The Riverton Bus Service had a depot just over the Riverton Bridge, alongside a service station. I was informed that the two shared the same ownership.
Back in the fifties, the post war population explosion was on and RBS was formed to transport the citizens of the (then) outer suburb of Riverton. I read at the time that RBS was given State Government financial assistance, to help it buy bus 4. There was no negative comment about it at the time, nor should there have been. It was a case of the Government assisting an operator to provide an essential public service. In fact, had Riverton not been able to provide the service, the over-stretched W.A. Government Tramways would probably have had to provide the service. After all of this time, I can't recall the details of the financial assistance. Possibly a loan, or a loan guarantee.
The MTT initially had Metro as its basis and it then rapidly took on the "basket case" operators, before they went broke. It subsequently added the W.A.Government Tramways, as another large and viable operator, then progressively added more small operators. I perceive it as a tribute to the RBS as a viable and well run operation, that it was the third last operator to be taken over, followed by the well respected North Beach and Scarborough companies.
Riverton had a diverse, although small, fleet. Each of the first 5 buses was from a different manufacturer! It eventually settled on Worldmasters.
As mentioned before, the purpose of RBS was to serve Riverton. Although it travelled via Carlisle Bus Service territory after leaving Perth, it was not permitted to pick up or set down along the Carlisle route. It travelled along Berwick Street and it was pure joy to listen to Worldmasters charging along the street!
Now for some photographs.
Riverton 1, MTT 37, Morris Commercial at Causeway Depot, 1961. RBS having been taken over on 14.05.1961, 1 was still operating in the Riverton livery, but with its MTT fleet number.
Riverton 4, MTT 455, Daimler Freeline, standing at a terminus in Murray Street, Perth, outside the Bedford Arms Hotel. This much later photo was taken on 20.11.1970.
4 was bodied by MBB, the body builder owned by Scarborough Bus Service and was similar in appearance to some of the SBS Freelines. However, the front differed and 4 is instantly recognisable as herself. After SBS was taken over by the MTT, its Freelines were given fleet numbers adjacent to that of 4, commencing at 456.
North Beach and Scarborough Bus Services had their city termini in Murray Street. The MTT continued to use them, until the advent of the Perth Central (City?) Bus Station and the "one waying" of William Street. Buses went left William, left Wellington.
Riverton 5, MTT 31, Worldmaster, Causeway Depot.
This was Riverton's first Worldmaster and was the only Comeng "Fleet Line" bus in the MTT fleet. It originally had the Fleet Line grille, but its front was re-built after a "prang". As pictured here, it had no front grille. Note how the front is cut away in front of the step, probably to assist with ventilation for the engine. I suspect that that didn't provide enough air, because you will see in my next shot, that the standard MTT grille had been fitted.
Note what I consider to be the very attractive Comeng passenger windows. They, too, were subsequently replaced by the MTT.
Taste is a very subjective thing, but I really liked the appearance of 31 as above. In my opinion, it was just another bus in appearance, in the next shot.
There is a certain Board Member who loved 31.
Note the trolley bus poles at the left of the shot. Behind 31 is one of Carlisle 8's beloved full fronted Tramways AEC Regal IIIs.
This much later shot was taken in Basinghall Street, Victoria Park, on 12.03.1978.
Riverton 6, MTT 43, International, Redcliffe Depot.
Riverton 7, MTT 32, Worldmaster/Howard Porter, Causeway Depot, 1961.
Riverton 9, MTT 34, Worldmaster/Howard Porter, Causeway Depot, C1962.
The good news is that it is currently undergoing VERY active major renovations, by a very competent and enthusiastic owner.
