the buses in this batch have no ventilators in the rear, and the upper deck windscreens are attached to each other, not separated by a pillar in the middle.

The last batch, S3BL420-470, arrived in 1993. In fact they are one of the very last Leyland products before Volvo. These buses are, again, equipped with Cummins LTA10 engines and ZF4HP500 transmissions. KMB had order 80 of them, but at the time Volvo became the successor of Leyland and shipped 50 of them only, while the rest of thirty (S3V1-30) became Volvo Olympians and arrived late in 1995.

This page contains photographs of some 11m non-air conditioned Olympians in service. Please click the photo to enlarge it.

S3BL9
This scene is very rare, for Leyland Olympians of this batch seldom appear on route 1A.
Date: 12/12/2001
S3BL63
For many years S3BL63 has been a scheduled bus of route 2A.
Date: 12/12/2001
S3BL79
Before retirement, the bus was scheduled for route 16M.
Date: 21/08/2002
S3BL87
There has been a massive retirement scheme carried out on the "spacious" 11m Leyland Olympians since the middle of 2002.
Date: 21/08/2002
S3BL92
S3BL92 is the only "spacious" Leyland Olympian with brown windows. It received such configuration because its original green windows were exchanged with S3BL116, which was to have brown windows. S3BL116 is now fitted with green windows instead.
Date: 21/08/2002
S3BL93
After overhaul S3BL93 was repainted and the colour looks bright. In fact, I love buses with no banners rather than those with them.
Date: 26/08/2001
S3BL101
S3BL101 is one of the Cummins-engined Leyland Olympians in the first batch.
Date: 26/08/2001
S3BL105
S3BL105 is the only green-windowed Leyland Olympian left in the KMB fleet.
Date: 30/12/2002
Rear of S3BL105.
Date: 30/12/2002
S3BL105 looks exceptionally beautiful from this angle of view.
Date: 30/12/2002
S3BL124
This bus has just finished the COR test, and the colour on it is new and bright.
Date: 12/12/2001
S3BL181
Date: 26/08/2001
S3BL185
Together with S3BL260, this bus is fitted with a small route destination display screen similar to those installed on early 3BL/BLs, making this bus quite unique. The bus is scheduled for route 16, but in this photo the bus was running route 26M.
Date: 21/08/2002
S3BL196
At about 12:00 noon the bus is seen having a rest in the Mei Foo sideway.
Date: 16/08/2002
S3BL246
After undergoing a COR check, the bus was repainted.
Date: 30/12/2002
S3BL284
Date: 12/12/2001
S3BL286
Date: 26/08/2001
S3BL303
S3BL303 served route 1 on the date and I caught the scene of it turning into Salisbury Road from Nathan Road. This photo demonstrates the air suspension of the chassis.
Date: 26/08/2001
S3BL364
After rebody S3BL364 looks very similar to the S3Vs.
Date: 12/12/2001
However, you can still find some differences between S3BL364 and a S3V. For example, the rear headlights are of the original Leyland type instead of Volvo.
Date: 12/12/2001
S3BL458
Equipped with a Cummins LT10 engine and a ZF4HP500 gearbox, S3BL458 is one of the so-called "Tiger" Olympians.
Date: 04/02/2003
S3BL463
Date: 30/12/2002
S3V16
Nobody knows why but KMB installed all Volvo Olympians in the fleet with newer Volvo wheel caps.
Date: 26/08/2001
Compare this photo with that of S3BL458 above, you can find many differences between the so-called Tiger Leylands and Tiger Volvos in terms of exterior appearance.
Date: 04/02/2003
S3V18
Date: 26/08/2001
S3V30
S3V30 is the last non air-conditioned bus in the KMB fleet. After an accident, the front headlights of the bus were replaced.
Date: 16/08/2002

[Back to KMB][Related Information]

	S3BL9 This scene is very rare, for Leyland Olympians of this batch seldom appear on route 1A. Date: 12/12/2001
	S3BL63 For many years S3BL63 has been a scheduled bus of route 2A. Date: 12/12/2001
	S3BL79 Before retirement, the bus was scheduled for route 16M. Date: 21/08/2002
	S3BL87 There has been a massive retirement scheme carried out on the "spacious" 11m Leyland Olympians since the middle of 2002. Date: 21/08/2002
	S3BL92 S3BL92 is the only "spacious" Leyland Olympian with brown windows. It received such configuration because its original green windows were exchanged with S3BL116, which was to have brown windows. S3BL116 is now fitted with green windows instead. Date: 21/08/2002
	S3BL93 After overhaul S3BL93 was repainted and the colour looks bright. In fact, I love buses with no banners rather than those with them. Date: 26/08/2001
	S3BL101 S3BL101 is one of the Cummins-engined Leyland Olympians in the first batch. Date: 26/08/2001
	S3BL105 S3BL105 is the only green-windowed Leyland Olympian left in the KMB fleet. Date: 30/12/2002
	Rear of S3BL105. Date: 30/12/2002
	S3BL105 looks exceptionally beautiful from this angle of view. Date: 30/12/2002
	S3BL124 This bus has just finished the COR test, and the colour on it is new and bright. Date: 12/12/2001
	S3BL181 Date: 26/08/2001
	S3BL185 Together with S3BL260, this bus is fitted with a small route destination display screen similar to those installed on early 3BL/BLs, making this bus quite unique. The bus is scheduled for route 16, but in this photo the bus was running route 26M. Date: 21/08/2002
	S3BL196 At about 12:00 noon the bus is seen having a rest in the Mei Foo sideway. Date: 16/08/2002
	S3BL246 After undergoing a COR check, the bus was repainted. Date: 30/12/2002
	S3BL284 Date: 12/12/2001
	S3BL286 Date: 26/08/2001
	S3BL303 S3BL303 served route 1 on the date and I caught the scene of it turning into Salisbury Road from Nathan Road. This photo demonstrates the air suspension of the chassis. Date: 26/08/2001
	S3BL364 After rebody S3BL364 looks very similar to the S3Vs. Date: 12/12/2001
	However, you can still find some differences between S3BL364 and a S3V. For example, the rear headlights are of the original Leyland type instead of Volvo. Date: 12/12/2001
	S3BL458 Equipped with a Cummins LT10 engine and a ZF4HP500 gearbox, S3BL458 is one of the so-called "Tiger" Olympians. Date: 04/02/2003
	S3BL463 Date: 30/12/2002
	S3V16 Nobody knows why but KMB installed all Volvo Olympians in the fleet with newer Volvo wheel caps. Date: 26/08/2001
	Compare this photo with that of S3BL458 above, you can find many differences between the so-called Tiger Leylands and Tiger Volvos in terms of exterior appearance. Date: 04/02/2003
	S3V18 Date: 26/08/2001
	S3V30 S3V30 is the last non air-conditioned bus in the KMB fleet. After an accident, the front headlights of the bus were replaced. Date: 16/08/2002