Fleet Numbers of STA / those not used - Plates etc

[Ribble]

In my "Ongoing Photo Request 2018" ... http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewt ... 352b0227c7.......
I mentioned that some Fleet Numbers of STA buses - and its predecessors - had not been used.

I'm no 'expert' on this topic, but since 2002, I have been compiling a Complete List of all DGT / UTA / PTC /STA buses. Whilst doing this, I found some Fleet Numbers have not been used for various reasons. Here is my findings and research and list of " Fleet Numbers not used".

A lot of Information over the years was supplied by
BusAus NSW, Barry Ryan, Lourie Smit, Mathew Jennings, Peter Kane, Ian Lynas, Vic Hayes book and Ron Drummond who sent me Fleet lists in 2012


DGT / UTA / PTC / STA

DGT is the accepted enthusiast’s abbreviation for the several names of the 6 Government Department names operating the NSW Buses and Ferries between 1861 and 1952.
Department of Government Transport became the official name 1952-1972.
Public Transport Commission 1972-1980.
Urban Transport Authority was formed on 1 July 1980. It operated the Buses and Ferries of Sydney and Newcastle
State Transit Authority was formed January 1989 from a restructuring of the UTA taking over the Buses and Ferries of Sydney and Newcastle. In 2004 the Ferries were separated into a new agency.


Fleet Numbers and Registration Plates

The NSW Dept. Road Transport reserved M/O Plates 1000-3999 for the Department of Government Transport buses.
Thus DGT / UTA / PTC / STA were able to have matching 4 digit Fleet Numbers with Rego Numbers from the year 1946 when the then fleet was
re-numbered in the range 1000-3999.

This ‘First Series’, starting at No1001 in 1946, had reached No 3999 in 1973.

A ‘Second Series’ was started in 1970 initially using No's 1001-1226. The Fleet Numbers 1227-1499 were reserved for a Double Decker fleet that was cancelled and those No's were not later used. The last batches of Leyland Leopards started at No 1500 and the number series ran though to No 3982. No's 3983- 3999 were not used.

A ‘Third Series’ of Fleet Numbers was started in 1999 at No 1100 and is anticipated to run through to No 3999. This Third Series is still being used.
The numbers 1001-1099 were not used - reason unknown.

Non Issues

From 1996 NSW RTA issued assorted M/O plates that should have gone to STA, to Private Bus Operators or Private Vehicles etc. and thus no new corresponding STA Fleet Numbers were used. This started with No's 3400-3404….STA restarting at No's 3405 & 3406

North & Western Bus Lines and Parramatta-Ryde Buses were taken over by STA on 13/12/1999 and STA Fleet No's 3521-3602 were used for their buses taken in to the STA fleet, but the vehicles were running on original and thus non-matching M/O plates.
Fleet Numbers in that range - 3589-3598 and 3603-3620 - were not used for unknown reasons.

Other M/O plates in 1999 had been incorrectly issued by RTA to Private Operators thus there are missing STA Fleet Numbers from No 1100 onwards – again showing in the lists. 3983-3999 were not used due to the forthcoming delivery of the Mercedes 0405NH fleet.

The 48xx and 4900 series.

In late 2006 there were so many M/O19xx plates issued to Private Operators by the NSW RTA that STA numbered the then new Mercedes and Volvo fleets starting at No 4800 through to No 4999 and they used M/O48xx & M/O49xx registration plates. Some M/O48xx and M/O49xx plates were still issued to Private Operators by RTA thus there are gaps in the Fleet Numbering in the 4800 / 4900 series. No 4902 was fitted with 4902ST plate in July 2009 from new, the M/O4902 plate being issued to a Private Operator by RTA and ST plates were then in use when it was finally delivered.

ST Plates

A new plate series was begun in June 2008 with the first on the road being Mercedes 0500LE No 1812 being registered as 1812ST.
The new ST plates stand for “State Transit”. It is noted that this ST series is reserved to go up to 9999ST.
It is thought that STA will retain the 1000-3999 series of ST plates for new bus deliveries and possibly other numbers for ancillary vehicles.

Group Deliveries.

In 2009 starting from 1990ST, the RTA started a ‘random / individual’ issue of plates and didn’t keep to the previous ‘blocks of 20 vehicles’ for each Group.
There are individual / single / small amount registrations as noted in the lists. No 1998 was the first ‘single’ bus with different chassis types either side.
This was mainly due to the chassis / body completion at Custom Coaches but it also included the Volgren CR228L rigid bodies and Volvo artic's.

