From Green Coach Lines >Tas Coach Lines

[Tas Bus Nut]

A couple have asked for pix from the early days of Green Coach Lines & Tasmanian Coach Lines, the predecesors of Tasmanian Redline Coaches.
Although some of the pictures are not very good quality, I have included them anyway. Not sure of makes/models, but I am POSITIVE fellow board members will enlighten us!!!!

[stevegj52]

Thanks for the photos Neil.The Ansair Twin steer is a Bedford Val.Looks like it was on trade plates so must have been new at the time of the photo.
And the old Commers I just rember them in the early 60's liveing in the Derwent Valley where the old man was cop at the time and used to see them on thier way to Queenstown.These were later replace by the commers shown out side the old transport offices which was the Green Coach terminal at the time.Now that building has gone

Steve

[system improver]

I think I can enlighten you a bit anyway.

The first is a lovely photo of one of the last Ansair Transetts made. It was new in October 1956 and it looks like a pre-service shot. It was a model 9K.

The second is one of Green Coach Lines Flxibles. They had thee new ones, two in late 1956 and the last Clipper made in 1959. They all had Deutz power packs.

The third and fourth are a City Bodyworks Pty Ltd of Moonah bodied Commer Avenger, new in September 1952.

The next is a front and rear shot of two Freighter Commers (a truck chassis), new in 1961.

The first Ansair Bedford is a VAL, probably around 1970 and the second is a VAM from a little earlier about 1968, but I don't have precise details on these or the last Ansair Bedford, more mid 70s.

[Tas Bus Nut]

I think I can enlighten you a bit anyway.

The first is a lovely photo of one of the last Ansair Transetts made. It was new in October 1956 and it looks like a pre-service shot. It was a model 9K.

The second is one of Green Coach Lines Flxibles. They had thee new ones, two in late 1956 and the last Clipper made in 1959. They all had Deutz power packs.

The third and fourth are a City Bodyworks Pty Ltd of Moonah bodied Commer Avenger, new in September 1952.

The next is a front and rear shot of two Freighter Commers (a truck chassis), new in 1961.

The first Ansair Bedford is a VAL, probably around 1970 and the second is a VAM from a little earlier about 1968, but I don't have precise details on these or the last Ansair Bedford, more mid 70s.

Thanks for that. I got the letters back-to-front on the Bedfords. If I remember correctly myself the last Bedford with Styleliner bodies were 1976. Regards

[Foden-nut]

Another, even older, Green Line Coaches vehicle is the one and only Tasmanian Foden This photo appeared on the cover of the Foden News (in house magazine of the day) for January 1952 and had been sent to Fodens in England by the regular driver - though it didn't look as though he was going far on that day! The Foden chassis was sent to Tasmania in 1948, but wasn't actually bodied, by Modern Transport & Metal Industries (FDP31F + goods) until 1951. Bought by the Tasmanian Transport Commission (fl no 74, rego T 705), it passed to the MTT (fl no 12, rego WNF 675) on 1st July 1955 and was withdrawn in February 1958. It was immediately sold to B C Carins of Longford, who refurbished it, removing the goods compartment, the bus now becoming FDP36F. Sadly, it was damaged by the floods which hit the Longford area in 1960 and it lay idle until scrapped during 1962.
Enjoy the photograph!

[system improver]

My first thought was, where's Bronte Park? Found this on the net: " Once a construction village, now a base for activity-based holidaymakers.
Located midway between Hobart and Queenstown (147 km north west of Hobart and 115 km east of Queenstown), Bronte Park is close to the geographic centre of Tasmania. It was once a Hydro-Electric Commission village. In recent times this tiny village, which is surrounded by excellent trout fishing lakes, has become a base for fishermen, canoeists and bushwalkers. The old HEC huts have been turned into a 'highland village' with chalet accommodation and, in turn, they have attracted other specialist accommodation to the area."

My second thought was, I wonder whether any other pics were taken?

My third thought was, who was that body builder - Modern Transport and Metal Industries? Maybe someone can shed some more light on it.

