Tasmanian Coach Lines Flxible Clippers - October 1971

[Herbert]

I suspect there may be a certain Tasmanian bus nut who may like to see these...

RB5203




ZA8757




VA7565

[ALBION1881]

They were a wonderful old coach the flexible clipper it is a pity not many made it into preservation I have only seen one clipper was at davistown on the central coast of NSW it was converted to a motorhome and had a perkins motor in it but they were built tough great photos herbert.

[system improver]

They were a wonderful old coach the flxible clipper it is a pity not many made it into preservation...

I believe that about 40 of the 131 have been preserved (I can't find a list anywhere on the web), although most as mobile homes. That's a pretty high number. Imagine if the same proportion of CAC/OBs had been preserved - that would be about 300!!! Bliss.

[Tas Bus Nut]

FANTASTIC!!! Many many Thanks!! They are AWESOME!!
I only ever travelled on the Clippers ONCE, from Hobart to Bronte Park (3/4 way to Queenstown), which is where the original change-over was.

[stevegj52]

Good pics, travelled on the flexibles a couple of times Hobart to Queenstown,one trip middle of winter going over Arrowsmith snow thick on the ground and the heater wasnt working, bloody cold!

Steve

[Clipper owner]

![color=#00Wow i'm drooling everywhere! Great photos. I have posted this request before but i'm after any and all photos of Tassie clippers. Mainly focusing on Tassie companys that ran them: Green coach lines(mine is one of the three), Sullivans had two new, Cooks had three new and then later Grays with three and TCL with 17(taking in Green coach and Sullivans)! Also i'm working to locate the 17 Tassie clippers. I have accounted for 13-14 of the 17 with the last 3-4 trails going cold with the last photos of them in the eighties. They are probably just bodies, possibly someones shed or bush shack, at least one of them is wrecked. Even if it is just the chassis remaining I would be keen to see it to get it's build no, some photos and cross it off my list. Help with any of these areas would be Hugely appriecated8040][/color]

[Clipper owner]

Just for anyone interested. Photos three and four are of one of the two X Sullivans coaches. Notice the emergency window is is the rear of the coach, the only two built this way on spec order. One of these I have located, unfortunately in a gulley burnt and pushed into a heap nearly beyond recognition. Hopefully the other is still intact.

[Tas Bus Nut]

![color=#00Wow i'm drooling everywhere! Great photos. I have posted this request before but i'm after any and all photos of Tassie clippers. Mainly focusing on Tassie companys that ran them: Green coach lines(mine is one of the three), Sullivans had two new, Cooks had three new and then later Grays with three and TCL with 17(taking in Green coach and Sullivans)! Also i'm working to locate the 17 Tassie clippers. I have accounted for 13-14 of the 17 with the last 3-4 trails going cold with the last photos of them in the eighties. They are probably just bodies, possibly someones shed or bush shack, at least one of them is wrecked. Even if it is just the chassis remaining I would be keen to see it to get it's build no, some photos and cross it off my list. Help with any of these areas would be Hugely appriecated8040][/color]

As mentioned I think to you before, the only ones I know of are (1) @ Judbury, (1) @ Sorell (off Pawleena Rd - orange one) and John Clarke(ex Mgr @ TCL) he had a COMPLETE one in storage in his shed @ Carlton. Might go and check during my holidays 2 C if still there.

[Clipper owner]

![color=#00Wow i'm drooling everywhere! Great photos. I have posted this request before but i'm after any and all photos of Tassie clippers. Mainly focusing on Tassie companys that ran them: Green coach lines(mine is one of the three), Sullivans had two new, Cooks had three new and then later Grays with three and TCL with 17(taking in Green coach and Sullivans)! Also i'm working to locate the 17 Tassie clippers. I have accounted for 13-14 of the 17 with the last 3-4 trails going cold with the last photos of them in the eighties. They are probably just bodies, possibly someones shed or bush shack, at least one of them is wrecked. Even if it is just the chassis remaining I would be keen to see it to get it's build no, some photos and cross it off my list. Help with any of these areas would be Hugely appriecated8040][/color]

As mentioned I think to you before, the only ones I know of are (1) @ Judbury, (1) @ Sorell (off Pawleena Rd - orange one) and John Clarke(ex Mgr @ TCL) he had a COMPLETE one in storage in his shed @ Carlton. Might go and check during my holidays 2 C if still there.

