Great photos Pete, so much appreciated and enjoyed!
Going back quite a way in time.
Makes me realize now just how very long ago were the days when Pioneer and Redline ruled the Interstate tours and express roost.
I hate getting old!!
Quite a few nice ones there Pete. Especially the 1st pic (AWESOME). #802 with a Volgren body is a strange looking vehicle. What was that powered by (Scania) and of course the EAGLE in Pioneer colours is AMAZING. Fantastic selection as always. Thanks
Tas Bus Nut wrote:Quite a few nice ones there Pete. Especially the 1st pic (AWESOME). #802 with a Volgren body is a strange looking vehicle. What was that powered by (Scania) and of course the EAGLE in Pioneer colours is AMAZING. Fantastic selection as always. Thanks
802 was one of a number of B10Ms that Volgren (Qld) converted to a rear engine configuration, way before B10C chassis were even thought of. It was done to provide some through bin space and to also improve weight distribution as well.
Great photos once again Pete,
Volgren Qld made at least 4 variations that i remember.
Ummm, i don't think "802" would have been converted to rear engine. The radiator is just in front of the pusher axle and the rear bin is huge although a long way from the front door.
I doubt that Volgren Qld or greyhound would change any configuration around after the construction. I am unsure as to how many were produced with this pusher axle, but these were true B10M's unlike #"417", which would have been delivered as mid mount to the original Volgren Qld 11 Colebard St Acacia Ridge, where they changed it around.
Clarrie Skennar had a couple of these 800 series when he came out of retirement and took on the Toowoomba and Charleville runs.
I recall my mate had one of these one day going to Twmba and the fan motor dropped off the side mounted radiator and ground it down almost to the hoses.
Another put a leg out over the Christmas break and I had to let it in the workshop for a new leg and block repair!
I know currently of at least one of the "802"s series, this is still in service as it was delivered, I did the motor (THD100ED 276 hp)7 years ago and it is still going strong. I used it for a day last July and it was almost a pleasure to drive, (the streets i was taking it in were meant for a horse and carriage only.) Was more up market than the Leyland Panther i was supposed to take!
Later on the B10m's were changed around to rear engine, and more than likely #417 had the (THD101KC 310hp) Volvo motor and 5HP600 removed and fitted with the 6V92 and Allison box.
She has been rebuilt from the bin bottom to just below the window frames - The wheel arch shape is the only none original feature which I will recitify when I can get templates and dimensions to return to original- I have looked in interior access points and she shows minimal if any signs of corrosion - slight roof bubble rust but nothing that is not fixable - The toilet had been locked since 1994 due to nobody knowing the location of the key - when I drilled out the fitted lock the interior was like new! - The water cistern still had water in it (no chemical in the Toilet tank thank god) and the water pump primed and flushed straight away!!! It even had the original dunny paper and hand towels still in place (although somewhat yellowed and dried out) from the last service in 1994 when it was purchased - It had been off the road for 8 years and stored in a shed with a blown engine - That has been rebuilt by the last owner and she runs like a dream.
Broughams have had some great buses over the years. I'm sure they would have looked after it. You might want to get hold of Clarks in Kaiwaka... They have, or had one of the Austral Denning's you might be able to get the dimensions for the wheel arches from them. Or Tranzit in Masterton. I have seen one in their livery recently up in auckland recently too....
Maladjusted wrote:Great photos once again Pete,
Volgren Qld made at least 4 variations that i remember.
Ummm, i don't think "802" would have been converted to rear engine. The radiator is just in front of the pusher axle and the rear bin is huge although a long way from the front door.
I doubt that Volgren Qld or greyhound would change any configuration around after the construction. I am unsure as to how many were produced with this pusher axle, but these were true B10M's unlike #"417", which would have been delivered as mid mount to the original Volgren Qld 11 Colebard St Acacia Ridge, where they changed it around.
Have a look at the front, you can see that the radiator has gone for sure as we know. The next item to note is where the through bins are, right behind the front axle. That is the area where the engine in a B10M hung from the chassis, also showing that the engine was moved. There was an article in an old Truck And Bus magazine years ago about these vehicles, I used to have so many issues of them but now I don't so I can't prove it but I remember it clearly. The engines were put into the back, radiator on the side as there wasn't enough room in the rear overhang and the tag axle got changed to a pusher for driveline space requirements. Honestly, I'm not kidding you.
Express coaches various
and of course the EAGLE in Pioneer colours is AMAZING. Fantastic selection as always. Thanks