Final thought, there's a picture of almost everything somewhere. The trick is to find it, and then share it.

Thanks Foden-nut!

[Foden-nut]

Glad to help, System Improver. Like you I believe that most buses probably had a camera pointed at them sometime in their life - but by who, and when, and does the photograph still exist?

The following is a quote from an article by L J Morley, entitled 'The Green Coach Lines', which appeared in 'Restored Cars, #134, May-June 1999':
"In the meantime the Hydro Commission had built a village called Bronte Park in the Central Highlands, so the Transport Commission purchased a Foden bus to operate between Bronte Park and Hobart. With the building boom after the war more subdivisions were being built on the outskirts of Hobart.........these were served by OB Bedfords.........During the mid 1950s the Bronte Park service was wound down and the Foden [and a White] were put on subdivision runs. This didn't last long as the Hobart Municipality Tramways and the Transport Commission amalgamated and formed a new division, the Metropolitan Transport Trust (MTT). The MTT took over all suburban runs and the OB Bedfords were transferred to the new division, plus the Foden and the White. These two buses were sold off, as they were coaches not buses."
There is another, much poorer, photograph of the Foden in that issue, which names the regular driver as Bluey Weatherhead. It must have been quite some service if it is 147 km NW of Hobart!

I do have three other photos of the bus (or is it a coach? - obviously the MTT weren't sure!) supplied by Ian Cooper. If I can get his approval I might post one or two of these. I have no details of who Modern Transport and Metal Industries might be; again I will ask Ian Cooper if he knows more about them.

Foden-nut

[Tas Bus Nut]

Glad to help, System Improver. Like you I believe that most buses probably had a camera pointed at them sometime in their life - but by who, and when, and does the photograph still exist?

The following is a quote from an article by L J Morley, entitled 'The Green Coach Lines', which appeared in 'Restored Cars, #134, May-June 1999':
"In the meantime the Hydro Commission had built a village called Bronte Park in the Central Highlands, so the Transport Commission purchased a Foden bus to operate between Bronte Park and Hobart. With the building boom after the war more subdivisions were being built on the outskirts of Hobart.........these were served by OB Bedfords.........During the mid 1950s the Bronte Park service was wound down and the Foden [and a White] were put on subdivision runs. This didn't last long as the Hobart Municipality Tramways and the Transport Commission amalgamated and formed a new division, the Metropolitan Transport Trust (MTT). The MTT took over all suburban runs and the OB Bedfords were transferred to the new division, plus the Foden and the White. These two buses were sold off, as they were coaches not buses."
There is another, much poorer, photograph of the Foden in that issue, which names the regular driver as Bluey Weatherhead. It must have been quite some service if it is 147 km NW of Hobart!

I do have three other photos of the bus (or is it a coach? - obviously the MTT weren't sure!) supplied by Ian Cooper. If I can get his approval I might post one or two of these. I have no details of who Modern Transport and Metal Industries might be; again I will ask Ian Cooper if he knows more about them.


Foden-nut

FANTASTIC Foden-nut. I was only talking to Ian last night, and could have asked him personally. It's unbelievable the wealth of information he knows. I'll check Metro/MTT archives and see if I can find any other pictures. Many thanks for your response, likewise system improver.

[Foden-nut]

Better late than never!
Here are the photos supplied to me by Ian Cooper of the Tasmanian Foden.
Firstly with Green Coach Lines (74), then with the MTT (12) and finally with B Carins from Longford - before the flood!
I forgot to ask Ian about Modern Transport & Metal Industries, but I need to write to him again, so I'll ask then.
Enjoy!

[system improver]

Well worth the wait. Lovely shots showing the history of the bus. It's interesting to look at the way the chassis determined the design of the front of the bus in those days.

Also, I wonder how the "goods department" was accessed. No sign of a side door. Could have been through a rear door or through the inside. The Commer in the original post seems to have had a similar problem, although there is no sign of a rear door.

