CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
A Milestone Moment
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It was a pivotal and rewarding moment in the workshop recently when some components of the 1930s charabanc project came together for the first time. A number of our volunteers took part in positioning the wood-framed charabanc body into place over the 1930s Thornycroft chassis. There is much more to do but progress is steady. A great moment!
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"Miss Pemberton" Steps Forward
"Miss Pemberton", our 1946 Bedford OB bus is in the workshop undergoing her extensive restoration and transformation. This tourist coach, which was operated by Metro Tours, ended its working life on a farm near Nyabing in the Western Australian wheatbelt before being donated to BPSWA for restoration. Watch this space for future updates and progress.
Appreciating History
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BPSWA welcomes many visitors and groups who share an interest in preserving vehicle history. A recent group to visit our workshop was the Riley Motor Club of Western Australia. The group had seen our exhibits at the recent York Motor Show and were keen to see more.
The restoration enthusiasts were given a tour of our workshop and the restorations in progress, and became the first passengers on our newly restored and registered 1950 AEC Regal Mk III half cab (MTT 378) on a tour of Whiteman Park. If you are interested in visiting our workshop, click here to contact us. |
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K17 Sparkles
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One of the most important and regular tasks at our workshop on Tuesday is keeping our restored buses clean and in pristine condition ready for presentation at community events.
One of our newest members, Maree, takes a well-earned break after giving K17 a thorough clean inside and out. Well done Maree - K17 is sparkling! Kalamunda 17 (K17) is the sole surviving bus from the Kalamunda Bus Service. The 1952 AEC Regal Mark IV was donated to BPSWA by the Kostera family in 2008 and is a popular and regular exhibit at community events. |
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A VIP Visit!
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The team at BPSWA were extremely pleased to welcome Transport Minister, Rita Saffioti, who visited our depot to announce that the State Government would be donating a former Transperth bus to add to our fleet.
Chairperson, Tom Curtis, took the Minister on a tour of our workshop and gave an overview of the current restorations in progress and a closer look inside Scarborough 15 - our restored International D35B. The Minister described our operation as a "hidden gem" and has committed to providing a Mercedes Benz O405NH to join our fleet in the very near future. |
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It's a Wrap
This Mercedes Benz O405NH (formerly Transperth 1302) is a low-entry O405NH chassis which was designed specifically for the Australian market and was in production from 1999 until 2002.
The Transperth Volgren bodied Mercedes O405NH’s were the first low-entry, wheelchair accessible, air-conditioned buses to be purchased by the Public Transport Authority (PTA). 1302 entered service in July 1999 and was withdrawn in 2016 and donated to the Bus Preservation Society.
In August 2020, in preparation for use within Whiteman Park, it received a vinyl wrap promoting the attractions of the park. Our Chairman, Tom Curtis, took some time to give it a thorough inspection.
The Transperth Volgren bodied Mercedes O405NH’s were the first low-entry, wheelchair accessible, air-conditioned buses to be purchased by the Public Transport Authority (PTA). 1302 entered service in July 1999 and was withdrawn in 2016 and donated to the Bus Preservation Society.
In August 2020, in preparation for use within Whiteman Park, it received a vinyl wrap promoting the attractions of the park. Our Chairman, Tom Curtis, took some time to give it a thorough inspection.
Our New Storage Sheds
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The new machinery storage sheds are now in place on the Southern Lease and will house 12 of our most valuable buses whilst they await their turn at restoration. The big job now is for our volunteers to shuffle all the buses around the yard into their new home under cover.
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Capturing Precious Water
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With a greatly appreciated grant from Stocklands recently, BPSWA were able to purchase a 2500L rainwater tank. The rainwater from our workshops will be captured for use in the radiators of our buses. The team set about building a stand, and now It's all plumbed in and already close to full from the recent rains. Thank you Stockland!
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Over the Pit
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It has been a busy time over the pit recently with 4 of our buses being readied for their licencing inspection - 1950 AEC Regal Mk III half cab (MTT 378), 1977 Mercedes Benz O305 (MTT 171), 1980 Mercedes Benz O305 (MTT 339) and 1999 Mercedes Benz O405 (PTA 1320).
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Back in Business
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June 2020
Following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions many of our enthusiastic members have returned to the workshop and are eager to get started on restorations and other projects. First off the rank, was a review of our 1946 Bedford OB "Miss Pemberton" to determine the next steps in the restoration plan. Our Leyland Lion PSR1/1 (DP90) is in the workshop for a body and paint work refresh, so Kevin was hard at work on the panels. Trevor is manufacturing a new tow hitch for our trusty Leyland OPS4/1 tow wagon, and Reg was busy working with scrap metal to earn much needed income. |
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Restorations In Progress
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March 2020
With the corona virus threat looming, our March workshop days were a little quieter, however, there were still many enthusiastic restorers at work on the various projects in the workshop. Colin is putting finishing touches to the rear of our Tow 4, Brian and Ron were looking at how the restored engine was going to fit into the chassis framework of our Thornycroft, Geoff was working on the strip- down of our Bedford OB, and John and Graham had Riverton 8 over the pit for maintenance in readiness for an event. |
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A Replacement Engine For the Panther
Our 1974 Leyland Panther is over the pit for some major work.
