Metro's Mercedes Benz OH1316's [Ansair]

[LocoLes]

Burnie and Launceston received a new fleet of Mercedes Benz vehicles to replace remaining Bedford SB3 units in both cities. From 1985 No.351 was evaluated in Launceston before transferring to Burnie followed by Nos. 352 to 360 from 1986 and 1987. Launceston received nos. 201 to 218 from 1987 to 1988. Nine Launceston Mercedes [210 to 218] later transferred to Burnie from 1992. At this time Launceston were taking delivery of 22 Ansair bodied MAN 10.180 Midi buses. My records indicate no Mercedes Benz OH1316's operated in Hobart. My post shows the Mercedes in action in both cities.
LocoLes.

[LocoLes]

A few more ....

[LocoLes]

Balance of photos [Hope you like these Vern!]

[yoda]

My records indicate no Mercedes Benz OH1316's operated in Hobart.

Some units did operate in Hobart in a very limited capacity.

[stevegj52]

Only time I saw the OH1316's running in Hobart was when they were coming up from Ansair Kingston en route to Springfield. I can't recall any in revenue service while in Hobart unless it was a blink of an eye.

[tasstockau]

Hi Les

thanks for this information.

Interesting to note the transfers of 210 - 218 from Launceston to Burnie in 1992.

That must have made Burnie a 100% Mercedes fleet and no doubt was to replace the remaining Hinos in the fleet at Burnie at the time?

It also possibly tied in with Volvos 69 - 78 being transferred from Hobart to Launceston at the time. 74 -78 by June and 69 -73 by December. Also associated with manual Hino retirements around that time.

Any further information that you have on specifics of transfer dates of Mercedes around 1992 would be of great interest to me please.

the use of Mercedes in Hobart was limited to school runs with 213 being noted in July 1988 when new and reports of similar restricted use of them prior to disposal as well. No reports of any route service work.

thx

Phil

[tasstockau]

Hi again

looked at these photos more carefully.

In the background of the depots photos of 351 and 358 there is a vehicle that looks very much like a Hobart semi automatic hino. (Square windows with white painted surrounds)

Assuming that it is indeed one of these the number #57 would indicate perhaps it was 457. Did you happen to take any photos of it or note why it was there perhaps?

Possibly sent there prior to sale (moving buses to a local depot for handover was known to happen) but anything further that is known would be of interest please.

I have no knowledge of this type ever operating in Burnie.

Phil

[LocoLes]

Hi Phil,
This is where my records are incomplete unfortunately....but I have recorded that there were 3 semi-auto Hino 2-door buses transferred to Burnie but purposely left the details out of my post as I have been unable to verify which buses were involved. Like you I noticed 457 in the background of my photo and Hino 431 is mentioned in the August 1989 edition of Fleetline [page 125] as being transferred to Burnie in May 1989. Also I have 428 in my records, cannot remember where I found that one! Have asked a retired Burnie driver if he remembers but no luck other than there were 'a few' only semi-auto models. Will ask one of the veteran drivers on next trip to Tassie but it is a while since the Hino days and they weren't popular vehicles from what I have learnt!
The Volvo transfers from Hobart as you mention probably coincided with the Mercedes transfers. Wish I had been able to 'keep up' with details but as I left Burnie in '74 that is where my recording virtually ended!
Cheers, Les.

[LocoLes]

Hi Les

thanks for this information.

Interesting to note the transfers of 210 - 218 from Launceston to Burnie in 1992.

That must have made Burnie a 100% Mercedes fleet and no doubt was to replace the remaining Hinos in the fleet at Burnie at the time?

thx

Phil

Hi again Phil,
Yes, Burnie was all Mercedes Benz at one time. I have attached a photo taken from the lookout which gives a commanding view of the depot showing 17 Mercedes parked in the yard. Assume there was an 18th, either in the garage or overnight either Wynyard or Ulverstone.
In regards your other questions, maybe another member can supply the 'missing' fleet arrival and departure details for us all!
Cheers, Les

[Tas Bus Nut]

To ME, that last shot is indeed a RARE shot, as no other MTT/Metro depot in Tasmania had ONE TYPE of vehicle only as the WHOLE fleet. Enjoying the stories

[LocoLes]

To ME, that last shot is indeed a RARE shot, as no other MTT/Metro depot in Tasmania had ONE TYPE of vehicle only as the WHOLE fleet. Enjoying the stories

Hi Neil,
Actually.........would you believe, Burnie achieved this record on a previous occasion
Just prior to the Hino arrivals, ALL the buses at Burnie were Bedford SB3's with Freighter-SA bodies

Cheers, Les

[tasstockau]

Hi Les

I think 523 and 524 might have just bridged that gap to provide just a little variety in the fleet?

523 was disposed of in April 1980 and 524 is recorded as sold in Nov 1979 with first hino arriving on 26/10/79 (330) and 332 a month later.

perhaps 523 and 524 were withdrawn and stored somewhere else by that stage? but that would have reduced the fleet to 19 Freighters from the information I have.
225 - 236, 317 - 321, 526 - 527.

Phil

[tasstockau]

Hi again

re the semi auto Hinos

I have come across reference to 428 elsewhere as it spent a short period of time in Launceston before going on to Burnie according to my reference.

I had assumed it was some sort of a statewide trial and then went back to Hobart but now that is probably not the case.

I will double check but this new information is very interesting as there is almost nothing else on this type away from Hobart - thx.

any other little gems?

Phil

[vernbale]

Wonderful shots LocoLes thanks, remember "driving" these gutless things not "steering" them like nowadays, you got to use your left leg a lot in them

[Tas Bus Nut]

Prototype OH1316 #351 - built at Ansair VIC

[Tas Bus Nut]

#358 - AOA for WIN Television (identical AOA on #182 Launceston & #143 Hobart)


later AOA for 7BU applied to #354. This was still in this AOA when I bought the bus to Hobart FOR SALE (swapped with #620)
. . . . AND NO LocoLes and tasstockau, I DO NOT remember the date. I will attempt to find the photos to see if there's a date.
HA HA Just looking at photo when I posted and THERE IT IS 14 Oct 2001

[vernbale]

The sparse cockpit of these with that extra pedal

[Bedford-29]

Strewth Vern the gearstick was a knuckle bruiser being close to the money tray what was it again oh yes first gear bang you bast#rd second gear bang sh#t.

[yoda]

I DO NOT remember the date.

I spent a lot of time looking for that information today.... no one knows!

[tasstockau]

thx for indulging me the dates guys

for the record 428 was transferred from Hobart to Lton on June 26 1989 and then onto Burnie on Feb 19 1990. Much longer than in recalled.

After the bedfords had gone so must have been to replace some manual Hinos in Burnie until the transfer of Mercedes from Launceston as per this thread.

reasonable to assume they didn't come back to Hobart for further service I think.



Phil

[vernbale]

Strewth Vern the gearstick was a knuckle bruiser being close to the money tray what was it again oh yes first gear bang you bast#rd second gear bang sh#t.

Looks deceiving, the knuckles easily cleared the money tray
I always double clutched them to save the oh F@#K's

[metro_tas]

we have two 1316's left at cresswells. They are reliable but sooooooo very slow

[Lt. Commander Data]

IMO the old Metro livery looks much better than the new one, which when I was little I used to think was AdMet (also didn't help that you use 14.5 CR224Ls as well as us).

[Z1-2110]

I remember as a kid, being on the old BT51 Hino's then suddenly these OH1316's taken over. The excitement riding on a new bus was great.

[Tas Bus Nut]

The excitement riding on a new bus was great.

Great or shortlived