Gunzelling tips in Canberra

[Volvo Super Olympian]

Hi all

Me and another gunzel will be making a daytrip from Sydney to Canberra using Countrylink some time this week.

As we plan to return to Sydney on the same day, meaning we technically have about 5 hours for gunzelling and riding buses.

Which is a good gunzelling location for the following ACTION buses types:

- bendis
- Irisbus
- Dennis Darts
- Scania 14.5m

Also, is there any particular route that is recommended for a ride?

Thanks!

[Sir Pompously]

Most routes you will find a range of vehicles. My route will range from all types except 14.5's. Start off with route 200 from the Railway Station, that will take you into the City. You will find the 14.5's on 300 series routes, Bendy's come alive in the morning and afternoon for school and peak services. They normally hang around after peak has finished, I rarely see them before the start of peak (However, some may be around if the driver has no change over time). Irisbuses and Dennis Darts, well the latter will come out mostly in peak when nothing else is available, as drivers do not overly like them. However you will see some out during the day, I am not sure on what routes though. They used to be confined to the 3 for a long time (When it was the 34), but now that is a random mix of vehicles again. Irisbuses, you will see the odd one on a 300 still, weekends, or maybe try out of Belconnen Town Centre for them. Try Cohen street as that is where routes start and finish.

[Lemon]

If you are waiting for a certain type of bus I would actually be more inclined to wait at Westfield Station (Belconnen Town Centre) as there is only the two platforms, if you were to wait on the southbound platform you would have the best chance of getting whatever type you wanted to get.

[Ryan]

Artics and Darts do a lot of the Xpresso routes of an evening - City West may be a good place to stake those out.

The 14.5's are mainly on the intertown (blue rapid) routes.. The virisbuses aren't on there as frequently as they used to be now that Belconnen has MAN 18.320's but they are still there.

[Volvo Super Olympian]

Thanks all for the recommendations. Spent the day traveling to all major locations.

First caught a 200 in a 18.320 diesel MAN(427) into city. Only waited a few mins before the bus rocked up.

Had a quick lunch in the city, then hopped on another diesel MAN to Belconnen, can't remember fleet number as we just hurried on any 3xx bus that pulled up.

Then we took 946 on route 58 back into city. Very good and long route for a gunzelling run.

Back to city, jumped on a CNG Scania L94 to Woden and Tuggeranong. So fortunate enough within 10 mins, saw the demo CNG scania 490 there on route 319.

Hopped on 468 14.5m Scania at Tuggeranong on 318 back to Woden. Woden had a very good variety of buses to capture. Spent about an hour there, even got a few bendis there out on school bus. Saw 709 operating a route 5 into city at around 15:42. We instead hopped on 470 14.5m Scania on 319 back into city, so that we can have some afternoon tea, before catching 16:29 route 200 back to Canberra station, and onto 17:03 countrylink back home.

Now I'm enjoying the view on the train just left Goulburn about 15 mins ago.

[Lemon]

You should have caught 709, that is a unique one, only Renault (non .3) with a ZF gear box, you also got the unique 946 with it's LED desto and different roof hatches.

[Volvo Super Olympian]

We would have loved to try 709 if time permitted, but we needed to get the 16:29 route 200 back to Kingston for our train back to Sydney, and the route 5 didn't get into town til 16:36, plus we had to buy something in town before heading home, so it had to be an express trip

It was a fun day though, we plan to do it again at a later date.

[Lemon]

Are you coming down for the tour?

[Bradley]

Hi.

I'm coming to Canberra from Sydney on the 11th October & going back home to Melbourne on 12th October, 2011.

Which are better spots for photograph for the renault PR.180 Mk1 & 2, Ansair artic, PR.100 Mk1 & 2, Ansair, 14.5m Scanias, MAN's, Deans Bus of Queanbeyan, coaches & others ACTION buses somewhere at Canberra???

Cheers

Bradley.

[Ryan]

This page may be of assistance: http://actbus.net/index.php?option=com_ ... &Itemid=31

Artics are generally used on school services and Xpresso services, so the best spots would be outside a depot around 2.30pm or in the Parliamentary Zone/Civic around 5pm. Though your visit will fall during school holidays, so keep an eye on the Xpresso (700 series) routes in peak hour.

14.5m Scanias are mainly on Blue Rapid (Intertown) services - so any bus station during the day will do. Ditto for the MAN 18.310/MAN 18.320/Scania L94UB CNG.

Standard Renaults are all over the place and hard to miss.

Really, the hardest to come by are probably the Artics and the lone Scania K230UB CNG. Everything else can be found in any of the major bus stations. Dennis Dart SLF's tend to hang around Woden a bit more.

For coaches, check out the Parliamentary Triangle and Civic (London Cct opposite Ainslie Pl has a layover many use). Heaps of Coaches in town during Floriade.

[Bradley]

Thanks for info Ryan.

Like I said earlier in my post, I'll be in Canberra on Tuesday 11th & Leaves on Wednesday morning 12th October back home to Melbourne in the same day.

Thanks.

Cheers

Bradley.

[ajw373]

We would have loved to try 709 if time permitted, but we needed to get the 16:29 route 200 back to Kingston for our train back to Sydney, and the route 5 didn't get into town til 16:36, plus we had to buy something in town before heading home, so it had to be an express trip

It was a fun day though, we plan to do it again at a later date.

Too late now of course, but the route 5 bus would have taken you through Kingston at 4:16, so would have been an easy walk to the station. But guess if you don't know where the buses go nor what time they go through it is hard to make that decision. Lack of detail like this is something I dislike about how the buses are run here.

[Bus 400]

A few more coaches can be found by catching a "Blue Rapid" (300-319) to Floriade & then walking through the closest carpark back towards the City.

[Bradley]

A few more coaches can be found by catching a "Blue Rapid" (300-319) to Floriade & then walking through the closest carpark back towards the City.

That's had to be in Commonwealth Park somewhere, am I right??

Cheers

Bradley.

[Bus 400]

Floriade is & the coaches are parked up the back of the carpark on the otherside of Commonwealth Avenue.

[Bradley]

Floriade is & the coaches are parked up the back of the carpark on the otherside of Commonwealth Avenue.

Cheers, Bus 400. I got new UBD 2012 Canberra street directory sometimes late last month (September). So I know where is it.

Thanks

Cheers

Bradley.

[Bradley]

I like to thanks, Bus 400 for help me for information when & where take photo of ACTION Buses around Canberra area. I might posted photo of others buses soon.

Here are my photo on Canberra ACT photo forum at: viewtopic.php?f=49&t=63153&p=739935#p739935

Thanks

Cheers

Bradley.