Recycling our history
This is the story of a discarded bus that once -proudly serviced Perth’s transport system in and around Scarborough Beach, through the Glendalough area to the City and return. For about 20 years from 1938 to 1958 the bus we call SBS15, was operated by Scarborough Bus Service around Scarborough Beach, Mt Hawthorn, Leederville and Glendalough. It may also be remembered from World War II days when it also transported servicemen between Pearce and Perth.
Buses are part of the history of any city and serve to remind us of the past and of the changes that have occurred over the years.
This bus, is an outstanding old ‘International D35B ‘bonneted’ bus, SBS15 (Scarborough Bus Service No 15). The bus dates from about 1938 through to 1958 and was operate around Scarborough Beach, Mt Hawthorn, Leederville and Glendalough area. It will also be remembered by many for its WW2 running, returning servicemen to Pearce from Perth.
When Scarborough Beach Services were taken over by the MTT around the late 1950’s the bus was decommissioned and sold off. It was lost for a number of years but from what information is available was used as a mobile workshop on a farm in the Gnowangerup area. Its future was destined to be scrap either as landfill or broken up for its metal content in a scrapyard somewhere but fortunately, in 2003 it was identified, its provenance established and offered to the Bus Preservation Society as a possible restoration project.
Its been stripped down to the chassis and the metal work repainted. The engine & transmission has been repaired and the timber Coachwork rebuilt. The project group is in the process of painting the new coachwork and restoring and fitting the old panels and interior. Where-ever possible the original panels and fittings will be installed and used.
The society had been working on its restoration over the years but lacked funds to advance the rebuild. Due to the efforts of our members and supporters, donations and gifts were gathered into a fund and restoration started in earnest in 2011 The cash award of $5000 received last year from the Waste Authority was devoted entirely to this project and meant that considerable progress has been made but its still a work in progress and further funding sources are currently being considered.
Buses are part of the history of any city and serve to remind us of the past and of the changes that have occurred over the years.
This bus, is an outstanding old ‘International D35B ‘bonneted’ bus, SBS15 (Scarborough Bus Service No 15). The bus dates from about 1938 through to 1958 and was operate around Scarborough Beach, Mt Hawthorn, Leederville and Glendalough area. It will also be remembered by many for its WW2 running, returning servicemen to Pearce from Perth.
When Scarborough Beach Services were taken over by the MTT around the late 1950’s the bus was decommissioned and sold off. It was lost for a number of years but from what information is available was used as a mobile workshop on a farm in the Gnowangerup area. Its future was destined to be scrap either as landfill or broken up for its metal content in a scrapyard somewhere but fortunately, in 2003 it was identified, its provenance established and offered to the Bus Preservation Society as a possible restoration project.
Its been stripped down to the chassis and the metal work repainted. The engine & transmission has been repaired and the timber Coachwork rebuilt. The project group is in the process of painting the new coachwork and restoring and fitting the old panels and interior. Where-ever possible the original panels and fittings will be installed and used.
The society had been working on its restoration over the years but lacked funds to advance the rebuild. Due to the efforts of our members and supporters, donations and gifts were gathered into a fund and restoration started in earnest in 2011 The cash award of $5000 received last year from the Waste Authority was devoted entirely to this project and meant that considerable progress has been made but its still a work in progress and further funding sources are currently being considered.
The Federal Reo acquired as a source of spares and patterns for the refurbishment of SBS15.
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It doesn’t (at present) have much in the way of internal fittings as the seats were removed long ago. Period seat frames from an old REO bus from the Emu Bus Company, also destined for the scrap yard, but which match the provenance of this vehicle have been located to the south of Perth. This vehicle was acquired and bought to the Workshops where it was stripped of useful parts and the remainder sold as scrap metal. The recovered parts from the REO were cleaned and stored prior to their eventual installation in the refurbished SBS15.
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It has been, and still is, a wonderful project which, when finished will join our operational fleet of historic vehicles, licensed and used around Whiteman Park. The vehicle will also be displayed on special events both within the Park and at various outside events. Historical vehicles of this nature are rare indeed, but of considerable interest to members of the public and the young visitors to Whiteman Park. The contribution toward the restoration of this vehicle provided by funds from the Infinity Award will be recognized in the Society’s history of the vehicle and we thank the WA Waste Authority for this support and for the Award itself.
The Bus Preservation Society, a community volunteer group, records this history, collects preserves and restores buses from the past. They are displayed and used at Whiteman Park providing internal transport for the public visiting the Park.
The members of this society carry out collection and restoration relying on donations and their own fund raising efforts. One of these efforts, collection and sale of old batteries had an unexpected benefit when the group received a $5,000 Infinity Award in 2012 for their recycling efforts.
This money was directed to another recycling project, the restoration of SBS15 from the Scarborough Bus Company. Recycling of batteries helped save SBS15 from the 'tip' and to enable the Society to undertake its restoration. Both the money raised from the sale of batteries and the Infinity Award is making a significant contribution to our transport history as a result. Truly an interactive museum activity.
SBS15 was decommissioned and sold off when MTT took over the Scarborough Beach Service in 1962. Fortunately, it was not broken up for srap or dumped in landfill, but was used as a mobile workshop on a Gnowanderup farm. In 2003 its provenance and history was recognized and it was offered to our society as a possible project.
The Bus Preservation Society, a community volunteer group, records this history, collects preserves and restores buses from the past. They are displayed and used at Whiteman Park providing internal transport for the public visiting the Park.
The members of this society carry out collection and restoration relying on donations and their own fund raising efforts. One of these efforts, collection and sale of old batteries had an unexpected benefit when the group received a $5,000 Infinity Award in 2012 for their recycling efforts.
This money was directed to another recycling project, the restoration of SBS15 from the Scarborough Bus Company. Recycling of batteries helped save SBS15 from the 'tip' and to enable the Society to undertake its restoration. Both the money raised from the sale of batteries and the Infinity Award is making a significant contribution to our transport history as a result. Truly an interactive museum activity.
SBS15 was decommissioned and sold off when MTT took over the Scarborough Beach Service in 1962. Fortunately, it was not broken up for srap or dumped in landfill, but was used as a mobile workshop on a Gnowanderup farm. In 2003 its provenance and history was recognized and it was offered to our society as a possible project.
