Random Bus Guff

What to do with a heap of bus shots?

Back in the early days of me, before trains become the main hobby of choice, I actually spent significant amounts of time travelling on, and photographing, buses.
Why are you laughing? It is actually true.
We are not talking the soulless boxes of today, these were great sounding and fun to ride.
Even today, usually during moments of boredom, I still will aim the lens at a passing bus, even newer type stuff.
Yes, that does embarrass me to admit, but sometimes old habits will never die.

Anyway, this series will look at bus photos, and other bollocks, collected since the 1980s.
Hope some of it is of interest, if not here's a cat video.

 One of those boring moments mentioned above.
Was ferreting around at Port Kembla railway station (and depot) when this thing turns up.
Thankfully digital images are cheap. 

Leyland Worldmaster 3068 at Chullora Workshops during an open day.

 Highway Tours M/O 368 (ex government M/O 3592) at their depot in Enfield.
8-10-1987 

 Two shots of the former 'Joe's Airport Parking' shuttle bus from back in the days I managed the place and was working on some promotional leaflets.
Should the planes interest:
Ansett VH-RME - Scrapped 2003 at Tullamarine
Ansett VH-ANA - Scrapped in the USA

 A classic old Fijian bus near to Nadi.

 Former government Leyland Atlantean 1161, here she was Crossways M/O 4060.
Following Crossways, she went on to have a couple of other owners. She was last seen in private ownership around Kogarah Bay (NSW)

Obviously an ideal day to be walking around Hamilton looking for buses to photograph :-)

One of a couple of Sydney classics that were used for the Pier One shuttle.
I am lead to believe this ol girl still exists.

Leyland Leopard Mk2 - M/O 1600

Strathfield in 1986

* Went to 'Gold Coast Citybus', then Logan Coaches.

Now scrapped.

Mk2 Mercedes -  M/O 1997

Sydney Terminal in 1986

** Bus had a rather interesting life. Spent some time in Brisbane due to a bus shortage, though Bus Australia lists it as unused while there.

  It later was one of a number of buses sent to East Timor (2001) to start a service in Dili. It, along with the others, were found to be too wide for the roads, were set aside and, after being taken over by the homeless for a while, was eventually scrapped.

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Excerpts from the February 1980 'Public Transport Commission' 393-398 timetable.
Souveniered from the former Pagewood Bus Depot.

Thanks to Coronavirus, what we thought was a few months away, suddenly become a thing far earlier.
That being the demise of the final members of the QANTAS Jumbo fleet.
With a stroke of luck, I was down at the popular Kyeemagh Beach hack spot for the second last flight, then again two days later for the very last.

A truly sad moment in Aussie aviation history, but one I was glad to be able to witness.

Thanks Gordo for the inspiration to push on.
You are a walking example of irony.

Second last QANTAS 747 arrival.
VH-OEI from Johannesburg. 23-3-2020

The grand finale as VH-OEE touches down 

and makes history.
Final flight was from Santiago to Sydney.

The final Thai Jumbo also recently arrived.
Photos Here

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We will follow what happens to the final five 

here on the blog.

Despite a rapidly growing interest in them, planes have never figured heavily on the pages of this blog, in fact, I can't recall the last time they ever did.
But here they be, and tolerate them you must (or not, it's really up to you).

Anyway, rather than spend hours of time lineside partaking in what passes for a train hobby in 2020, I find myself drawn towards the airport, primarily in search of the final Boeing 747s, and anything else that has been on the endangered list in recent years.

Unless you live under a rock, you would no doubt be suffering the effects of the Coronavirus to some extent or another. Hopefully not in to serious a way.
Stay safe people!

I live right under the runway and have noticed a massive drop in aircraft traffic. However, despite this reduction, intolerable boredom saw me take my chance down on Shep's Mound today.

Turns out that it was worth the 6am effort :-)
Plus there was a social distance of at least 500 metres from anyone else.

Unknown at the time, this arrival of Thai Airways HS-TGA from Thailand was the last time a 747 is likely to be rostered to fly here. According to posts on Farcebook (yeah, yeah, I know), it is likely that 777s will operate once things return to normal.

Polar Boeing 767-3JHF(ER) N643GT lands.

Consecutively numbered (if that matters to anyone) Delta N708DN and N709DN touch down within a hour of each other.
I am reliably informed that one was just being used as a freighter, 

possibly for medical supplies.

Aviation beauty.
Atlas Air, Boeing 747-87U(F) N856GT, lands in Sydney.
Seems a very realistic possibility that the freighters will be the only 747s we regularly see here very soon.

Three 767s at Sydney Airport.
Not at the airport enough to know how common three 767s are, but it is indeed rare enough for me to ensure all those juices started to flow..

L to R:
VH-EFR - Owned by QANTAS Freight
N643GT - Polar Air Cargo, operated for DHL.
VH-EXZ - Owned by DHL, leased to Tasman Cargo.

Have long had a fascination for these little BAe-146-300s, but have always had absolutely no luck in getting photos of them. The few times I have seen them, I've either been driving, or without camera. :-(
So VH-NJM and VH-NJZ in the one morning was an added bonus.

A familar sight at Sydney Airport for so many decades, but very soon to end.
If Farcebook rumours (yeah, yeah.....I know) are to be believed, this may be very close to her last flight. Though, as I type this (13:42 27/3/2020), she is on her way back from Johannasburg and expected to land around 16:30.
Boeing 747-438ER VH-OEI

A couple of Tigers caged in at Sydney Airport.

Tiger Airways, Airbus A320-232 VH-VNH and VH-VNO

Got plenty of shots all ready, but can always use another 'Retro Roo'.
QANTAS B737-838 VH-VXQ 'Retro Roo II'

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Brad's Mound - Sydney Airport (Facebook Page)

Philippine / Australia Aviation Fans (Facebook)

Stay safe everyone!

Video of the great farewell as Jumbo VH-OJU departs for Los Angeles and retirement from QANTAS.

Rumour has it that she is going to Rolls Royce 

for test purposes.

Time will tell I guess.