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Grafton Bus Co 25 plus years ago.
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:15 pm
by Centralian
As a point of comparison with the current photos posted by BusPicsQld of Busways Grafton, here are some shots of Grafton Busco I took some 25 years ago. There depot was in South Grafton and I assume the current Busways depot is the same location. Unfortunately I don't have chassis or body details of the old units pictured here, so any info from the experts out there would be welcome.
A line up of new and old at the time.
An unregistered perkins power unit. Chassis and body? The house in this shot I suspect is the same one as in BusPicsQld first Busways Grafton post, 2nd photo with the NCBS Renault.
A yard shot with some oldies.
Another Perkins powered unit. Grateful for info on chassis and body make?
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:27 pm
by Dave Wilson
Watt Bros body possibly a Commer.
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:39 pm
by member 1423
Depot is in the same location. That is the church next door, so its still in the same location in Skinner St, opposite the post office.
Ah before the days of the Landseers on town duty and the horrible purple paint job! Looks like the Denning Mono would of been quite new and high tech back then. That shed is long gone! That shed is where the Volvo's and the Merc O305 rebody was parked.
To quote 'Centralian'
An unregistered perkins power unit. Chassis and body? The house in this shot I suspect is the same one as in BusPicsQld first Busways Grafton post, 2nd photo with the NCBS Renault.
Yes, going by the church building in the background, it is parked in roughly the same location.
Thanks for sharing, very nice. Would be interested if anyone has any shots of GBC from 15 years ago.
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:53 pm
by Simes
BusPicsQLD wrote:
Thanks for sharing, very nice. Would be interested if anyone has any shots of GBC from 15 years ago.
Also some Grafton - Yamba shots
With the throaty Merc (or was it a MAN?)
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:58 pm
by Red and Cream
Going back to my photos and records from the mid 60s , the bus at far left in group was a Bedford MO 4024 Fleet No. 13 and the Commer with the Perkins engine was MO 252 Fleet No. 12 Watt Bros. body.
I think you will find the other 3 photos are of the same bus taken at different times in its life.
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:09 pm
by Dave Wilson
Ian Lynas tells me MO 252 was a Commer Avenger 111 with Watt Bros Body dated 10.57. Sth Lismore Bus Service had a Bedford very similar to the one in the shed
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 5:23 am
by Centralian
Here's one more shot I found, think I took it a bit later than the Commers but pre 1985. An MCA unit MO0478.
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:13 am
by member 1423
THANK YOU!
This is what I remember Grafton Bus Co to be. These were very common on town service as well as the odd Landseer
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:33 pm
by Mr Scania
The buses on town service were Denflex.
Grafton Buses
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:00 pm
by White Super Power
More Grafton Photos (2)
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:14 pm
by White Super Power
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:48 pm
by Centralian
Beautiful !!! Thanks for sharing.
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:45 pm
by Red and Cream
We've had Grafton buses in the 80s and the 70s, now let's go back to the mid 60s with these Don Allitt photos.
MO 145 Albion Valkyrie Syd Wood Fleet No. 7. I have a build date of 8/39 but the body seems to be later than that. Maybe a rebuild?
MO 323 Bedford Syd Wood Fleet No. 8
MO 3011 Mack Syd Wood Fleet No. 4
MO 3008 Bedford Hedges Fleet No. 15
I've just noticed in the photo of MO 145 the windscreen on the nearside is open at the bottom, it appears as the bottom section actually lifts up and appears to have some object ( a block of wood?) holding it open. This is a feature i have not seen on any bus before, so maybe the build date of 1939 is correct.
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:49 pm
by member 1423
Now I'll try and tell where they were taken.
White Super Power Post 1
1. Prince St near the Ambulance Station
3. Market Square Prince St near the Fire Station
White Super Power 'A Bit Modern'
1. Prince St outside the Council Chambers
2. Skinner St, outside the current depot (building in background has signwriting)
3. Villiers St outside the hockey fields
4. Bent St, approaching the Round-a-bout. On the far left of screen is where the current 'Bus Interchange' is. The street on the far right is Armidale Rd.
Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:53 pm
by Centralian
Aaaaaggghhhhhhh!!!!! Thank you. (Love the grille on Fleet No 4. Parramatta-Ryde eat your heart out.)
Re: Grafton Bus Co 25 plus years ago.
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:24 pm
by aawo
Thank You for the pics of the old Grafton Busco fleet. The second Bedford VAL with the jacaranda tree was my school bus and was driven by Fred Schwinghammer (Grafton Bus Co owner) himself. I later drove one the same (as well as a nice old AEC with pneumocyclic gears) around Armidale to pay my way through university. I still have my MOT permit and occasionally drive for a friend who has a small fleet in Sydney. Most of the time I have to settle for driving the odd Coaster or Rosa for work. These pics takes me back. By the way, the old Albion (?) bus on the extreme left in the shed was Number 13 and was black and white instead of the usual purple.
Re: Grafton Bus Co 25 plus years ago.
Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 11:16 am
by White Super Power