[color=#FFFF00][color=#00FFFF]Thanks alot for your information. I'm aware of all but the clipper owned by John Clarke. I do have information of an X Grays clipper still in their colours being towed to the Carlton tip and subsequently buried a few years ago. Do you know if it was in Grays colours? There are still another two near Carlton but I know their history and neither are the vehicle you describe. Would be great if it's still about![/color][/color]

[AEC Decker]

Even AEC Decker was impressed with the Flxible Clippers when they were with Ansett Pioneer, they were so "space age" looking for the 1960s.

[leyland clippers]

I can remember these three clippers RB 5203 and ZA 8757 were regularly used on the Queenstown to Hobart route.I am not sure of their TCL numbers but I think RB 5203 was D105 and ZA 8757 was D56 (correct me if I'm wrong).These were 25 seaters and had a larger cargo area.They had Leyland diesel motors in them.As a school student living in Queenstowm and attending school in Hobart I was a frequent traveller on these Clippers.The drivers used to change over at Bronte Junction,the bus travelling from Hobart would call into Tarraleah and then traverse the Nive River gorge to Bronte and the bus travelling to Hobart would travel to Ouse via Victoria Valley.I can remember once travelling to Queenstown when they were reconstructing the Lyell Highway at Donaghys Hill and the road was very muddy and a Morse Coach from Devonport had to be towed up the hill by a dozer because it couldn't gain traction.The Clipper managed to get up the hill unaided.VA 7565 (D5) used to travel between Swansea and Hobart.This was a 33 seater.When my family and I moved to Triabunna I used to travel on this bus.Above the left hand front window inside was written Wuna which is aboriginal for clear waters.Before the Clippers TCL used to run Freighter Commers on the Hobart to Queenstown route.Whist some of the Commers had petrol engines these two were powered by Ford Diesels.I think their TCL numbers were D46 and D47.There was also a Freighter Lawton bodied coach D95 Reg # ZA 8782 which was powered by a Perkins Diesel.which nearly every time I travelled on this coach it would break down.The Clippers were a luxury coach compared to the Commers with air brakes and air suspension and quieter with the rear mounted motor.At that time 1972-1972 they were a very advanced coach for that era.I woud love to see photos of these Clippers.

[leyland clippers]

Thanks for the photos Herbert.First two photos of RB 5203 (AF 26 TCL Fleet # D115) looks like it was taken on the Lyell Highway coming up into Rosegarland heading towards Hobart.You can see the road that goes through to Bushy Park. Why it's got Queenstown on the desto and not Hobart is anyones guess.The two photos of ZA 8757 (AF 56 TCL Fleet # D31) were taken on the Lyell Highway between Gretna And Hamilton I think.The pictures of VA 7565 (AF 105 TCL Fleet # D5) were taken on the Tasman Highway just past Rose Bay High School heading to Swansea.D5 and D31 were repowered with Leyland motors,either 400 or 500 motors.D31 oringinally was powered by a Cummins motor.D115 was an ex Pioneer Flx purchased by TCL in 1971.If it was the original motor it would be the Leyland 7.4 litre motor that was used in Matilda tanks.I can still remember D115 at 96 Harrington Street before it was painted in TCL livery.I have posted photos of D115 as it is today in a sad and sorry state .D5 is over the mainland somewhere and not sure where D31 is probably buried at a tip somewhere or been used for spare parts.Tcl used to number their coaches with either D or P as a prefix to the number.D for diesel powered bus or P for petrol powered bus.

[crichj]

Clipper owner, I know this is an old post but do you have any photos of the clipper in the gulley, burnt out beyond recognition (in your words)

[Looselion]

Tasmanian Coach Lines....

This Clipper had been abandoned to the bush around 30 years ago and has lately been recovered and is awaiting re-birth! I have no details as to the fleet no or location.

Sacrilege!!

[Tas Bus Nut]

I think this is the one Clipper Owner is currently restoring

[Looselion]

A little more Flxible history....

I posted these photos in another thread, but thought they'd find interest here. This is the first all-steel monocoque Flxible as produced in 1938. It was powered with the Buick "Fireball" straight 8 motor, as was Ansett's first import.

This was a 25 seater, later extended in production to a 29 seater by addition of another window length. As can be seen the rear end styling was just right, but further work was needed to arrive at the iconic design we all know and love. The suspension was beefed up when the length and weight increased. Note the early six-stud hubs.

[Looselion]

Here's a trade advertisement from around 1952 featuring the Clipper's factory engine options.