[SBST] (Retired) Air Con Leyland Olympian Alexander 12m Complete Showcase

Maxson Goh Films a complete showcase of the Leyland Olympian Walter Alexander R-Type. All units of this bus has already been retired. Although looking similar to the newer Volvo Olympian, they are not the same as the Volvos.

Write up by Leyland Enthusiast:

As a kid, it was always fun to sit the Leyland looking out of the upper deck enjoying the views and playing driver esp cos the Leyland particularly on 143 tend to overtake other buses. This also was the reason why 143 was my favourite service, it had 19 leyland in the past. With SBS9000S and SBS9012H championing within the gang. It was always fun to sit 143 and I always looked forward to the bus ride more than going anywhere, my mother's close friends and relatives thought I was going crazy whenever I imitated those sounds as a kid, thank god I don't do it anymore, but my mum's a really understanding mum like all mums. I chased it real hard esp when i saw it on the highway as an off service with 93 desto getting ready to do the 143 to 93 crossover, i alighted immediately right at the stop aftet the highway at Anak Bukit from the 985 bus i was onboard and hailed a cab to chase it at Farrer Road. Hahaha, every time I took a leyland it brought my spirits up and it was quite saddening towards 2010 when they started to retire these buses. Beginning with SBS9000S especially cos that bus was a power house and a favourite from the beginning. Soon, they gradually became fewer and infrequent occurrences.
There were of course the black sheep leylands which were the poorly maintained ones. there was one particular leyland in which i detested the most, that was SBS9159T. It was redeployed to 143 in 2009 in exchange for SBS9815H which was a pioneer on 143. I was upset as it was one of the worst Leylands. i would constantly find ways to avoid taking it and it would breakdown really often. The drivers hated the bus so much that they swapped it out on weekends to avoid driving it. Constantly, i complained so much about the bus, recommending other available spare Volvos and requesting for them to be swapped for SBS9159T till finally in 2012, I went to the extent of using STOMP to switch SBS9159T out and was eventually swapped out for a much welcomed SBS9154G, another Leyland. By then, it was the only Leyland left on 143, and was thankful SBS9154G did justice all the way to the end. lastly, came the start of 2013, I realised how much I missed them even the nightmare SBS9159T. I spent as much time as i was out of camp as I am presently serving National Service in Singapore with the Leyland. Well finally on 19th April 2013, I rode SBS9192X out of Ang Mo Kio Bus interchange for the last time with much appreciation of its 20 over years of service to Singapore as the first air conditioned bus. There is much I could talk about of all the memories that swept my childhood, a strong imprint in my own life that I will meet forget till the day I breathe my last. This bus is a mark of its own, unique to itself and its pure sentimental value can never be replaced by anything else.

- Ben Zeljko Chua

The Leyland Olympians purchased by then Singapore Bus Services are arguably the newest ones in the world as they are the last 200 units to be build under the Leyland name. These buses were fitted with the Royale-type bodywork, supplied by Walter Alexander of Falkirk.
Powered by a Cummins LT10 engine (10,014cc) and fitted with the 4-speed ZF 4HP 500 automatic transmission, it was dubbed the "Super Bus" on its introduction in 1993 - the first air-conditioned double decker in its time, supplied by Nippondenso and Sutrak. With the exception of the air-con ducts and for a select few buses, the configuration and interior for most of these Leylands remain in its original condition.
info from sgbuses.com

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