I would like to get this topic on the go.I would like to see some posts on semi trailer buses.If you are able to add information and/or photos here please do.

Back in the early 1960s I remember "Bull's Bus Service" had a Bedford prime mover with a Freighter Lawton built passenger trailer.It had been used at Woomera,SA and did see service locally,possibly with Lewis Bros at the time.
I thought there might have been 2 built.

Then there was Lewis Bros built version.I think that was 2 buses converted,1 being the main vehicle with turntable,the other was the trailer.I remember seeing them in a book somewhere.I dont remember seeing anything in any magazines.

I know there were other semi trailer buses built before those.I also remember a USA company who had made them too.Thats was in the 1980s.

If you have anything to add to this post please do.Someone must have a photo or 2.

What if the concept were brought back into production? What about a double deck semi trailer coach? It could be based on an altered double deck coach chassis.It would be around the same size as any 3 axle trailer of up to 41 feet long(almost 13 metres),up to 4.3 metres tall as most semi trailers seemed to be that height and 2.5 wide.The luggage compartment would be the usual double deck layout.Possibly a separate engine running air cond for the trailer and the generator for power supply to the trailer.The entrances would be 1 in front of the rear wheels and the other closer to the front.The front of the trailer needs to be aerodynamically designed to eliminate the need for aerodynamic panels on the prime mover.Just a few things to think about.

Only two in the photo gallery
http://www.busaustralia.com/gallery/dis ... ?pos=-7385
http://www.busaustralia.com/gallery/dis ... ?pos=-4093

The White was a regular Sunday morning sight going past our house in King Georges Rd., Blakehurst, heading south, in the early 1950's. It was always full of happy waving people heading out for the day...maybe to the Royal National Park for a picnic ?

Cheers

Reo

yea reo prob a church group going to the royal national pk with trailor tours at emington/west ryde parramatta bus service!

A mixture of semi trailer buses for you.Pictures from the Ken Magor collection.

Bedford-29 wrote:A mixture of semi trailer buses for you.Pictures from the Ken Magor collection.

Thank you for contrbuting.Beautiful historical photos.

Please refer to Greg Travers 1986 book, "The Australian Articulated Bus" for information on Semi-Trailer and modern articulated buses in Australia. GM

GM wrote:Please refer to Greg Travers 1986 book, "The Australian Articulated Bus" for information on Semi-Trailer and modern articulated buses in Australia. GM

If anyone has a copy of the book can you post a copy of the cover here?

As requested by Denv12 front and rear covers of Greg's Book. GM

GM wrote:As requested by Denv12 front and rear covers of Greg's Book. GM

Hi GM.Thank you for posting the covers.

Here is a interesting semi trailer bus for you.Picture from the Ken Magor collection.

Bedford-29 wrote:Here is a interesting semi trailer bus for you.Picture from the Ken Magor collection.

There are some amazing photos here.Thank you for sharing.I love the history of these long gone classics.

Nice historical photos!

Here is what we have just acquired and our aim is restore it to its former glory.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Semi/539491649498491

GM wrote:Please refer to Greg Travers 1986 book, "The Australian Articulated Bus" for information on Semi-Trailer and modern articulated buses in Australia. GM

Do you know if this book is still available anywhere, I couldn't see one on Ebay.

hey_charger wrote:Here is what we have just acquired and our aim is restore it to its former glory.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Semi/539491649498491

Cant wait to see the post here on restoring this vehicle.That ought to generate feedback and support for the project.

Denv12 wrote:

D1000010 (422 x 307).jpg

I would like to get this topic on the go.I would like to see some posts on semi trailer buses.If you are able to add information and/or photos here please do.

Back in the early 1960s I remember "Bull's Bus Service" had a Bedford prime mover with a Freighter Lawton built passenger trailer.It had been used at Woomera,SA and did see service locally,possibly with Lewis Bros at the time.
I thought there might have been 2 built.

Then there was Lewis Bros built version.I think that was 2 buses converted,1 being the main vehicle with turntable,the other was the trailer.I remember seeing them in a book somewhere.I dont remember seeing anything in any magazines.

I know there were other semi trailer buses built before those.I also remember a USA company who had made them too.Thats was in the 1980s.

If you have anything to add to this post please do.Someone must have a photo or 2.