[Foden-nut]

A very prompt reply from Ian Cooper reveals the following in relation to Modern Transport & Metal Industries:
"Modern Transport and Metal Industries Pty Ltd of Mowbray Heights, Launceston, started in business in Launceston as Reconditioned Motors Pty Ltd in the early 1930s. In late 1949 or early 1950 RM moved to a brand new factory in Mowbray Heights, a suburb of Launceston, commenced trading under the MTM name and started building attractive bus and coach bodies. I believe that these rather stylish bodies retained a composite structure, but I stand corrected. Among their first coach bodies were three for the Transport Commission's Green Coach Lines on Commer Avenger chassis, delivered in early to mid 1950, followed by the Foden at the end of 1950. Most of the small MTM production of buses and coaches was for private operators in Northern Tasmania and another Government agency - the Hyrdo-Electric Commission (for carriage of construction employees). Bus and coach building appears to have ceased in 1952 - the last known unit of which I have a record was a 1952 model coach."
This is part of a longer account, but thanks to Ian we are all much the wiser!
Foden-nut

[Clipper owner]

Hi guys. Absolutely love the Greens/ TCL photos. Fantastic! I own one of the three X Greens Ansair Flxible clippers, their second one AF82. It's currently in my shed undergoing restoration. I also know where the other two are and some of the Ansair Transetts whereabouts. I am currently compiling the whereabouts and condition of all the flx's that worked in Tas (there were up to 11) inc X pioneer that TCL purchased and have accounted for all but two of these vehicles. If anyone out there has more photos of Clippers in service for: Greens, TCL, Sullivans, Cooks or Greys I would love too see them. Also any more Transett, Ansair Commer shots would be much appriecated. Cheers I look forward to a response.

[Clipper owner]

Just wanted to correct myself. There were up too 20 clippers working in Tas over a period of years, not including Pioneer tours coaches coming and going. But including 9 X Pioneer coaches run by TCL.

[leyland clippers]

These photos sure bring back memories especially the Clipper and the front and rear shot of the Commers.I can also remember the twin steer as it was known by TCL drivers having travelled on it once from Queenstown to Hobart or rather part of it.We were tavelling on D95 to Hobart when at Patrolmans Creek approximately 25 miles from Queenstown it broke a fan belt.Message was sent through to Queenstown to try and find a fan belt so we had to just sit and wait.Eventually the twin steer arrived and we all transferred to this coach and continued on to Hobart.I can remember it had a 2 speed diff and the rego # was JA 7234.This coach occasionally did the Swansea to Hobart route and I often used to see it pass through Triabunna.The coach with Strathgordon on the desto was similar to the ones that travelled between Queenstown and Burnie.In the early 1970's TCL were very reluctant to use new coaches on the Hobart to Queenstown route as the majority of the Lyell Highway between Queenstown and Derwent Bridge was unsealed and it was hard on the coaches.Therefore they used the Commers then the Clippers.When the Lyell highway was eventually sealed right through they started using the Leyland Coaches.I think they had an Ansair body.Before they used the Leylands breakdowns on route were a regular occurrence.The Hobart to Queenstown service left Hobart at 8.00am and arrived in Queenstown at 3.00 pm with a lunch stop at the Derwent Bridge roadhouse.The Queenstown to Hobart service left Queenstown at 9.00am and arrived in hobart at 3.00 pm with a lunch stop at Ouse.The Drivers used to change over at Bronte junction with the Hobart based driver returning to Hobart and the Queenstown based driver returning to Queenstown.The Queenstown to Burnie bus would leave at 9.00am and arrive in burnie at 2.00pm.The drivers would change over at Tullah.Things have changed now woth buses not travelling every day between Hobart and Queenstown and there is no longer a service from Queenstown to Burnie.

