CDC Sydney depots round-up

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

Today I visited Northmead (N), Seven Hills (V), Penrith (P) and Bonnyrigg (B) depots to observe livery changes.

At N I saw P bus 8402. As noted by deano, 1046 is now in CDC yellow, no longer Parramatta shuttle.

At V were 7 remaining old livery buses except 8113 (which may be away for refurbishment and relivery). Five will not be repainted, leaving 8114 & 8117 in red/yellow still to be done.

At P all remaining Volvo Mk 111 were seen in new livery, except for above noted 8402 seen at N. Penrith has now completed its transition to canary yellow.

Also noted were new buses 9583-9587 and 9589 (9588 may have been in service).

Still remaining in the depot were the two raised deck Volvo Mk 11s - 7616 and 7622 (old scheme).

Of the Volvo Mk 1 group allocated to Penrith, these were seen:
old scheme 7474, 7593, 7598.
new scheme 7462, 7592, 7595, 7597, 7600, 7601 PLUS from N 7457
Not seen were 402, 593, 829, 7363, 7461, 7476, 7480, 7591, 7596, 7599.
and later discovered at B were 7362 and 7477.

At B discovered in new livery of the remaining Mercedes 0405 Mk11 group were 7055, 8106 and 8463,
In old livery were 8097, 8098 and 8464.
Not seen (possibly in for refurbishment) were 7057, 7058, 8440.
Volvo B10M 8116 (old livery) was not seen.

As noted at P, Volvo B10M Mk1, 7362 and 7477 are at B in old livery with old livery 7475 (returned from G), and old livery Volvo B10M Mk11 7886 and 7960.
Mercedes 0305 7905 was not seen.

Parked beside a white raised deck coach was a canary yellow unrefurbished bus (similar square body to Mercedes Mk11 group) with plates TV5323 - identity unknown.

A few depot reallocations, some away at refurbishment and possibly some gone for sale.

Any notes/corrections/additions most welcome!

[Fleet Lists]

Operator Australian Luxury Coach Travel - Bass Hill
Registration TV 5323
Chassis Type Mercedes-Benz O305
Chassis No WDB35700121047047
Body Manufacturer PMC
Body No 1689
Body Date 8/86
Seating Codes B43D
Notes Regd 18/2/07 ex Westbus, Bonnyrigg m/o 655 1/08; ex Calabro, Bonnyrigg m/o 655; ex Gold Coast Citybus, QLD (82) 403 PQL; ex Smekels
Date Last Change 08/05/2008

The regd 18/2/07 seems a bit out of step as it was not sold until 1/08. Probably should be 18/2/08.

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

I have been on the road again, visiting Northmead, Seven Hills, Windsor and Bonnyrigg. I will list my findings at each depot:

Northmead
Canary yellow livery - add 7546

Additional buses - 7461 from Penrith, 7475 from Bonnyrigg.

Seven Hills
Canary yellow livery - add 8113, 8114. The remaining bus due for livery 8117 was not seen - guess it is away for refurbishment.

909 (ex Northmead) has Northmead accreditation, but V in run plate holder.

Windsor
No new livery vehicles.

New buses at Windsor:
466 ex Dural
7592 ex Penrith (bright yellow)
8028 ex Dural and in canary yellow
8151 ex Northmead
8372 ex Northmead

Not seen were these in old Westbus livery - 7282, 7284, 7715, 7718 (all Mercedes Benz - speculate replaced by buses above to standardise fleet - but what depot are they at?).
And 8162, 8265, 8437 - maybe transferred or away for refurbishment.

Remaining 11 in Old Westbus or white were seen.

Bonnyrigg
Canary yellow livery - add 7057, 7058, 8106, 8440.

Remaining not in Canary yellow were 3 to be done - 8097, 8098, 8464 plus 8116 and 7960

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

7525 travelled down Liberty Street, Stanmore in new yellow livery with two other CDC Northmead vehicles.

[CompoDelgroCurryman]

8028 Now belongs to Penrith.
This mk111 has an unusual seating arrangement where the 1st four seats run along the lenght. Also has no rear door and a AM FM radio/CD player which works on odd occasions that the mechanics wont fix

[R-C]

VOLVO B7s with Custom Coaches CB60 Evo 2 bodies, like the 14.5 Scania Units (the volvos are 2 axle buses) seem to be ready for delivery.
Registrations are m/o 9734, 9736, 9738 and 9961.

