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.

--------------------------------------

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

Two recent requests have seen me pulling out the dusty old slide boxes from the 'Semi-Retired Foamer' archive. The slide collection, while quite large, has always been the lesser cousin of the massive print one.
As such, it has probably been some 2-3 decades since I really had a look at them.
With most shots taken in the glory years that formed the 80s, I really just can't remember what is amongst them. So, I can honestly say that what appears in this 'occasional' series, will likely be as much of a surprise to me as it will be for you.
Also of surprise will be the distinct lousy quality of most of what appears. I was only trialling slides for a few years and, well, it was my early years of transport photography.
I am sure you shall find a way to endure it.

I was never only a train fan, I have always had an interest in transport away from railways. It is just that most of my public involvement was in the rail arena. Something that I guess I sort of regret at times.
It did give me some tremendous lifetime friends who do make up for the butt pipes.

  Returning from Melbourne, while on one of many 80s trips, we decided to stop in at Wagga Wagga for a look at the former 'Urban Transit Authority'  Leylands (no rail reason to stop in back then) that Fearnes were using at the time.
  Above are two Mk1 Leopards and just a small part of an Atlantean (see future posts).

Be hard pressed finding one of these on QANTAS Drive nowadays.
While the bus, and livery, are now long gone, Murrays Coaches still exist.

 Obviously we thought long walks were a great idea back in the 80s.On this day we caught a train to Lidcombe, then walked to the former Pippita station, before risking our lives entering the railway corridor to survey the old line to the Abattoirs. Ooooh, todays railfan nazi's would have been impressed.
Despite being caught in an upturned Brickworks signalbox, the day was an educational and fun one. Many shots were taken and will appear in due course.

The livery is now gone.
The 48 class has been decimated in number.
The fuel tankers are likely all scrapped.
The siding is ripped out.
The terminal is gone.
The Sandown line is mothballed.
Safe to say we ain't going to see this ever again.

SYDNEY BUSES - 1986

The Leftovers

The short remaining bit of bus footage from Circular Quay back in 1986.
Leylands and Mercedes buses make up the bulk of buses

in this new video.

To fill out the video viewers are treated to some good old 80s street entertainment with 'Bollocks The Clown'. Bollocks was a regular at Circular Quay during this period.

As far as random photos go, I guess they do not come more random than this.
I do not normally put many of my old Instamatic shots on the blog, however every now and then I make an exception.

I know little of this operation, where it ran, or how long it did so. I have only been to Manly once or twice since this shot was taken, but am almost certain it does not operate anymore.
Perhaps one new regulation, or a massive insurance increase, put an end to it all. Like so many other good things that we once enjoyed.

Best and Less have outlasted the Leyland Leopards around Mascot, however, it too is due to shortly be gone.
Too many Sydney icons have disappeared since I carried this bodgy little camera.

Golden West Tours.

Our ride from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves, having caught a V set up from Sydney.

LADY McKELL opposite the Opera House as she prepares for the
Australia Day 'Ferrython'.
Alas, she was not to win. That honour went to LADY WOODWARD, a regular
winner at these events.

The final four shots are taken around the BHP Steelworks system in Port Kembla.
The big K class were subsequently sold and later scrapped.
Pacific National has been ignoring the desperate pleas of museums who want to preserve the smaller units here, many having already been scrapped, NEEDLESSLY, during 2017.