Government Buses of North Fitzroy and Doncaster

[MAN 16.242]

Government Buses of North Fitzroy and Doncaster, all photos from the Graeme Bennett collection.

Leyland National's at North Fitzroy Depot before entering service.

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Volvo B59/Ansair's all in MMTB Livery at North Fitzroy Depot.

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North Fitzroy depot with nothing but Volvos in veiw.

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MAN SL200/Ansair "MK1" #100 at Doncaster Depot when brand new.

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Volvo B10ML/Fuji Heavy Industries and a MAN SL200/Ansair "MK1" at back of Doncaster Depot.

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Volvo B10ML/Fuji Heavy Industries #07 is seen on Route 260 leaving City for East Doncaster.

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Leyland Leopard's ex Sydney at Clifton Hill Yard, before enter service at Doncaster Depot.

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A couple of MAN SL200/Ansair "MK2" in Workshop at North Fitzroy, and also to right can be seen Bedford SB3 / Comair #384, the only Bedford that wore The Met livery.

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On the last wet and rainy day of government bus operation of North Fitzroy and Doncaster Depots. MAN SL200/ Ansair "MK1" #234 is ready for the return trip to the City, Driver was G.Bennett.

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The next day after this photo was taken by driver G.Bennett this bus would be part of the National Bus Fleet and transport history in Victoria would have entered another phase.

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[Alex on the Bus]

I remember that first day of National - like the last two photos it was a wet and unseasonably cold late December day (no real surprise, we are talking about Melbourne here) and I caught the 291 from Heidelberg to Box Hill as, being a public holiday timetable, the then 269 (now the 293) that ran near my house wasn't running and I instead had catch the tarin the Heidelberg. There was a delay in boarding the bus as a new driver and his supervisor got their heads around NBC's new operating procedures and the waiting passengers complained about how infrequent the buses were, probably oblivious to the public holiday timetable.

[Tas Bus Nut]

Great selection of photos from yesteyear. Thanks for posting MAN 16.242. Especially like the Leyland Nationals & the Volvo line-up shots. Cheers

[MAN_LOVER]

lovely collection of varied vehicles.... all rather suitable too!

[John]

Great collection, thank you for sharing. Plenty of memories of the MET days even though the changeover occurred when I was about two months shy of turning six.

I recall reading a couple of articles that suggested National had a bit of a patchy start with shortages of drivers. Their General Manager when established, Peter Oliver, went on record saying that the Government did nothing in the way of making the transition easy for them. I recall him being quoted saying that not even a spanner was left in the workshop!

I once met Peter Oliver when at North Fitzroy picking up some timetables as a young boy. He was manning the counter as it was the Christmas holiday period and the customer service staff were on leave. I am fairly certain he headed National until the takeover by National Express.

[VQ]

Thanks for these shots going up! Having worked at both Depots in the workshops, seeing the workshop and yard as it was (pretty much the same like Doncaster except the recent expansion and removing a layer of trees, and Fitzroy losing part of a building many years ago and renovated in recent times finally.

The story I've heard about the start of NBC was they weren't even looking for mechanics when they announced they were selling. And that it goes so bad that within 4 months they were fitting tyres they had removed because they were bald back on because they had air. No funding at all, because it was meant to be privatised and self funding right? As a result of this period the Mk1 and 2's suffered badly in reliability.

Anymore pics of the workshop itself from the MET days would be awesome, i know there was a paint shop and engine room at Fitzroy as well!

[stajourneyman]

With regard to the North Fitzroy Volvo line up photo, I was about to jump in response, until realising that the green and yellow units were NOT AEC Regal 6s. How similar do they look.

[stevegj52]

I didn't know that ex STA Leopards worked in Melbourne,well you learn something from the forum everyday How long were they in service for?

[MAN 16.242]

I didn't know that ex STA Leopards worked in Melbourne,well you learn something from the forum everyday How long were they in service for?

Not very long, they were only to cover a shortage of buses and only lasted about 2 or 3 years with The MET, they were withdrawn once the MAN SL200/Ansair "MK2s" started entering service.

[stevegj52]

Cheers MAN 16.242, I can recall Ventura using ex STA MK1 Mercs for a while as well until the Scania L113's arrived ?

[scott]

Ventura had 10 of those MK1 Mercs, all ran out of Knox. They entered service in 1991/92 and were withdrawn between 1999-2001. I had many a memorable ride as a school boy on them. They were replaced by the first batches of L94's.

[Fleet Lists]

I didn't know that ex STA Leopards worked in Melbourne,well you learn something from the forum everyday How long were they in service for?

Not very long, they were only to cover a shortage of buses and only lasted about 2 or 3 years with The MET, they were withdrawn once the MAN SL200/Ansair "MK2s" started entering service.

If you check the relevant disposal list http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/stad ... search=LLP you will find that many of then saw subsequent service with Martins in Albury.

[MAN 16.242]

If you check the relevant disposal list http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/stad ... search=LLP you will find that many of then saw subsequent service with Martins in Albury.

Also a number of them went to Sita after The MET, but none them were ever used in service at Sita. According to Martins fleet list, there is still least one of these ex The MET, ex STA Leyland Leopards running. Though has been Rebody with a Newnham body.
http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nsw. ... eq=Newnham