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

On the road today - Bonnyrigg, Windsor and Northmead.

I walked around the exteriors of each property [yes even Northmead over the blackberries] and was able to reduce the lists!

Bonnyrigg
Canary Yellow = 8464; Old Westbus livery = 8097 & 8098, along with 8116 [3 buses only - all others in Canary Yellow].

7979 in Canary yellow was the only Volvo Mk11. As I learnt later, 7960 is at Windsor.

Windsor
Canary Yellow = 7026, 8285, 8502, 8582, 8583, 9659 [total 6];

Old Westbus livery = 7615, 7619, 7475 [ex Northmead], 7460 [ex Bonnyrigg]. All these buses are pre 1990 models and probably unlikely to be reliveried.

Not seen: 7125, 7126, 8162, 8403, 8437 - either at refurbishment or moved depots.

Additional buses - 7612 and 7960 [old Westbus], 7888 and 7612 [Canary Yellow] ex Bonnyrigg.

Both Bonnyrigg and Windsor had all post 1990 buses in Canary Yellow livery

Northmead
Canary Yellow = 7525, 7605, 7626, 7689, 7694, 7713, 7745 [7 buses]
plus noted on a whiteboard to be at McGrath for refurbishment 7527, 7549, 7580, 7909 thus return in Canary Yellow livery. [4 buses] TOTAL = 11 buses in Canary Yellow.

In old Westbus livery = 7547, 7548, 7627, 7630, 7650, PLUS from Dural parked in amongst all buses 7715, 7718 = 7 buses.

Not seen - 7632, 7646, 7678, 7708 which are due for relivery - may have been in garage or in middle of bus parking area and not visible.

Also not seen were early models : 909, 7479, 7540, 7588, 7886 [all in Westbus livery] nor any other pre 1990 model, apart from 7456 at fence and appearing to be a source for parts.

I did not get to Dural, which was recently updated after the tour. These 53 buses are still not noted in Canary Yellow:

Westbus [17 buses]
m/o 7159
m/o 7160
m/o 7164
m/o 7166
m/o 7168
m/o 7282
m/o 7284
m/o 7285
m/o 7344
m/o 7348
m/o 7349
m/o 7350
m/o 7351
m/o 7365
m/o 7520
m/o 7545
m/o 7714

National [2 buses]
m/o 8417
m/o 8442

Glenorie [34 buses]
m/o 411
m/o 474
m/o 775
m/o 798
m/o 799
m/o 803
m/o 805
m/o 814
m/o 819
m/o 822
m/o 966
m/o 1014
m/o 1015
m/o 1048
m/o 1085
m/o 7098
m/o 7361
m/o 7367
m/o 7493
m/o 7502
m/o 7503
m/o 7509
m/o 7510
m/o 7511
m/o 7529
m/o 7974
m/o 8030
m/o 8037
m/o 8341
m/o 8342
m/o 8682
m/o 8887
m/o 8888
m/o 9655

Any correction or updates are very valuable, particularly those not seen which may have moved depots or been at refurbishment.

Dave C has advised that he is soon to update all the CDC lists. The Glenorie total of 53 is the bulk of non Canary Yellow buses - Bonnyrigg has 3 [only 2 may be done, not 8116], Northmead has 7 confirmed, [4 unaccounted] and Windsor has 5 unaccounted, making 62 confirmed and 9 unaccounted. Bus model prior to 1990 are assumed will not be refurbished/reliveried.

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

I returned to Northmead and Windsor to check on previous missed sightings - all except one resolved.

Windsor

Previous Not seen: 7125, 7126, 8162, 8403, 8437 - all in Canary Yellow [7125/7126 still to return from refurbishment].

Northmead

Previous Not seen - 7632, 7646, 7678 [all in Westbus livery]. 7708 still escaped me! [Dave C confirms 7708 is in Canary Yellow].

7156 at Northmead has lost its AOA and is now in the Canary Yellow all over

- confirmed looking smart in Canary Yellow.

BONUS SIGHTING - 909 revved up and reversed out of maintenance facility - chrome was sparkling - is it heading to a Museum?

