Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
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- Centralian
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Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
Located in Arncliffe, it's easy to miss Gibbons Lane while traveling along Forest Rd. It is a small lane way connecting Forest Rd to Wollongong Rd, and at different times in the '70's and '80's was home to some small bus operators. The longest tennant there I believe was Innes Bros & Drover which is where my selection of images starts in the mid '70's.
Innes Bros & Drover operated Route 7 (Arncliffe Stn to Bexley via Forest Rd); Route 8 (Arncliffe Stn to Bexley via Wollongong Rd); Route 17 Arncliffe Stn to Rockdale Stn via Banksia (although I believe this route ceased in the late '70's).
Their livery was white with a silver roof and black waistband.
I've always had a soft spot for this CAC bodystyle. While they operated 2 CAC vehicles I never caught the other unit mo846. They also operated at this time two MBA bodied Whites mo44 and mo419. If anyone has any shots of these I'd love to see them.
In January 1978 Moores Tours was born when Innes Bros & Drover sold out to Trevor Moore who continued for a short while to operate from the Gibbons Lane depot. Apologies for the next 2 poor quality shots but they are all I had of Moores Tours at Gibbons Lane.
Moores Tours moved to Hurstville Grove I believe sometime in 1978.
Not too far away at the time, in Marricville, another operator Orana Tours was operating Route 222 and in 1979 sold out to Ben Rachwel who brought back the Marrickville Bus Lines name and shortly afterwards moved the operation to the Gibbons Lane site.
This Atkinson originally with Saints, came to Marrickville from Caledonian B.L.
Still displaying its Jannali Como/Kareela BL route 238, this AEC Reliance was originally Opal Fields Tours TV618.
Another shot of 7028. Marrickville Bus Lines of the early '80's also operated Leylands ex UTA 3227 and 3226.
That's all I have from Gibbons Lane. Hope you enjoyed. Cheers !
Innes Bros & Drover operated Route 7 (Arncliffe Stn to Bexley via Forest Rd); Route 8 (Arncliffe Stn to Bexley via Wollongong Rd); Route 17 Arncliffe Stn to Rockdale Stn via Banksia (although I believe this route ceased in the late '70's).
Their livery was white with a silver roof and black waistband.
I've always had a soft spot for this CAC bodystyle. While they operated 2 CAC vehicles I never caught the other unit mo846. They also operated at this time two MBA bodied Whites mo44 and mo419. If anyone has any shots of these I'd love to see them.
In January 1978 Moores Tours was born when Innes Bros & Drover sold out to Trevor Moore who continued for a short while to operate from the Gibbons Lane depot. Apologies for the next 2 poor quality shots but they are all I had of Moores Tours at Gibbons Lane.
Moores Tours moved to Hurstville Grove I believe sometime in 1978.
Not too far away at the time, in Marricville, another operator Orana Tours was operating Route 222 and in 1979 sold out to Ben Rachwel who brought back the Marrickville Bus Lines name and shortly afterwards moved the operation to the Gibbons Lane site.
This Atkinson originally with Saints, came to Marrickville from Caledonian B.L.
Still displaying its Jannali Como/Kareela BL route 238, this AEC Reliance was originally Opal Fields Tours TV618.
Another shot of 7028. Marrickville Bus Lines of the early '80's also operated Leylands ex UTA 3227 and 3226.
That's all I have from Gibbons Lane. Hope you enjoyed. Cheers !
Last edited by Centralian on Mon Jul 19, 2010 8:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Simes
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
Who was there in the 80's and early 90's? Marrickville Bus Lines still? (AFAIK they've always been in Turrella - present day Telfords, although they had a small yard beside the rail line + the one with the workshop) or had Moores gone back there? My mother worked at the nursing home on the corner of Wilsons and Wollongong Rds for about 10 years (I recall seeing the fronts of buses peeking out into the line and then disappearing about '93?). With the shot of m/o 44 the '66 Bedford being taken beside that home and the shot of the worldie 7208 having been taken across the road from that. It was route 8 that eventually got sold by Moores to the STA in 1995(?) and is now part of the 471. At least now I know what all those BUS STOP signs up and down Forest Rd between Arncliffe and Rockdale were from, thanks Centralian :):)
Here's google's shot of present day Gibbons Lane
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=-33. ... 4&t=h&z=20
Niether the house on Forest Rd or the one on Wollongong Rd have been demolished since, you can still make out the yard I reckon
Here's google's shot of present day Gibbons Lane
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=-33. ... 4&t=h&z=20
Niether the house on Forest Rd or the one on Wollongong Rd have been demolished since, you can still make out the yard I reckon
- Red and Cream
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
Thanks for providing us with your nostalgic shots of the operators who ran out of Gibbons Lane Centralian.
Innes Bros.& Drover were another of those small operators of the time who operated on small budgets yet provided sterling service to their passengers. Here are a few shots of the other buses of their fleet that you mentioned.