What if the concept were brought back into production? What about a double deck semi trailer coach? It could be based on an altered double deck coach chassis.It would be around the same size as any 3 axle trailer of up to 41 feet long(almost 13 metres),up to 4.3 metres tall as most semi trailers seemed to be that height and 2.5 wide.The luggage compartment would be the usual double deck layout.Possibly a separate engine running air cond for the trailer and the generator for power supply to the trailer.The entrances would be 1 in front of the rear wheels and the other closer to the front.The front of the trailer needs to be aerodynamically designed to eliminate the need for aerodynamic panels on the prime mover.Just a few things to think about.

The double deck is alright as long as twin doors are downstairs adjacent to the one stop button but the stairs should be above the turntable which allows a 1.9m radius very safe stairwell.

I agree with the maximum dimensions allowing 50 seated comfortably on big seats up top and 100 stood who are only going a few blocks below.

Eventually it could be pulled by an electric prime mover and with a fixed turntable, speed limiting, ABS and stability control would be as safe as any other bus.

60 could be bought for 10% of what it cost for the George street light rail with one leaving every minute with an Opal reader on every 300m stop and no bunching as if there is another immediately behind and nobody wants to alight, he just keeps going.

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/ ... ailer-2012

Great pix - thanks all.
There was a regular school run in the 50s by the blue-and-cream liveried, semi-trailored AEC Matador, between the residency "Masonic Schools" at Baulkham Hills and Westmead Tech. in Hawkesbury Road, Westmead.

Parramatta Bus Co - m/o 931, 932, 024. 157, 325. All AEC's, All PBC bodies accept 932 which was an MBA body on a Reo Chassis ex m/o314 GM

Electric bikes will be the future because many people cannot afford cars but they need safe default 30 km/h back roads with a single deck carriage where there is rail and a DD Trailerbus in other places.

As I cannot find any accident with a Trailerbus ever I consider it to be regarded as a bendy bus and cannot see any objection to them as with 3.7 meters rear overhang it could go anywhere a 12.5 metre rigid can go.

Trailerbus https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/ ... top-button

I am sure truck and dog was illegal in NSW in the 70’s and was trying to find out when it became legal and found this which although not buses I think are good photos. https://historicvehicles.com.au/working ... -they-are/

lunchbox wrote: ↑Sun Oct 18, 2020 12:51 pm Great pix - thanks all.
There was a regular school run in the 50s by the blue-and-cream liveried, semi-trailored AEC Matador, between the residency "Masonic Schools" at Baulkham Hills and Westmead Tech. in Hawkesbury Road, Westmead.

GM wrote: ↑Sun Oct 18, 2020 3:17 pm Parramatta Bus Co - m/o 931, 932, 024. 157, 325. All AEC's, All PBC bodies accept 932 which was an MBA body on a Reo Chassis ex m/o314 GM
[/quote ]

This would have been one of the blue and cream semi trailers that lunchbox would have seen on that run. m/o 931 was i think the last one operated by Parramatta Bus Company and is seen here on the reserve rank at Parramatta Station on the 26th March 1960.

Parramatta Bus Company in the 1950's and 60's was not the only operator in the area to have trailer buses as Parramatta- Ryde bus Service ( Trailer Tours ) had m/o 152, 390, 399, 751 876 and 917 and the later Freighter bodied ones m/o 5147 and m/o 5461.. In the late 1950's and into the 60's they all had White Super Power tugs but i have seen an early photo of at least one of them with a Ford tug.

Three of Parramatta - Ryde's trailers parked up near their depot at Ermington from left to right m/o 390, m/o 751 and m/o 917. m/o 917 was the trailer section of one of the two trailers that were built for the DGT in 1944 and was registered as m/o 1746 with them with a Ford Mecury tug. Interestingly they also had the other trailer of the ex DGT buses as m/o 152.

Here is a closer view of m/o 917.

Even Sinclair, on his Dundas Valley runs had an AEC Matador trailer bus registered as m/o 002 which i think went to Clements on the North Coast and the trailer section ended up as shown being owned by Pell's as MO 4466 as seen in the earlier photos in this post.








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I love the way Rovers' tug is going to Cessnock, but the trailer is going to Wangi!!!

New Trailerbus on your phone. https://app.sketchup.com/share/tc/north ... source=web