The Semi-Retired Foamer has been a railfan since he was around 5 years old, oh yes a very young age, an age when one really should avoid being involved with the gunzel community to any great extent. A few rather unsavoury people bringing that fact home.
After a few decades of train chasing, one decided to break with protocol and get married, thus leading to a severe cut in railfan activity.
Subsequent dealings with hate breeders, lunatics, mental defectives and self-appointed preservation overlords lead to an even greater decrease in my hobby participation.
However things have changed thanks to our small group of trusted mates, interest has returned, and now I have become a bit more involved yet again.
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Over the years I have tried my best to further both the hobby, as well as the friendships that it brings. I have done this by setting up proactive groups both here in Australia, as well as the Philippines. It is with huge honour that I am often considered the founding father of the railfan hobby in the Philippines (my second home).
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I don't take the hobby too seriously and I am a friend to anyone who is good and genuine. But never forgive those who have used their hate to destroy my hobby or hurt the friends within it.

Let's Make The Hobby Great Again!
I aim to share the era that I considered mine, the 80s and 90s. I also like to help promote, and even raise funds for, the various heritage societies that keep the era alive
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**** LOCOMOTIVE/ PUBLICATIONS ****
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We occasionally publish information on the locomotives, and rollingstock, from railways in Australia and the Philippines.
All are available for
FREE at our ALR WEBSITE.




Please email me should you wish to use anything from this site !



Wednesday, July 22, 2026

RANDOM BUS GUFF - PART 19



Well... yes, I'm afraid to report that you've somehow stumbled into yet another collection of completely random Australian bus photos that I've accumulated over several decades while standing beside roads looking suspiciously like someone with far too much free time and far too little common sense.

As usual, there's absolutely no rhyme or reason to any of it. It's the traditional grab bag of old buses, new buses, buses that have long since disappeared, buses that probably wish they had, and the occasional oddball that made me think, "Well, I suppose I may as well waste another frame of film on that."

Normally I'd throw in the odd ticket, timetable, transfer slip or some other fascinating piece of transport paperwork to give everyone the illusion that there's a carefully thought-out theme. Sadly, this particular instalment is lacking all of that. Apparently I was far too busy loitering on street corners waiting for buses instead of collecting bits of cardboard to photograph.

So instead, what you get is a completely unscientific assortment of buses from various operators, various states, and various decades, all mashed together with the sort of organisation you'd expect from someone whose filing system consists largely of "I'll put that somewhere safe." Naturally, that safe place remains a complete mystery.

Anyway, it is what it is. There's no deep historical significance, no educational value worthy of a university thesis, and certainly no guarantee that you'll find your favourite bus lurking amongst the pages.

If you enjoy looking at old buses, hopefully you'll find something here to bring back a few memories.

If not... well... thanks for stopping by anyway. The exit is clearly marked, and I promise there'll probably be trains again before too long. Or at least that's the current rumour.
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Putting these sites together does take an immense amount of time and effort.
If you even find some moderate amount of enjoyment would you consider giving us even a little bit of 
support here?
Pretty please :-)
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 Any updates would be greatly appreciated.


Bedford M/O 5748 at Brooklyn (NSW)
It is believed it was shipped to Tonga around 1990.
No idea of it's current situation. But given it would be around 54 years old, it may have gone to god.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Above and below.
3398 in the Sydney Explorer livery at Randwick bus depot during 1991. Below is at Darling Harbour.
The Sydney Explorer buses are believed to have been withdrawn in 2010, this then being sold to Telfords.
It was last reported with Bluefit Fitness at Penshurst in 2019.
Photos: Brad Peadon



Mk5 Mercedes 3101 in the lovely Bicentennial livery about to depart Circular Quay (Sydney).
She has since been scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


 1854 would go through numerous owners, starting with Crossley in Regents Park (Sydney), then working it's way to Cairns, with a Kempsey stopover.
Photo: Carl Millington
Brad Peadon Collection


