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It was sizzling hot for the sausages and for the volunteers at the workshop depot this week when the temperature hit 40c, however, everyone was smiling through the heat and found plenty of tasks to do.
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Our 1967 Leyland Lion PSR1/1 is over the pits to ensure that the bus is ready for display at the upcoming Railfest event in Bassendean.
This bus - WAGR DP0 - served in the Western Australian Government Railways and was donated to BPSWA for preservation in 1983. John Young, Graham Horton and Ross Tinley were on the job to make sure the bus is in tip top shape for the event. |
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The birds were calling and the kangaroos were watching as BPSWA members gathered at the Whiteman Park workshop depot for the 2019 AGM. The well-attended meeting started with a bus parade around the Park and business got underway at 13:00 hours. President, Tom Curtis, gave a report on the year's achievements and finances and an overview on the direction of our future efforts toward restorations and a museum. The existing council members were re-elected unopposed and attendees were very appreciative of the afternoon tea that followed - once again provided by the generosity of Daryl Clark. Photos by Dean McDiarmid |
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A regular visitor to our Whiteman Park workshop recently is BPSWA Member, George Luke, who visited from the UK. Despite the long journey to Perth, George rolled up his sleeves and was actively involved in our Tuesday workshop days by helping us to set up our new offices as well taking a keen interest in the current restoration projects and collection. George has also given us a digital copy of a booklet that he has painstakingly compiled on buses and routes of the MTT (Perth). There were lots of laughs around the lunch room table with our other esteemed volunteers and we hope that George enjoyed the visits. Thanks George for all your help and we look forward to seeing you on your next visit to Perth.
Enjoying some laughs around the lunch room table are BPSWA members George Luke (right) and Dave Tierney (left) |
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Capable volunteers, Shane and Ron donned their construction hats and were measuring up panels to build a shed. The end result of this project is a much-needed enclosure for the bus cleaning equipment so that our cleaning crew can secure all the necessary cleaning supplies and equipment in a single, purpose-built shed.
_____________________________________ In addition to the construction and restoration works in progress at the workshop, this week we were visited by the Hon Donna Faragher MLC, a regular visitor, who caught up on developments and improvements to our facilities since her previous visit. It was a beautiful sunny morning and President Tom Curtis provided an overview of the restorations in progress as well as the new office facilities and our future plans for building a museum. |
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John Young and Graham Horton are continuing the maintenance on our 1967 Leyland Lion. The former WAGR DP90 is having a full chassis lubrication, replacement fuel filters and radiator hoses, repairs to engine and gearbox oil leaks and a general engine bay clean up.
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The 3rd dome shelter on the southern lease is now complete and work has begun in the workshop to install a mezzanine floor for archive storage. The first step is to shuffle the buses around to allow access to the workshop floor space.
The Mercedes Benz H2 Fuel Cell Ecobus and our office bus, (the colourful star of the movie "Drift") have now been moved to the southern lease. Our Leyland OPS4/1 Tow Wagon did the heavy work moving the Ecobus with Colin Davison at the wheel, while Ray McNaughton steered it into the undercover storage. Tom Curtis and Ron Franklin directed operations on the ground. Packing up and clearing of Shed A has begun in preparation for installation of the mezzanine floor. A big job! |
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Bus restoration work was put aside temporarily by BPSWA member Ron Wiggins as he put the finishing touches to the installation of air-conditioners for our office accommodation unit. The air-conditioners were purchased using funds awarded to BPSWA under a Stocklands Care Grant. Thank you Stocklands and thank you Ron, we sure needed the warmth this morning! We now have a thoroughly modern and comfortable office.
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It has been a hive of activity around the workshop lately:
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| 2019_calendar_order_form.pdf |
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The new industrial sewing machine is up and running! BPSWA volunteer Brett McPherson has been getting to know the operations of the machine and honing his skills in preparation for trimming the seats in our 1950 AEC Regal Mark III (MTT 378). The team at BPSWA are willing and able to put their intellect and efforts to whatever needs to be done to get these old buses looking sensational.
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One of our newest volunteer members, Darren Longden, has been working on the former Westrail (M199) coach which is in the workshop for panel and paint work. The exterior paintwork has been given a face lift and is looking fresh and bright. Darren says he has more to do on the roof of this 1987 Mercedes Benz to complete the job of providing some much needed TLC.
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Although it may be standing room only for now inside this 1950 AEC Regal Mark III, restoration efforts have turned to placement of the seats and sourcing of the replacement flooring. The work continues on the outside too, as our dedicated electrician Bruce, puts the finishing touches to the external rear light fittings. As the saying goes, "two heads are better than one" as these two industrious restorers inspect old parts to determine their viability as spares. |
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The cold weather has not slowed our team of volunteers. There's a million things to do to restore and preserve a fleet of heritage buses.
