Friday Flashback: Westway pt. 1 (Ty Manning)

[Ben O]

In August 1982, the Threkeld family took over route 42 Liverpool - Hammondville / Holsworthy (occasional trips to East Hills Hostel & Sandy Point) from F & M Grueicic's Holsworthy Bus Service with a selection of Albions and Leylands. Route 858 Liverpool - Warwick Farm, route 859 Liverpool – Chipping Norton – Milperra Bridge & Liverpool – Milperra Bridge via Newbridge Rd & route 860 Liverpool - Bankstown were taken over from Milperra Bus Service on 1 July 1987.

These photos reflect the Westway fleet and depot in the late-1980s and during the 1990s. Enjoy and stay tuned for parts 2 & 3!

All photos Copyright Ty Manning Collection
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[Andrew]

Thanks Ben, a few memories in there - including "old" Liverpool station.

[Swift]

That's the first Smithfield Viking I have learned of. Back in 1991 I accidentally stumbled upon Scania's facility in Chipping Norton and spotted a Leslies AEC Swift being sold on consignment along with a couple of Westway Albion Vikings with early CCMC bodywork. I was free to roam around and look in and around the buses as long as I liked. I was too enamoured with the Swifts to take much notice of the Leyland Albion Vikings! I never thought to take pictures either!

[Andrew]

The first bus became 100 at Veolia. Still in use as far as I am aware. I drove it a couple of times - it was a good goer with its ALLISON auto.

[burrumbus]

Another excellent Friday Flashback,Ben.
The Threkeld family who owned Westway were previously partners with the Garrard family in Liverpool Transport from 1957.
Most of the photos presented were taken in the original depot taken over from Holsworthy Bus Service at 28 Cooper Avenue,Moorebank.I am not sure how many buses were taken over from Holsworthy Bus Service.
8 buses were taken over with the Milperra Bus Service Pty.Ltd business.Hope this adds a bit more.

[Andrew]

I didn't realise they had a depot on Cooper Ave. My sister-in-law lives on that street now. It must have been a small depot, as 28 is just a standard residential block.

[streetdirectory]

Im pretty sure the actual address was 24-30 but the office used to sit at the block for number 28.
The picture of 7204 is actually Peter Threlkeld driving, the man standing behind him is my dad.

[Cordes Express]

I remember the Milo bus AOA's when we had them here in NZ. Auckland had a couple, Wellington had one & I think Christchurch did too....

[burrumbus]

Im pretty sure the actual address was 24-30 but the office used to sit at the block for number 28.
The picture of 7204 is actually Peter Threlkeld driving, the man standing behind him is my dad.

From memory the shed at Cooper Avenue was about a 6-7 bus wide shed with space for about 3 on the right side next to it.

[Fleet Lists]

The first bus became 100 at Veolia. Still in use as far as I am aware. I drove it a couple of times - it was a good goer with its ALLISON auto.

I believe for driver training only.

m/o 864 brings back some memories. In both 1987 and 1988 the swimming club where my offspring participated chartered it during the second weekend in October for a weekend to a swimming carnival in Canberra traveling there on Friday, swimming on Saturday and Sunday and returning to Sydney late on Sunday. We had the same driver on both occasions - the second time he said it was a great relief having a easy weekend as he was regularly doing charters to Expo 88 in Brisbane at the time. Unfortunately some parents gave him a rather hard time on this second occasion which resulted in us not going in subsequent years.

[robert]

In August 1982, the Threkeld family took over route 42 Liverpool - Hammondville / Holsworthy (occasional trips to East Hills Hostel & Sandy Point) from F & M Grueicic's Holsworthy Bus Service with a selection of Albions and Leylands. Route 858 Liverpool - Warwick Farm, route 859 Liverpool – Chipping Norton – Milperra Bridge & Liverpool – Milperra Bridge via Newbridge Rd & route 860 Liverpool - Bankstown were taken over from Milperra Bus Service on 1 July 1987.

In looking through some old "Fleetlines" recently, I noted in the October 1977 issue that Holsworthy Bus Co "now trades as Westway Bus & Coach Service". So I guess that means the operation was renamed Westway by the Gruecics well prior to the takeover by the Threlkelds - something I had not tumbled to before. I will update my website soon.

[Fleet Lists]

Im pretty sure the actual address was 24-30 but the office used to sit at the block for number 28.
The picture of 7204 is actually Peter Threlkeld driving, the man standing behind him is my dad.

In today's Telegraph is a funeral notice of Elsie Threlkeld wife of Peter deceased - I suspect that was the Peter Threlkeld mentioned here.

[streetdirectory]

The Peter Threlkeld mentioned here was the son of Elsie. His father also Peter passed many years ago. Elsie was a pioneer of the bus industry in NSW and a force to be reckoned with. She will be dearly missed.