Brisbane Bus Lines - 1998

[system improver]

About a decade ago, I visited the Brisbane Bus Lines depot on a Sunday morning and snapped this beautifully presented fleet. Buses of a similar type were parked next to each other. Some have gone and others are still there.

First, Grenda's six Denning Panthers from '69/'70 all went to BBL. Five were about on this day, centre door removed and rear window altered but still looking smart after 30 years:




Next, a number of 1982 Custom Coaches Volvo B10Ms came from Westbus:



Now, some MCA CATs new to BBL:



Then, there was this Custom Coaches Dennis Dart:



Some Fuji Volvos:



An Autobus CAT coach


And finally, that white box seen in a couple of shots, alias a Leyland Leopard, an ex BCC bus rebodied by Morine (?)


Further info would be welcomed.

[User xxx]

I hope those ex grendas leyland panthers had wilson gearboxes not the 2 speed zf the whiplash as I called them that the brisbane city council had in some of there panthers they were a terrible gearbox go right down in first then back to second back in 98 did you spot boxy looking scanias they had I think they ex boganville mines buses rout660.

[Alex on the Bus]

Er, the Darts had Customs bodies - basically a flat-screen variant of the 510 that predated the advent of the 515. But yes, it does look a lot like an MCA.

[system improver]

Er, the Darts had Customs bodies - basically a flat-screen variant of the 510 that predated the advent of the 515. But yes, it does look a lot like an MCA.

Correct. I've just noticed that and corrected it in the post.

[PhoenixC13]

White box as you call it was a ex STA Sydney Leopard thats Pine Rivers Coaches had rebodied by some bloke at Brendale and thankfully never another was done!

There were two Dennis Darts and both went to NZ and have changed operators 3 times in NZ and now have been rebuilt and repowered and live in Duneden South Island. With BBL thats makes 4 owners so obviously a much loved little buses they were.

[Sb617]

Loved the first pic of the 70s ex-Grenda Panthers. I'd imagine it did a lot of school/charter work before its retirement.

MCAs were looking new back in its day as well. Great pics.

[VH-NJF]

White box as you call it was a ex STA Sydney Leopard thats Pine Rivers Coaches had rebodied by some bloke at Brendale and thankfully never another was done!

There were two Dennis Darts and both went to NZ and have changed operators 3 times in NZ and now have been rebuilt and repowered and live in Duneden South Island. With BBL thats makes 4 owners so obviously a much loved little buses they were.

Wouldnt be suprised if that was an earliy Episode of Mills.

[brisbane fm tram 467]

888
the ex b.c.c leopard at b.b.l. is ex 346 it was rebodied when it was at pine rvers bus service.

cheers

bring back the trams

[DarrenH]

I didn't know some MKI Volvo B10m's from Westbus went up to Brisbane Bus lines until I saw these pics. It seems the stainless steel fluting has been removed from these buses. I suppose Westbus disposed of these MKI Volvos real early because they were single door units. All of the ones remaining at Westbus have a centre door which is good for route service.

[Windy]

Not really, as the centre door doesn't get used except at terminals. They definitely cannot be used on school runs either!

[E.L.Wood]

I didn't know some MKI Volvo B10m's from Westbus went up to Brisbane Bus lines until I saw these pics. It seems the stainless steel fluting has been removed from these buses. I suppose Westbus disposed of these MKI Volvos real early because they were single door units. All of the ones remaining at Westbus have a centre door which is good for route service.

BBL initially took 10 B10Ms from Westbus, all single door units, although 4 were later sold to N.Z.(Clark's) as well as the 3 Darts which went to Bayline in Tauranga, then to Go Bus in Hamilton but appear now to have been split with ex BBL 64 being the odd one not reported as passing to Dunedin Passenger Transport. Funny how things change as most new 12.5m CDC buses recently have been single door units, with only the long ones having 2 doors.

[skystar320]

That last bus would have to be the ugliest thing EVER!
Also the picture above it how BIG is the bloody Desto!

[benmo]

HI this Bus was Rebodied by my father Terry Morine in the late 80's. I believe he was at the time the first person in Queensland to do so.

[Vitalstatistix]

White box as you call it was a ex STA Sydney Leopard thats Pine Rivers Coaches had rebodied by some bloke at Brendale and thankfully never another was done!

There were two Dennis Darts and both went to NZ and have changed operators 3 times in NZ and now have been rebuilt and repowered and live in Duneden South Island. With BBL thats makes 4 owners so obviously a much loved little buses they were.

I thought there were 3?

Also did one of these Darts have a centre door?