[doug c]

A quick look around today when it would seem that due to no special events or rail etc there would not be any Mercs in service, the following are still in Westbus livery ...

7547
7548
7627
7630
7632
7646
7650
7678
7715
7718

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

Final instalment - a visit to Dural - very welcoming at the reception and in the garage - taken for a walk over the whole property.

From Doug C previous post - I believe that 7646, not 7546, is still in the Westbus livery.

Six buses at refurb - 4 already in Canary Yellow - repaints for 7520 & 7545 [both in Westbus].

Additionally in Canary Yellow were 8030 [ex Glenorie] and 7159 & 7164 [ex Westbus].

Surprisingly, Volvo B6M/PMCSA,1988-89 builds, 794 & 823, have been refurbished and are in Canary Yellow. It is expected that 611 will be treated in time.

Volvo Mk 1 finds: Back from the Hunter were 7591 & 7886 at Dural. Dural bus 7365 was still in Westbus livery at the rear of the side parking area.

Suggested that next for refurbishment maybe 819.

[1115]

Are there any manual desto blind buses left at Glenorie, and/or due for refurbishment?

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

Are there any manual desto blind buses left at Glenorie, and/or due for refurbishment?

I looked at the photographs [5 posts] of the October 10th Dural depot tour and these were photographed with manual desto blinds:
611, 775, 966, 1010, 7617, 7974, 8038, 8887 [and there are probably a few more]. 7617 & 8038 are in Canary Yellow.

A summary of Dural's 53 non Canary Yellow buses :

Glenorie scheme : 36

National bus : 2

Westbus newer : 13

Westbus original : 2 [7365, 7886].

[doug c]

From Doug C previous post - I believe that 7646, not 7546, is still in the Westbus livery.

I checked again, and you are correct

PS (I changed the original post)

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

Doug C - thanks very much - I hope you can keep watch for this remaining ten and keep us informed as each goes to refurbishment.

The whiteboard in the starter's office lists those away for refurbishment - made my job easy on the New year's Day visit!!

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

Another public holiday, so a chance to go and check the depots.

Of the 10 in old livery at Northmead [which can expect new livery], 7632 & 7678 were in Canary Yellow. 7547 & 7548 were noted on the whiteboard as at McGraths - so that is 4 more off the list!

I saw 7627, 7650, 7715 and 7718 in the old livery, plus one other - which was either 7630 or 7646 - can anyone help? - it is the bus currently stuck in the middle of the southern parking area and I could not identify it.

At Bonnyrigg, 8097 & 8098 still in old livery - maybe not to be redone. They are pre 1990 buses.

Also in a lineup along the back fence at the northern end [most showing school bus] were 7456 [last noted at Girraween] / 7540 / 8092 / 806 / 7479 / 7254 [all 5 last noted at Northmead]/ 7959 [the hometown B bus]!!

[OLYMPIAN]

Saw 9954 Volgren B7RLE with Hillsbus logo, I presume that's a Northmead bus

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

Dave C just updated the CDC lists - 9954 was allocated to Bonnyrigg!

There are also a few Hillsbus logo vehicles at Penrith - maybe until they settle down the new depots and officially open and allocate a fleet to Foundry Road.

[OLYMPIAN]

That's a bit strange, because when I saw 9954, is not registered and have no accreditation...

[OLYMPIAN]

Fleet List showing 9954 is a CC bus, but the real 9954 I saw is a Volgren bus!

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

A half yearly catch up visit to Dural depot - again wonderfully welcoming staff at reception and the garage.

Error to correct - 1052 is still in Glenorie livery, not yet repainted.

New CDC livery: 799, 819, 7160, 7348, 7367, 7513, and not previously noted but done a while ago - 7664.

At Fleet Pro for refurb & relivery 775 & 966 - will next be seen in CDC livery. So that is 9 added, but take off 1052 - net change = 8 buses less.

m/o 052 was parked in the back corner.

Passed Northmead as well - not quite so tight in the yard!

7547 & 7548 in CDC livery. Saw 7627/7646/7650/7715 in old Westbus livery - not seen were 7630 & 7718 - with luck may have been refrurbished, or are at refurbishment. Surprised that in 3 months, no/little refurbishment taken place - there were only six [which will be done] in old livery in early April.

Did find m/o7480 at Northmead - has returned from Hunter Valley Thornton.