RFW thread 2

[Matt_L]

As there are already 10 photos in the other RFW thread, I'm posting my photo in a new thread. This one was taken on a sunny afternoon at the old Golden Fleece roadhouse in Bacchus Marsh, I think it was around 1989 but could have been a few years either side of that.

Still partially in old Ansett Pioneer livery, I do recall how awesome and solid this fine coach looked. Does anyone know what happened to Admiral Roadliners, and where they were from?

Cheers - Matt

RFW1.jpg

[Sahara53]

Hi Matt, I did a little bit of driving for the 'Admiral'. Stan who owned the operation ran the RFW and another smaller coach that looked like the Duples that were run by Quest Tours. I don't anything about that unit but the RFW provided some interesting runs. I met up with Stan in Swan Hill one evening having been taken from Adelaide and meant to meet in Dimboola for me to take her back to Adelaide. Unfortunately we found Stan and RFW in a very sad state with an alternator in bits. We eventually managed to get mobile and I limped the poor thing with only park lights all the way to Ouyen and of course it would be a dark night with no moonlight to help. That was one tiring trip I have to say but a fond memory anyway. Stan did advertise the business perhaps 5 or 6 years ago and I understand that there no takers so the Admiral name has disappeared from our Adelaide roads I'm afraid. A bit sad like many others - the passengers used to have a chuckle at the big long legged Stan jump out of the seat to occupied by my vertically challenged frame. Anyway that's the little that I know.
Cheers for now

[Sahara53]

Whilst going through some old photos I stumbled on this one of Admiral Roadliner RFW taken somewhere in the Victorian snow country. I did the co-drive with Stan (sorry about the ugly standing in front of terrific unit).

[Car177]

This is the RFW rebodied by Stewart & Sons of Bundaberg, Qld, the original body had been burned out, S&S built this coach up at very low coast, this did not diminish its construction in any way as it was built like a tank.
A handbrake lever of a mini minor operated the cable for the engine shut down, the drivers seat was out of a car, a three point likeake from a tractor fitted with a town ball was the door opening mechanism, the vandal proof air conditioning vents were squares of acyrilic with holes cut by a hole saw, insect screen mesh covered the holes.
It ended up as a caravan on the Qld North Coast.

[Car177]

This the RFW that belonged to Jack's of Longford, it is now a caravan, parked generally on a property on the way to Beaconsfield.