[leyland clippers]

Tasmanian Coach Lines played a very important role on the West Coast back in the early seventies.They did more than carry passengers.A lot of freight was carried on these buses also they had the contract to deliver Royal Mail on behalf of the PMG.This must have carried over from Green Coach Lines as you can see in the first photo.They employed three drivers, a manger and a part time person on the counter at the Queenstown depot.There was also a person who used to work in the afternoon unloading freight and luggage,washing and mopping the floors and refuelling the coaches.One driver lived in Zeehan and and one lived in Strahan.There used to be a service from Strahan and Zeehan to Queenstown in the morning and from Queenstown to Strahan and Zeehan in the afternoon.Students from Strahan attending Murray High School would travel on this service.Students travelling from Zeehan had their own school bus which was a petrol powered Bedford with a Comair body similar to the ones that were ex MTT.This was in additiont to the normal Zeehan service.The Zeehan Based driver would then take the Hobart bound coach to Bronte junction and return to Queenstown and then go through to Zeehan.The Strahan based driver would take the Burnie bound coach to Tullah stopping at Zeehan then Rosebery before returning to Queenstown and then do the Queenstown to Strahan service.There was also a driver based in Queenstown who would spend one week in the yard then do the Hobart run one week then the Burnie run the following week.This driver would do the Zeehan school bus run leaving the bus at Zeehan and travelling back to Queenstown in a TCL ute.This driver would also cover other drivers when they were on leave. The Queenstown to Hobart service would operate 7 days a week while the Queenstown to Burnie sevice was Monday to Saturday.Due to the travelling times involved students attending schools in Hobart could only travel back to the West Coast for long weekends and holidays only unlike today where they can travel back every weekend on the Tassielink service.Quite often they would have to use 2 coaches as there were too many passengers for one coach.Things have certainly changed now,there is no Queenstown to Burnie service and there isn't a daily service between Queenstown and Hobart.Freight is no longer carried on buses and they do not have the mail contract anymore.A pity in some ways.

[Tas Bus Nut]

I remember just before I left Redline the driver on SATURDAYS went right through to Stahan from Hobart & back. Departed Hoabrt @ 8:30am and arrived back about 8-8:30pm (if my memory serves me correctly) LOOONNNGGG bloody day.

[stevegj52]

Some memories there Leyland Clipper! Lived in Queenie for many years and remember well the Comair Bedford School bus to Murray High.I was a regular pasenger on both Burnie and Hobart runs.Rember those trips over Arrow Smith in the winter in a Flexible, one trip with out the heater working!Remember the guy who used to unload the coaches at Queenstown, he was a bit of a character.I was in Queenstown 4 weeks ago for our Murray High class reunion, and went to have a look at the old depot, just empty now buses long gone as is the Queenstown Bus Service yard.

[leyland clippers]

Thanks for the reply Stevegj52.Yes I can remember the trips over Mount Arrowsmith although the heaters worked when I was on the bus.The guy that used to unload the coaches was a character I think his name was Lionel.Yes the depot is now empty.When the West Coast Wilderness Railway commenced operations Redlines used to keep the coaches that were used to carry train paseengers between Queenstown and Strahan.They then moved down to the old Queenstown Bus Service yard near the golf course.Redlines no longer have the contract with WCWR.This is now undertaken by McDermotts Coaches.The two Redline coaches with the railway livery are now up for sale and can be seen on the Redline website.Can you remember the old Queenstown Bus Service buses.I think they were half cab AEC chassis coaches that used to groan and belch smoke.I used to travel on this bus from Jakins Street to Central Primary School of a morning.These buses were replaced by ex MTT Bedfords i think.

[stevegj52]

Thanks for the reply Stevegj52.Yes I can remember the trips over Mount Arrowsmith although the heaters worked when I was on the bus.The guy that used to unload the coaches was a character I think his name was Lionel.Yes the depot is now empty.When the West Coast Wilderness Railway commenced operations Redlines used to keep the coaches that were used to carry train paseengers between Queenstown and Strahan.They then moved down to the old Queenstown Bus Service yard near the golf course.Redlines no longer have the contract with WCWR.This is now undertaken by McDermotts Coaches.The two Redline coaches with the railway livery are now up for sale and can be seen on the Redline website.Can you remember the old Queenstown Bus Service buses.I think they were half cab AEC chassis coaches that used to groan and belch smoke.I used to travel on this bus from Jakins Street to Central Primary School of a morning.These buses were replaced by ex MTT Bedfords i think.