Would you like to join us and become involved in our restoration projects? Click here to Contact Us. |
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One of BPSWA's most recent recruits, Tony, is on a winning streak. After successfully completing driver training in some of our heritage buses, Tony also completed his first solo "mission" driving the scheduled shuttle service around Whiteman Park in our 1977 Mercedes Benz O305 (MTT 171). Read more about this bus here. Tony also knows how to pick a winning football team as evidenced by his West Coast Eagles scarf! Photos: D McDiarmid |
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Looking very smart in its MTT livery is MTT 452 which was in the workshop this week for maintenance on the batteries and starter motor. This bus is used regularly on the Whiteman Park Explorer tours and needs to be in tip top condition. The bus has also recently received an update to its front route numbers. It can now display a full range of route numbers from 001 to 999 plus the special 000.
Photos and update courtesy of C Davison. |
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The Bus Preservation Society of WA (Inc) encourages family participation in its activities. Our membership categories include Adult, Concession, Family and Associate members (students and <18 yrs). Contact Us or Join Us if you would like to participate.
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Kevin Nicholls has methodically worked at repairing the rusted panels including the front door which had to be completely rebuilt. Kevin, assisted by Mike, are seen here working on a repaired panel on the rear of the bus.
Kevin has also been repairing the water tank whilst colleague and fellow restorer Reg Goddard worked on repairing the front steps. When he has finished repairing the water tank, Kevin says his next job is repairing the rear window seal which has completely perished |
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From bush block to usable parking/storage space - clearing, surfacing and fencing of the BPSWA southern lease area is now complete! Steps and hand rails to the personal access gate are in position and the vehicle access gates at the top and lower end of the block are in place and ready for lockup.
Multi-talented members Phil Gates and Ron Franklin are shown at work on the cement mixer during fencing whilst Ron McDiarmid steps aboard the digger for the 90 post holes needed for the perimeter. Sincere thanks to BPSWA member Greg Shemeld who donated the use of his fencing equipment which made the job so much easier and more economical! Over the past months, there has been a steady stream of BPSWA volunteers of all ages and capabilities giving their time and efforts to bring the project to successful completion. Well done BPSWA volunteers! |
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Celebrating his 90th birthday recently was Bill Allnutt, a long time volunteer who works every week at both the Bus Preservation Society and the Perth Electric Tramway Society at Whiteman Park. Bill worked tirelessly on the recent restoration of International D35B SBS15, where his knowledge, skills and persistence were greatly appreciated by the team. But it's not only bus restoration work that Bill applies his skills to, he is currently working on our extensive collection of artefacts and memorabilia.
Below, Bill's assistant Olivia displays the birthday cakes - a bus and a tram of course. Happy Birthday Bill from all your friends, you are an inspiration to us all! |
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One of our regular volunteers every Tuesday is Trevor Bindeman who has generously donated this MIG welding machine to BPSWA for use in the workshop. Trevor says it's a good machine and in good condition too. He hasn't used it for a while and felt it may as well be put to good use. Thanks Trevor!
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| 2018_Calendar_Order_Form |
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Kevin Nicholls and Peter Hancey were revelling in the new Plasma Cutter donated to the workshops by Trevor Bindeman. This welcome addition a was immediately put to work cutting up the Daimler chassis that has been sitting outside the west side of the sheds.
Previous methods of cutting up chassis etc., involved the use of an Oxy torch and Angle Grinder to cut the large steel sections in chassis into a manageable size for disposed. This can be expensive with the cost of consumables such as gas and cutting wheels. The addition of this new piece of equipment will make the job easier (and quicker) and reduce the overheads in the workshop. The plasma cutter is a metal cutting machine that utilizes gas blown at a high speed from the nozzle of the tool. Getting the right nozzle for the job is important and Trevor made a special effort to get some high quality nozzles for the cutting head. The application of electrical arc to the gas will turn the gas into a plasma which forms a super-hot torch that makes short work of the job of cutting the heavy steel frames in these old chassis. The workshop staff are indebted to Trevor Bindeman who donated the equipment and who helped in the job of breaking up the Daimler. Parts recovery and sorting the metals has gone on 'apace' and the job should be finished quickly now. Thanks Trevor! |
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One of our stalwart 'workhorses' the AEC 1965 Regal IV No 654 has been in the workshop these past two weeks with replacement and repairs being conducted to the rear steps. The platform had become worn and was considered a danger to passengers boarding and alighting from the bus so a replacement needed to be rebuilt and fitted. Kevin Nicholls took on the task of removal, rebuilding and refitting the platform and should be finished next week. We are looking forward to the bus returning to the operational roster, soon.
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Kalamunda 17
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The Wagonette ready for loading to go to 'Naval Base' for its 'makeover'.
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Emerging from the Workshop, all 'Spick and Span'.
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The refurbished 'Wagonette' on display at 'Arthur Grady Day', Fremantle
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workshop volunteer Hours: |
Each Tuesday 08:00 to 13:00 at the Whiteman Park workshop.
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TO request A VISIT
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To tour the bus collection or see the BPSWA workshops in action any Tuesday, click the "Contact Us" button below. Visitors and new volunteers are welcome.
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How Secure is this site? |
A test of this site provided by Trendmicro on 14th October, 2017, indicated that "this URL contains no malicious software and shows no signs of phishing." (Test for yourself, visit Trendmicro for an update?)
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Any gift made to BPSWA of $2 or more, is tax deductible (within Australia).
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