Pinnaroo Bedford SB in 1974

[Roderick Smith]

Pinnaroo (SA): Redhen 434 on an innovative ARHS SA tour. Sat.30.11.74. (Roderick Smith)
It had left Adelaide coupled to 432, which went to Peebinga. Two buses transferred passengers each way across the ~40 km gap, giving them a round trip.
The Bedford SB had a kangaroo emblem on the side, but I don't know the operator.
The other was a school bus, and looks to be a Toyota Coaster or similar, not the usual SA midibus.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[system improver]

I hope you rode on the "real" bus Roderick.

[Heardy_101]

A Redhen in Pinnaroo - interesting sight to behold.

[Roderick Smith]

Have the other direction today. It doesn't show the nameboard, but may help identify the operator.

Pinnaroo (SA): Redhen 434 on an innovative ARHS SA tour. Sat.30.11.74. (Roderick Smith)
Through the hills, the pair made record running times: suburban power and brakes let them accelerate between restrictive curves; Bluebirds (and loco hauled) couldn't. However, being put aside for a 40 min cross destroyed a record time to Murray Bridge being achieved. Having driven from Melbourne on Friday night, we were boarding at Tailem Bend and I missed the excitement.

I went to Peebinga first, then returned from Pinnaroo. I can't recall which bus I rode, but suspect the modern one: the other was full by the time I had finished taking my photos. I had had lots of travel in Bedford SBs though the years, particularly La Trobe Valley Buslines ones.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

The colour didn't add any new angles. The Bedford was sky blue. ABFL shows A & B Gilbert of Pinnaroo as an operator which sold out to Lameroo in 2002.
The final fleet was three Nissan Civilian 21 seaters. Hunting on the type shows production from 1959.
I guess that we had the first or second in the fleet; another replaced the Bedford.
UEL986, UMZ226 & UZL980.
Would one of these have been a 1974 number?

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[The Phonj]

I'll certainly be happy to be corrected by any number plate experts; however I think that (SA) 'U' series plates only started being issued in the early 1980's; and only as "Festival State" plates.