Re-registrations.

Many individual buses have been re-registered for various reasons – see Bus Aus for details. Most are “Lost plates” or for short periods of time for reasons unknown.
No 4889 was fitted with M/O9101 plate during September & October 2009 but reverted to M/O4889 later.
In June 2010 No's 2108 – 2112 were fitted with matching ST plates and lost their original M/O plates they had as Demonstrators.
On 29 July 2011 No 4878 new in 2008 was burnt out and scrapped. A replacement No 4878 was supplied by Mercedes in July 2013 – an ex demonstrator with the first CC CB80 body – and issued with M/O4878 plate instead of 4878ST.
The plate 2250ST has been used on two buses numbered 2250 – the Alexander Dennis Hybrid of 2011- 2012 and then on a Scania K280UB which carried the first of the Bustech VST bodies new to STA in August 2013.

Fleet Numbers known not to have been used.

Second Series of 1001-3999
1000 Series started at Bus No 1001
1227-1499 Reserved in 1973 for a future fleet of Leyland Atlantean’s that were never bought.
3400-3401 M/O Plates issued in 1991, to West Bankstown / Veolia and Canterbury Bus Lines
3402 M/O Plate issued to a private vehicle
3403-3404 Not used reason unknown.
3589-3598 Not used reason unknown.
3603-3620 Not used reason unknown.
3983-3999 were not used due to the forthcoming delivery of the Mercedes 0405NH fleet.

Third Series of 1001-3999
1000 M/O Plate has been used by STA for temporary replacement STA Mk II 2148 2/04.
1000-1099 M/O Plates issued to Private Operators.
1161 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator.
1197-1199 M/O Plates issued to Private Operators.
1234-1235 M/O Plates issued to Private Operators.
1436-1499 M/O Plates issued to Private Operators.
1557 M/O Plate issued to Westbus
1702 M/O Plate issued to Busways
1704 M/O Plate issued to Westbus
1743-1799 Not used reason unknown.
4808 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4818 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4834 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4903 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4905 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4908 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4923 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4930 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4941 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4943-4944 M/O Plates issued to Private Operators
4959 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4979 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4984 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator
4986 M/O Plate issued to Private Operator

As I say, I, no 'expert' so any further information would be appreciated.

Don

[sunnyyan]

For 1001-1099 I heard that someone was assigned MO1001 and a few others before STA was.
So STA skipped 1001-1099 and started the O405NH's at 1101 instead.
Note: I can't confirm this, I just remember reading somewhere about this

[Fleet Lists]

http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/indb ... pe=m/o1001 Yes Lyntons Cranebrook and then Richards at Riverstone

[Ribble]

For 1001-1099 I heard that someone was assigned MO1001 and a few others before STA was.
So STA skipped 1001-1099 and started the O405NH's at 1101 instead.
Note: I can't confirm this, I just remember reading somewhere about this

Rechecking my lists, I see that Second Series No 1000 was not used, it started with Atlantean No 1001. Edited in my top post.

That's interesting and new information re Third Series 1001 - 1099. So an edit of "M/O Plates issued to Private Operators"..??

My listing shows that the Third Series started at 0405 No 1100....which is now shown in Disposal List on BusAus listings.

[Fleet Lists]

Try http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/indb ... pe=m%2Fo10

[Ribble]

Try http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/indb ... pe=m%2Fo10

That's an interesting link, thanks. I hadn't realised this facility was there on BusAus.

Using the Plate Search, I assume that I should be able to find which Company was ORIGINALLY issued with M/O Plates that 'should have' been issued to STA....from the lists of not used Fleet Numbers......??? That would be an interesting exercise, if I can work out the Search pages..!!

A quick search seems to show that M/O1000 was used by STA for a Mk 2 Mercedes 2148 ....and M/O3402 and M/O3403 have been used by STA..... but not an 'original issue'
So possibly M/O1000 and others, were originally issued to DGT / STA and retained by them for use as required....????

17/06/2017 notes ex TV 6074 by 9/11; Reg 12/2/10 ex Richards Charter Services Pty Ltd (4) m/o 1000; ex STA Mk II 2148 2/04.
Withdrawn by 5/14.