Leyland Victory Mk2

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Leyland Victory Mk2 is a front-engine double-decker bus chassis built by Leyland between 1978 and 1981. Like its competitor Dennis Jubilant, it was specifically designed for contemporary operating environment (hilly roads and "one-man-operation" with a farebox) in Hong Kong.

The chassis was developed from the Guy Victory J, which was also chosen by Bus Bodies (South Africa) Limited for the development of its own double decker (four examples had been delivered to Kowloon Motor Bus for evaluation). It could be fitted with Gardner 6LXB engine and Voith D851 gearbox, but one Victory Mk2 for China Motor Bus had been experimentally fitted with SCG GB350 gearbox.

Almost all Leyland Victory Mk2s built for Hong Kong were fitted with Alexander bodywork, only the last 20 buses built for China Motor Bus were fitted with Duple Metsec bodywork.

1 The orders
2 Accidents
3 Trivia
4 External links
5 References

[edit] The orders

Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) introduced 540 Victory Mk2s between 1979 and 1983, including one air-conditioned coach which was unsuccessful and had the air-conditioning unit removed. China Motor Bus (CMB) purchased 167 Victory Mk2s between 1979 and 1982. New Lantao Bus (NLB) also purchased nine between 1980 and 1983, with a further six buses acquired from KMB in later years, in 1993 NLB sold 10 of its Victory Mk2s to Citybus which took over 26 routes from CMB on 1 September 1993.

This model of double-decker bus had served nearly all regions in Hong Kong, including New Territories, Kowloon as well as Hong Kong Island.

All NLB and Citybus's Victory Mk2s were withdrawn in mid-1990s. KMB gave up its last Victory Mk2 in early 1998. CMB operated Victory Mk2s until the takeover of its routes, as well as these buses, by New World First Bus on 1 September 1998, the ex-CMB Victory Mk2s were gradually replaced by new low-floor buses, the last Victory Mk2s were withdrawn on 31 August 2000.

Four Citybus's Victory Mk2s became service vehicles after withdrawal. On the other hand, some withdrawn KMB/CMB Victory Mk2s were sold for use on rescue training.

[edit] Accidents

Leyland Victory Mk2 is rather accurately reputated as a type prone to turning over. This was mainly due to its soft suspension and high centre of gravity.

**Major accidents involving Victory Mk2**
Date	Company	Route	Accident type	Location
29 August 1980	CMB	4	rollover	Pok Fu Lam Road near Pok Fu Lam Tsuen
1 December 1980	KMB	70	rollover	Junction between Nathan Road and Waterloo Road, Kowloon
23 August 1981	KMB	66M	collision	Tuen Mun Road near Sham Tseng
24 November 1981	KMB	45	rollover	Junction between Fat Kwong Street and Chung Hau Street
25 January 1982	KMB	36M	rollover	Junction between Castle Peak Road and Wo Yi Hop Road
17 August 1982	KMB	85	rollover	Lion Rock Tunnel Road
12 October 1982	KMB	48	rollover	Junction between Tai Wai Road and Lion Rock Tunnel Road
14 November 1982	KMB	60M	rollover	Tuen Mun Road near Siu Lam
2 February 1985	KMB	82M	rollover	Junction between Lion Rock Tunnel Road and Tai Chung Kiu Road
10 April 1985	KMB	72	rollover	Tai Po Road near Caldecott Road
5 November 1986	KMB	61A	rollover	Junction between Ming Kum Road and Shek Pai Tau Road, Tuen Mun
17 March 1990	CMB	94	rollover	Ap Lei Chau Bridge (Exit at Aberdeen side)
9 October 1991	KMB	43X	rollover	Entrance of Tsuen Wan Ferry Pier bus terminus
24 July 1993	KMB	69M	rollover	Junction between Hung Tin Road and Ping Ha Road

[edit] Trivia

Leyland Victory Mk2 was also known as "chicken" in Hong Kong because its soft suspension made it look like chicken during acceleration and deceleration.