Miss the ol Leyland Leopards, they were such a wonderful part of the Sydney.
1693 and 3823 were seen snoozing during a vist to North Sydney bus depot.
1693 would retired to beautiful Queensland, but is now scrapped.
3823 would have a few owners around Sydney, last noted as a deregistered motor home (2003) somewhere in New South Wales)
Photo: Brad Peadon


 Another Bicentennial bus in 3097, sitting next to the less impressive looking 2437 at Kingsgrove Depot in Sydney.
3097 would eventually end up with State Transit Newcastle Buses for parts, what was left sent to One Steel at Hexham for recycling.
2437 was last noted as a mobile workshop in the Narrabri area (2008), but has since been put up for a sale again. 
Photo: Brad Peadon


 3237 in the attractive 'Bondi & Bay Explorer' livery departing Circular Quay.
The bus would also see service as an Airport Express, but later sold to 'Kingsford Smith Transport', but now believed to be privately preserved.
Photo: Carl Millington
Brad Peadon Collection


2568 in the lovely livery variation in which they were delivered.
Would later be sold to  Hawkesfords, then Transit Scenic, before being sent to scrap in 2021.
Photo: Carl Millington
Brad Peadon Collection


Above and below.
Preserved 2294 during a visit to the former Rockdale signal box back when the 'Botany Railway Line MRC' had the lease.
It would later go through a few owners, but last reported as a shed at Londonderry .
Photos: Brad Peadon



Another two lovely Leyland Leopards, this time at the long since redeveloped Chullora Bus Workshops site.
1539
Both would go to Canterbury Bus Lines, but are now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


6994MO awaiting passengers at the railway station in Port Kembla (New South Wales).
Believed to still be in service with Premier Illawarra
Photo: Brad Peadon


AEC Regal IV 3197 seen at the former 'Historic Commercial Vehicle Association (now Sydney Bus Museum) museum at Tempe bus depot in Sydney.
Likely at the Leichardt depot museum now.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Mk4 Mercedes 2767 at Campsie (Sydney).
Sent for scrap in 2013.
Photo: Brad Peadon


3319 departing Circular Quay in 1990.
Sent for scrap from Randwick Depot in 2015.
Photo: Brad Peadon


3880 (MET845) and 3791 (MET837) when used in Melbourne.
Seen here at the Doncaster bus depot.
Both would go to Sita Buslines at Footscray, but never used. Now scrapped.
Photo: Brad Peadon


3434 takes on a van near the former railway crossing in Mascot (Sydney).
Bus would become part of Transit Systems when they took on the region 6 contract, then a private owner, before going to 'Kingsford Smith Transport' in 2019, and then another private owner in Castle Hill during 2021.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Leyland Atlantean 1003 outside the former 'Historic Commercial Vehicle Association' (Now Sydney Bus Museum) museum in Tempe.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Same bus noted during the 1989 Chullora Railway Workshops open day.
Photo: Brad Peadon



3203 on Elizabeth Street (Sydney) opposite St James station.
Now privately preserved.
Photo: Brad Peadon


2776 passing the Wansey Road light rail stop on Alison Road in Randwick.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Bendy 2574 waiting to depart from Wynyard on route 182 to Warringah Mall.
Current situation unknown.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Unidentified Mk1 Mercedes stored at Randwick bus depot.
Photo: Brad Peadon


Found this old school bus stop sign around Eastlakes (Sydney) a couple of years ago and reported it to the Sydney Bus Museum should they be interested in saving it.
Photo: Brad Peadon


That's all for the 19th dreary installment.
I've little doubt you will eventually be enduring the 20th.
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Semi-Retired Foamer!
Follow our page to be kept updated on every ghastly
thing we inflict upon the internet.

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Check our new Linktree site above for piles of dreary transport entertainment.
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Coming Soon
A new project of the Semi-Retired Foamer team.


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