by leyland4ever » Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:42 pm
The 1959 photo of 116 is by the late Doug Colquhoun - he took several photos of the Daimler double deckers at this location (north west corner of North Terrace/King William Streets) around this time - the double deckers were confined to peak hour use on the Somerton route only by this time - 116 is on its way back to Hackney depot from a morning run.
Doug, and the late Neil MackIntosh, both of whom have sadly passed away in recent years, were about the only people taking photos of buses in the late forties, fifties and sixties - thank goodness for their foresight, as there would not be much at all without them.
116 was sold (along with most of the other fifteen post war Daimlers) to Transway, who operated the local Elizabeth/Salisbury services - they uses them as one-man units! the first photo of 116 is in their colours, albeit very faded!
In 1968, fifteen AEC Regal Mark 1V three door buses became available from the MTT, and these largely replaced the Daimlers, although 2 or 3 soldiered on into the early 1970s.
116 was sold to a station just out of Coober Pedy in 1968 - it joined 112, 113. 114, which had been sold direct by the MTT in 1960 - there were three stations owned by the same family, who used the buses as mobile shearers' quarters.
All 4 were retrieved during the 1980s, and returned to Adelaide for preservation and restoration (the idea was to restore one or two, and use the others for parts.)
When financial problems caused this project to be abandoned, 112, which was in by far the better condition of all, was sold to the Sydney Bus Museum, and driven under its own power to Sydney - I believe it is still there, and on the 'to be restored list'. 116 was sold to a local enthusiast, and, thanks Inspector, still exists.
113, which had been substantially restored was sold for a caravan, and ended up in the Blue Mountains, subsequently being noted in Wilcannia (about 20 years ago).
114, which was quite knocked around, was actually repurchased by the STA in 1991 & spent many years outside Lonsdale Depot - it later moved to a yard in Lonsdale, not far from the railway line, and disappeared about 10 or 15 years ago. They had intended to restore it, but privatisation, among other things, put an end to that.
119 was at White Cliffs about 30 years ago! Anyone know of any others?
Very nice to be reminded of these old-timers! Thanks to the photographers.
Cheers, Trevor