SILVER EAGLE COACHES WERE ARE THEY NOW

[eaglemarko5]

EX GREYHOUND 509

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[Tas Bus Nut]

I got all excited when I saw another thread from you eaglemarko5, but then it was only a short photo enquiry. Where ya bin wiv ya old pics

[CJT]

A few photos of a couple of ex Greyhound Silver Eagles, I owned a few years back. These were fantastic coaches, got many years of good service from them and sold them for more than what I had paid for them. Sad to see them go, but Queensland Transport age policy put them into retirement. 504 went to a motorhome / mobile office. and 1004 went to Westpac Bank for a promotional vehicle.

[CJT]

A few more shots of Silver Eagle 05's.

[CCCC]

MORE

[Bedford-29]

Funny you were saying about 1004 and Westpac there was a Silver Eagle sitting in the drive way of a house up here at Deception bay just a short distance from Zammit st with Westpac decor on the side.

[eaglemarko5]

Found two more eagle coaches

Ex greyhound 525

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Rear shot of 525

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Greyhound 530 the sunlover coach

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[Bedford-29]

They were a great old coach the Silver Eagle roar of the engine the crunch of the four speed gearbox when there was a driver behind the wheel and wasn`t familiar with the four speed crunch gearbox.The automatic Eagles had some good acceleration doing the trip from Coolangatta to Brisbane.But doing a trip on the four speed Eagles from Brisbane to Melbourne via Toowoomba and having a driver not familiar the four speed crunching every gear going up the Darling range its a wonder there was any workings left in the gearbox when the Eagle got the top of the range.Ah the memories.

[Tas Bus Nut]

Thanks eaglemarko5 AND CJT. I think the last shot of the Greyhound vehicle is ruined by painting over the chrome ribbing on the sides (IMO)
Looking at the classic styling, with a clean-up and refurb inside, these fantastic old vehicles could STILL be FRONT-LINE tour/express coaches.
Tory's livery, as well as Kyogle Coaches look the best of the liveries on display (in these pics). Many thanks for the photos/memories. Cheers

[dominodc122]

A few photos of a couple of ex Greyhound Silver Eagles, I owned a few years back. These were fantastic coaches, got many years of good service from them and sold them for more than what I had paid for them. Sad to see them go, but Queensland Transport age policy put them into retirement. 504 went to a motorhome / mobile office. and 1004 went to Westpac Bank for a promotional vehicle.

nice units Craig - I bet you had watery eyes seeing these "girls" leaving your yard for the last time !!??( I know I would! )

[CJT]

Around late 1989 / early 1990, Greyhound sold a batch of 7 Silver Eagle 05's, to John Tomkins of Australia Coach in Cairns, these were 501 through to 507. John kept 5 for his own operation (4 were painted in his Green and White livery, and one was painted grey for the old Compass Airlines, for a crew transfer coach) He sold the other 2 off, one each to fellow Cairns operators, Southern Cross and Cairnstrans. One of the Australia Coach units (506, I think) is posted above... I do remember seeing the Cairnstrans unit, but unfortunately I didn't have a camera that day. If anyone has photos of these other two coaches or the Compass one, please post.

[Industry]

Love to see one in the Compass Colours

[Looselion]

Here's a couple of American operator examples from the early 90's, models not generally recognized from our perspective.
I "Australianized" the 40 footer image.
I mentioned in the Rex Law's Redline Coaches thread that Rex was in very deep discussions with the Bus and Car factory in belgium in 1967/1968 regarding future re-equipment with Silver Eagles. I remember quite vividly special drawings sent to us from the factory in Bruges of the then 01 model in 36 ft length configuration to suit our regs at the time. As you would imagine the rear overhang appeared disproportionate to the design's overall dimensions.
The resolve was to push for local acceptance of the standard 40 ft Eagle which was to have been supplied to Redline in the classic Trailways livery depicted in the lower image.
Rex was also considering the Mannheim 0302 at the same time due to its suitability in relation to length. We were into a fraught period so far as forward fleet re-equipment considerations were concerned due to growing uncertainty about o/all length regulations.
Other events precluded what was to be the most significant fleet upgrade in the company's history.
Update:
I should note that we were in discussions with B&C regarding the Model 01 Eagle initially, but later became aware of the upcoming introduction of the Model 05, which became available in 1968 and had the same general appearance as the 01. The main mechanical difference was the swap of the drive axle to the rear of the tag. Squarer body lines were introduced in 1969 and this was the major extent of the metamorphosis to the definitive 05 Model, as eventually supplied to Greyhound locally.

[eaglemarko5]

To the above post it was a great shame that the eagle 01 didnt come to australia ,here is a pic of one in later life in the US but one did come to here in the form of a 05 looklike it was owned by trailer tous of sydney look at the axle set of the coach in photos of this site

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[Bedford-29]

I got these two pictures off the net of a ex Southern Charters USA two axle Silver Eagle that was for sale back in 2009 at a bus sales place that was at Forest Glen on the Sunshine Coast this would of be a rare Silver Eagle if it made it to Australia knowing it was left hand drive.

[Looselion]

It's also interesting to note that the ubiquitous Silver Eagle was born in the mid 1950's as a German Kassbohrer product. It went through various guises, having been constructed on-chassis as well as monocoque, with Rolls Royce, Henschel and MAN powerplants, with both articulated and rigid bodywork.
Here's one of the 200 MAN powered Golden Eagles with ZF auto transmission, delivered in 1957, that would eventually be refined and produced as the Silver Eagle Model 01 in Continental Trailways own factory in Belgium; Bus and Car N.V.

[Bedford-29]

There also was 4 Golden Eagle articulated coaches like this one built for Continental Trailways this would be a interesting coach to see.Picture from Eagle history website.

[Looselion]

Here's a closer look at the articulated Super Golden Eagle. ("Super" for articulated.)
Who can see a Darth Vader retro influence on the frontal styling.......?

[Looselion]

For those who are unaware, it may be helpful if I point out that Otto Kassbohrer began to use the term "Setra" as a form of model identification, as it was an acronym for the German words that meant a "self-supporting" or monocoque body built up of a tubular steel frame with sheet steel skin. Hence the use of Setra in describing virtually any Kassbohrer coach after the War.

He applied the word as a brand name for the first time in 1951, with the release of his groundbreaking Setra S8 rear engined touring coach. The S8 designation referred to its 8 rows of passenger seats. This was the then European equivalent to the American Flxible Clipper.

[highwaytraveller]

"508" seen in Cairns early 90's. Owned by the Hare Krishna. Anyone know what became of the Coach. Spoke to the Hare Krishna retreat in Murwillumbah a few years ago and they couldn't help. Interesting looking on board this coach. The first 3 rows of seats where left in and the rest where removed including the toilet. Pray mats where on the floor.