Innes Bros.& Drover were another of those small operators of the time who operated on small budgets yet provided sterling service to their passengers. Here are a few shots of the other buses of their fleet that you mentioned.
Last edited by Red and Cream on Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
Thanks for the wonderful images and memories Centralian and Red & Cream.
It's great to see your posts relating to operators & vehicles long gone.
Hope theres more to come.
Do you still have your photo site Centralian?
I've tried to browse, but it appears it's no longer working.
Pete
It's great to see your posts relating to operators & vehicles long gone.
Hope theres more to come.
Do you still have your photo site Centralian?
I've tried to browse, but it appears it's no longer working.
Pete
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Visit http://www.petereid.smugmug.com
Photos of Older Buses, Trucks, Ferries, Fire Engines, Tow Trucks, and Trams
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Photos of Older Buses, Trucks, Ferries, Fire Engines, Tow Trucks, and Trams
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- boronia
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
When Rachwal took over the business from Ron Wood, the MBL depot was in the transport terminal off Bellevue St St Peters.Simes wrote:Who was there in the 80's and early 90's? Marrickville Bus Lines still? (AFAIK they've always been in Turrella - present day Telfords, although they had a small yard beside the rail line + the one with the workshop) or had Moores gone back there?
About 1979, they moved up to Gibbons Lane, after Trevor Moore moved out. Bill Sharpe (Caledonia BL) had a couple of buses there too, including his unreg Daimler Roadliner. As MBL/Telfords expanded they moved part of their operation to the rail yard, but I think both sites operated simultaneously until they moved to the current site.
I would imagine that with current zoning laws, the site could only be residential, presumably any "current use" exemptions for a bus depot would be long forfeited.
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- Simes
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
Oh yeah the buses disappeared there in the early 90's from what I can remember, although going by that google shot, seems someone has a few trucks in there - although a truck or two on the street is the norm around here
Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
Great to see pics of Moore's early days. Any pics of there early Eighties would be much appreciated, especially the immaculate Bedfords Moore's had.
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- boronia
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
The trucks appear to be in the house next door. IIRC the bus yard was the area with the trees and swimming pool facing the lane. There was also a shed use as office and workshop on this block which seems to have gone.Simes wrote: although going by that google shot, seems someone has a few trucks in there - although a truck or two on the street is the norm around here
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- Centralian
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
Thanks Red & Cream for those Innes Bros & Drover shots. How I wish I was around with a camera in hand 10 years earlier than when I started,capturing those great great MBA White's that were operating around Sydney, or the bonneted Reo's and Bedfords. Also thanks Simes for the Google maps link. Shows how narrow that lane way was.
Here's one I missed of a Moore's Tours vehicles when they were in Gibbons Lane. I was confused at first by the grille which appears to be a CCMC grille.
Looks to me like its lost a number plate in this shot which also made identification difficult.
Here's one I missed of a Moore's Tours vehicles when they were in Gibbons Lane. I was confused at first by the grille which appears to be a CCMC grille.
Looks to me like its lost a number plate in this shot which also made identification difficult.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
- HiHo
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
It wasnt Ron Wood that sold mMarrickville to Benny it Was the latye Bob Woods.Ron Wood owned Carringbah Bus.boronia wrote:When Rachwal took over the business from Ron Wood, the MBL depot was in the transport terminal off Bellevue St St Peters.Simes wrote:Who was there in the 80's and early 90's? Marrickville Bus Lines still? (AFAIK they've always been in Turrella - present day Telfords, although they had a small yard beside the rail line + the one with the workshop) or had Moores gone back there?
About 1979, they moved up to Gibbons Lane, after Trevor Moore moved out. Bill Sharpe (Caledonia BL) had a couple of buses there too, including his unreg Daimler Roadliner. As MBL/Telfords expanded they moved part of their operation to the rail yard, but I think both sites operated simultaneously until they moved to the current site.
I would imagine that with current zoning laws, the site could only be residential, presumably any "current use" exemptions for a bus depot would be long forfeited.
HiHO
- Dave Wilson
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
Red and Cream - thanks for those.I notice what appears to be an OPD1 decker - do you have any OPD1 photos?
- boronia
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
Thanks HiHo. After 30 years in the industry, putting correct names to faces gets a bit hard for us oldies.HiHo wrote:
It wasnt Ron Wood that sold mMarrickville to Benny it Was the latye Bob Woods.Ron Wood owned Carringbah Bus.
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- leopard1543
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
Oh come on there, you're not that oldboronia wrote:.....Thanks HiHo. After 30 years in the industry, putting correct names to faces gets a bit hard for us oldies.
Bring back the Leopards!
- boronia
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
I don't think we should be speculating about such matters on this board
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
Who owns MO 232 now? or does it still exist?
- DENAIR
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Re: Once upon a time...... In Gibbons Lane
AUSTRALIAN TRAIL-WAYS EXPRESS
NV76BV DENNING DENAIR /GM
i took this shot in 1987 lord knows that there was not much room in Gibbons lane but they even got these larger coaches down the side
cheers denair