Ah yes the AEC reagles Half Cabs, remember those well,actually one is now at the Tas Transport museum ex MTT 32 EX Queenstown Bus Service.They were replaced about 1970 with ex MTT Bedford SB's CAC body, I think they had 3 of those plus a Domino Hedges Bedford VAM driven mostly by Neil Bird and used on the town school bus in the afternoon then onto Gormy.Worked for Lyell Transport/Queenstown Bus Service after leaving school.
Lionel Locket was the guy at Redline who used to unload the coaches Had ,a run in with him once lol, he is still about but up Burnie way I believe. Would you remember Ted Doherty at the Redline office there?.Went to School with the guy who owns McDermotts, think he has 2 M.A.N's based in Strahan for the railway contract.

[leyland clippers]

Yes I remember Ted Doherty he was the manager I think.Frank Cunningham lived in Zeehan and drove the Hobart bound bus.Harry Mansfield lived in Strahan and drove the Burnie bound bus.Peter Townsend was the relief driver who also drove the Bedford Comair school bus between Zeehan and Queenstown.I often used to go with Peter on the bus over to Zeehan and then we would come back to Queenstown in an HR Holden ute.Occasionally on some Saturdays I would go with Harry to Tullah and return.

[leyland clippers]

Oh yes one other thing I forgot to mention that Rusty Bennett used to drive the AEC for Queenstown Bus Service until he went back working for Mount Lyell.I can remember the bus fare used to be 2c.Hard to imagine that these days although back in 1971 a students bus fare on an MTT bus was 5c weekdays and 7c on the weekend.

[stevegj52]

Yes I remember Ted Doherty he was the manager I think.Frank Cunningham lived in Zeehan and drove the Hobart bound bus.Harry Mansfield lived in Strahan and drove the Burnie bound bus.Peter Townsend was the relief driver who also drove the Bedford Comair school bus between Zeehan and Queenstown.I often used to go with Peter on the bus over to Zeehan and then we would come back to Queenstown in an HR Holden ute.Occasionally on some Saturdays I would go with Harry to Tullah and return.

Yep Remember those guys,wasnt one nicked named Oinion Head? We were good friends with Ted an his wife.Remember Rusty well,his replacement used to stir the old Reagle along but cant remember his name.Always did several trips with Neil up to Gormy on the school run and back to the yard,think the fare went up to 5c later.
Went and had a look at the central primary the other week,sad to see how its ended up.They were good days.

[Timbo52]

The Ansair Val twin steer was 1 of 3 purchased at the same time by TCL designated D32, D34 & D48,they were 466 Bedford powered & were purchased to operate on the Hobart - Burnie service. As per the agreement in the take over of Green Coach lines new coaches were to purchased as soon as possible. These were those coaches, they were built with large rear walk in boots for passenger luggage & freight. This was so successful that all following coaches for this run were built with the same body configeration. It allowed fast changeover of luggage & freight at main terminals on the way ie Launceston, Devonport & Burnie.
D32 was totally destroyed by fire at Red Rocks, north of Oatlands whilst travelling from L'ton to Hobt. The other 2 both had long careers, I would be interested to know if they still exist or have become tip fill!!

[stevegj52]

I remember many years ago that a operator based on The Eastern Shore had a Ex TCL Bedford VAL along with the Ex Queentown Bus Service Hedges body Beford VAM plus other Bedfords etc some which may also have been ex TCL .The livery for this operator was Red & White with sign writing in yellow .Think it was Eastern Shore Coaches or some name like that.They provided buses for the school chaters where My Kids went to school.

[Timbo52]

ESC was run by me & my wife after the bridge collapse, we operated Bellerive to Sorell passenger services and several school contracts, the school runs were later sold to Michael Gray. The VAL wasn't in the fleet, we had Bedfords, 2 x Comair & 2 Ansairs a Leyland and a rear engined Ford, that is in another site in a torquise colour. Yes you are right with the colour and name of Eastern Shore Coach Services, bit of a mouthful wasn't it