Airline buses.

[Denv12]

I have put together some photos of airline buses in Australia of TAA,Ansett and Qantas. Over the years the airlines buses surved a purpose.There would have a wide variety of bus chassis and bus builders.Ansair themselves made different models throughout their history.MBA,White,Freighter Lawton.Qantas seemed to have bought Ansair buses.Ansett bought Ansair.

[Denv12]

Some more photos.

I found this post:
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=27794

[GM]

TAA AEC MBA Motor Show c1955.
A couple of MBA bodied buses from Sam Hood.
White Waddington.

[Denv12]

Thanks GM for adding to the post.Beautiful photos.Thank you for sharing.Great history.

[system improver]

There were 20 buses delivered to TAA from 1956 to 1959 with MBA bodies - 10 with a Leyland Tiger Cub chassis (most of which worked in Melbourne) and 10 with an AEC Reliance chassis (most of which worked in Sydney). The interesting thing about GM's photo, which I assume to be the first delivered, is that it has curved windscreens. All the photos I have seen of the rest have flat screens. It appears that MBA moved to Flemington from Camperdown in its last year or so of operation.

[Denv12]

In regards to the former named airline Trans Australia Airlines (TAA),they had a variety of buses running the city to airport services in each city. For example in Adelaide and other cities during the 1970s there were Freighter Lawton bodied Ford 192's.In Perth during the early 1960s there were Super Whites,In Melbourne there were MBA bodied Leyland Tiger Cub and so on. What I'd like to know is what makes of buses/chassis did TAA have during their history? What years did each make and model operate those services? There would have been a variety throughout Australia.

[LocoLes]

Hi Denv12,

I have attached my only photo of TAA's Adelaide Bedford coach [with an R192 beside] taken at Adelaide airport c.1980's. This one [Bedford] has not featured as yet in your thread, I think it was used for crew [Pilots and Flight Attendants] transporting to and from their accommodation and the airport.

Loco Les
http://www.busaustralia.com/gallery/dis ... pos=-18863

[boronia]

In Sydney, at least, QANTAS had a fleet of buses used for inter-terminal passenger transfers, and another fleet for crew transport (airport to Operation Centre, and airport to hotels).

In some smaller cities/towns, airline liveried buses were supplied by local service operators.

[Denv12]

On the MBA built TAA buses,why was the front door so far back? There's at least a door width between the front wheel and the front door. We had one converted to front entrance.It was sold to Murray Bridge.A new entrance was made.The photo is 4th one down.

[Denv12]

Hi Denv12,

I have attached my only photo of TAA's Adelaide Bedford coach [with an R192 beside] taken at Adelaide airport c.1980's. This one [Bedford] has not featured as yet in your thread, I think it was used for crew [Pilots and Flight Attendants] transporting to and from their accommodation and the airport.

Loco Les

Hi Loco Les.
Thank thank you for adding your photo.I remember them.We had picked up one in Sydney at the time.It was repaired and repainted.It was sold to a bus company in Renmark.Quervials I think.I hadnt seen one in Adelaide before so that makes your photo unique.I dont know how many of them were made though.The Fords were the nicer vehicle.

[LocoLes]

Hi Denv12,

I just located a photo taken a few ago now of an ex TAA/ Australian Airlines Ford R192 [Freighter] at Dover, Tas. It is not there these days but possibly still in the area. A few other buses and coaches can be found in the south of Tassie including a former c.1950's UTA Sydney [either Leyland or AEC] used as a camper. I will keep looking for that photo too, [it was photographed in the Lune River/ Ida Bay Railway area]. I have it somewhere.
Cheers.
Loco Les

[Denv12]

Hi Denv12,

I just located a photo taken a few ago now of an ex TAA/ Australian Airlines Ford R192 [Freighter] at Dover, Tas. It is not there these days but possibly still in the area.
Cheers. :!:
Loco Les

Hi Loco Les.
Thank you for contributing to the post.
That Ford is in nice condition.I've seen a lot of them after my dad bought them.Didnt take much to give them a new livery.Saw one south of Perth years ago with a 351 Cleveland engine instead of the usual 300c.i. engine.They were good candidates for an engine swap.Plenty of room inside for a motorhome conversion and parking a small car.
Cheers.Denv12.

[Centralian]

A few images from my collection, photographed in Sydney many years ago:

At the Ansett terminal at Kingsford Smith 3 Ford R192's with Ansair bodies of 1972 build - EIR 009, DIA 843, and furthest away unclear.

0000.jpg (84.88 KiB) Viewed 5978 times

KEV 645, a Ford with I believe the last airport bus body style by Ansair.

0001.jpg (80.35 KiB) Viewed 5978 times

At Sydney's Kingsford Smith is TAA ESI 993, a Ford R192 with Freighter body A4075 of 1972 build.

0002.jpg (72.21 KiB) Viewed 5978 times

An ex TAA Ford R192, obviously fitted out for airport traffic and getting right of way.
NSW rego MEX 609, I assume not the rego when with TAA.

0003.jpg (92.87 KiB) Viewed 5978 times

mo 5696 with Chester Hill - Bankstown BS (Dewey) is Bedford Vam 70 with CCMC body of 1971.
Also carrying TAA markings for airport work in Sydney.

0004.jpg (86.4 KiB) Viewed 5978 times

ex TAA Melbourne IVA 445, Ford R192 with Freighter body of 1972.
Became mo 781 with Toronto BS (fleet no 9) in Newcastle.

0007.jpg (94.94 KiB) Viewed 5978 times

[Centralian]

I've just noticed in my image of the Toronto BS Freighter Ford the raised window line behind the front axle.
Not apparent in the other Freighter Fords I've captured, but I can see the style in some of the other photo's posted.

[Denv12]

I've just noticed in my image of the Toronto BS Freighter Ford the raised window line behind the front axle.
Not apparent in the other Freighter Fords I've captured, but I can see the style in some of the other photo's posted.

Over the years my dad bought a lot of TAA buses, all the Freighter bodied Ford chassis all had the raised window line yet the Ansair bodies didnt,except for the Qantas photo and the same body of the Ansett in my photos.I think it was the "Ansairliner" body.All the others had straight line windows.There was a post somewhere that showed each Ansair body and their respective body names. In the last photo,the Ansair body of the early 1980s was a nice looking vehicle.

In the TAA buses,at least the Freighter,the seats were cream with aqua and some were cream with purple seats.Both colours very common.The Ansair seats were usually one colour.

Thanks Centralian for posting your photos.The Toronto bus looks great in their livery.

[Denv12]

If anyone has Truck & Bus magazines,can you scan the Ansair adverts and post them here please? Thanks.