Mercedes O305G Articulated Farewell - August 30

[HCVA]

WHAT: Farewell to the Mercedes O305G Articulateds
WHEN: Sunday August 30th
WHY: Pending delivery of new Volvo Articulated Buses, the last 6 of these will be withdrawn fairly quickly.
HOW MUCH: $20, ($15 for HCVA members)

Join us for a great farewell to the Mercedes O305G buses, touring Northern Sydney we will take in most of the operating area of these buses. A Lunch stop will be made during the tour at a suitable location. This will be one of the last chances to ride these as the new Volvo Articulated Volgren buses are due anytime, and these buses are currently the oldest in the fleet.

The tour will pickup at Railway Square (L90 stop in Lee St) at 10am, QVB Clarence St 10.05am and Wynyard near Transit Shop at 10.10am on the day.

The tour will return with suitable drop offs made along the way by about 6pm.

Hope to see you there.

PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND WITH "I AM COMING" "I AM NOT COMING" as this is uncessary and bookings are not required for these tours.

[Wally Otto]

Any ideas which ones will be used?

[OLYMPIAN]

Hope they will use 2556 (although they've used it on the tour few years ago), this is the only one left with ZF gearbox.

[Rail Bus]

As these buses are still at Brookvale and Mona Vale, is it possible to arrange pick up at Warringah Mall or at the Brookvale depot Main Gate? (Sorry, but I dont see the point in catching a boring B12 rigid or even a B12 Bendy - to the Railway from the Northern Beaches to join a bus tour where the bus HAS to start from that area!)

[AC]

The vehicles used will be Mona Vale based.

[fm2790]

As these buses are still at Brookvale and Mona Vale, is it possible to arrange pick up at Warringah Mall or at the Brookvale depot Main Gate? (Sorry, but I dont see the point in catching a boring B12 rigid or even a B12 Bendy - to the Railway from the Northern Beaches to join a bus tour where the bus HAS to start from that area!)

I second that as I am another who lives in area. i am interested as well in coming on this tour.

[Lewis G.]

I Will ....... be there..
For several years in the late 80's & early 90's I caught these buses to and from work and look forward to what should be another great tour....my second in a row....

[Stoney!]

Buses will be used from Brookvale and Mona Vale, we will be working out an itinerary tonight for those of whom want to join the tour on the beaches.

We hope to see a rather good turn our for this tour as it most definitely will be the last this time and these types of tours aren't cheap to setup.

The tour will traverse a lot of the picturesque areas of the northern beaches and will no doubt be a fun filled day, if you are there for the photo's, the rides or just the social aspect.

We should have the tour ended in town by around 6-7pm just in time for those who would like a couple of night shots.

Thanks,
Stoney!

[Stoney!]

There will be a pick up in manly (Stand B) between 11:00 am and 11:15 am for those who wish to join the tour on the beaches instead of traveling into the city.

Stoney!

[Rail Bus]

Hey Stoney, how about something further north? Considering you have to come down Pitwater Rd anyway, a pick up or two along the way cant hurt, surely...

[Stoney!]

Whats the point of coming on a tour if your only going to be there for 1/3 of it lol. It's to hard to determine a time any further up the line, I think we will just leave it as Central, Wynyard and Manly.

P.S. we aren't using much of pittwater rd at all actually!

Stoney!

[AC]

You will be accomodated, Rail Bus!

[Beaches77]

If I wasnt working night shift, Id love to be on this trip. I can normally pick the 0305G's as they go past my house(which they do quite often), and Ill miss the sound of them when they get withdrawn, the B12LEA Artics dont have the same sound!!

I may have to go for a short walk to F and have a look through the wire at them before they go!!

[AEC Decker]

The tour will pickup at Railway Square (L90 stop in Lee St) at 10am, QVB Clarence St 10.05am and Wynyard near Transit Shop at 10.10am on the day.

The tour will return with suitable drop offs made along the way by about 6pm.

Will the city pick up points be as above ?, as AEC Decker wishes to join the tour in the city at Railway Square or QVB Clarence St.

[AC]

Can stop at QVB as well.

[paulbrown3]

Hey Stoney, how about something further north? Considering you have to come down Pitwater Rd anyway, a pick up or two along the way cant hurt, surely...

i think the people wanting pickup from nthn beaches would be meaning when the bus/es are heading "NOT IN SERVICE" to start the tour

[AC]

9:40 at warringah mall outbound be on the look out for charter 330. Will stop just before the stand

[3808]

Thanks very much for organising this guys - sorry I couldn't stay for more than the first couple of hours and had to leave at Queenscliff.

[paulbrown3]

tour just finished. highlights: 2554, 2568, 2576. north head, church point and mccars ck, palm beach, manly, cromer hts. wonderful day.

[Rail Bus]

I for one had a good day out, and enjoyed seeing the buses in some unusual places. Thanks to AC and Stoney! for organising the tour and driving it.

For me, it was a chance to sit back and not have to worry about traffic, times, school kid antics, or any of the other things that go into daily life as a charter bus driver.

[AEC Decker]

AEC Decker enjoyed himself and would like to thank AC and Stoney! for the Northern beaches tour, taking AEC Decker to places he has never been before.

[Stoney!]

If I wasnt working night shift, Id love to be on this trip. I can normally pick the 0305G's as they go past my house(which they do quite often), and Ill miss the sound of them when they get withdrawn, the B12LEA Artics dont have the same sound!!

I may have to go for a short walk to F and have a look through the wire at them before they go!!

I really enjoyed being able to get back behind the wheel of one for a day today and hearing that gorgeous engine screaming through the drivers window on right hand turns lol.

Stoney!

[Simes]

Yes thanks to AC and Stoney for pulling off a great tour I guess there will not be another class like the O305G's, in terms of performance or rarity.

[AC]

Thanks for the opportunity guys, I had a ball. I really miss driving these old bangers.

[Beaches77]

Sounds like I missed a good day, I guess Ill just have to look at the pics!!