No 988 was one of the last Panthers to enter service with the MTT in October 1974. Its passenger carrying activities continued well after the MTT was re-badged as Transperth in 1986. This bus remained in service for close to 20 years before being donated to the Bus Preservation Society of WA (Inc) in 1994 and is still used today to provide Shuttle, Explorer and Heritage tours around Whiteman Park.
Unfortunately the engine has failed and John Young and Graham Horton are preparing to fit a replacement engine. Assisting them is a team of graduate Engineering students from UWA who are gaining valuable hands-on experience.
Click here to read the full story of MTT 988
No 988 was one of the last Panthers to enter service with the MTT in October 1974. Its passenger carrying activities continued well after the MTT was re-badged as Transperth in 1986. This bus remained in service for close to 20 years before being donated to the Bus Preservation Society of WA (Inc) in 1994 and is still used today to provide Shuttle, Explorer and Heritage tours around Whiteman Park.
Unfortunately the engine has failed and John Young and Graham Horton are preparing to fit a replacement engine. Assisting them is a team of graduate Engineering students from UWA who are gaining valuable hands-on experience.
Click here to read the full story of MTT 988
Lighting the Pit
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Improvements to our workshop and facilities continue. Two of our newest members, Bob Cotton and Geoff Sherman responded to a call from our mechanical team for improved lighting in the pit. Until now the team has relied on portable lights which are not always as efficient as needed. Bob is a qualified electrician and, ably assisted by Geoff, set about installing low voltage LED strip lighting which will improve safety and visibility in the pit. A much needed and greatly appreciated improvement!
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Charlie Loves Buses!
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In the workshop recently, visiting from the UK, was Charlie and his family. Charlie was keen to try out the driver's seat in all the buses in our workshop. He especially liked our 1938 International D35B (Scarborough Bus Service #15).
After taking a good look at the restoration projects and the buses, Charlie declared that he was driving to Nottingham! Enjoy your trip Charlie, we enjoyed your visit and hope you had fun with the displays. Although we don't have a museum, we invite and encourage members of the public to visit and view our heritage bus collection. Click here to contact us if you would like to visit. |
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SBS15 Gets Ready For Licencing
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Or 1938 International D35B, Scarborough Bus Service#15, is over the pit for final checking and maintenance in readiness for its licencing inspection. Licencing a heritage vehicle for the road poses some unique challenges. In addition to meeting some current day requirements, such as indicators and stop lights which may not have been on the original model, heritage vehicles must also meet the standards which applied at the time of original manufacture. Because of the age and service years of the vehicle, parts are often worn and replacements are not readily available. Sometimes this requires specially manufacturing a worn or damaged part. SBS15 is currently undergoing some work on the steering and suspension to ensure it is up to standard.
Click here to see the full story of SBS15. |
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1965 Leyland Royal Tiger Looking Sharp
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Our 1965 Leyland Royal Tiger (MTT 591) has had an extensive session over the pits recently. Under the skilled hands of John Young, Graham Horton and Ross Tinley, the Worldmaster is now back in service and looking very sharp. Following many years of faithful service, the water pump had to be rebuilt and and the cooling system hoses replaced. Swan Transit in Midvale generously provided a full wash and steam clean - inside, outside, under and over - efficiently delivered by Apprentice Mechanic Brendon. The popular Worldmaster will return to the Whiteman Park services this week.
Click here to read more about this 1965 Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster. |
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A Facelift for Tow4
Our 1950 Leyland OPS4/1 Tow Wagon is in the workshop for some overdue TLC. The ex MTT #4 tow wagon is used extensively by the Society at events and at the workshop depot, and the body and paintwork is showing its age. The team are preparing the trusty workhorse for a well-deserved face-lift. Watch this space for progress.
The Hino Powers Up
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Some of our heritage buses are not simply static displays - they are used to provide essential shuttle services in and around Whiteman Park. A good example is our 1974 Hino (ex MTT #83) which is a popular bus in the park due to its eye-catching City Clipper yellow livery. For some time, the engine was losing power and required major work. Glenn Boorn and the team stripped the engine down and replaced piston rings and bearings and fitted reconditioned cylinder heads. The compressor and radiator were also reconditioned and Glenn can now finally shut the engine cover on a job well done.
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ABC Radio Perth Visit
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ABC Radio Perth came out to our workshop on 14th June and interviewed some of active volunteers on the day including our President Tom Curtis and the ever-lively Pat Hallahan. If you were up early and listening to ABC Breakfast Radio on Saturday 25th May you might have heard the interview with the ABC's Emma Wynne. If you missed it you can always watch the ABC online video - click on this link
Photo: Dave Tierney |
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Getting Ready for Heritage Displays
Our beautifully restored 1929 Leyland Lion (Metro 22) has been taken over to the Revolutions Museum in Whiteman Park to become our latest Heritage display. This replaces the equally beautiful 1938 International D35B (SBS15) which has had pride of place as our display for some time. See these and more of our heritage buses and restoration projects at Whiteman Park - click here to find out what's on at Whiteman Park.
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Restoration of 1930 Thornycroft Bus
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Our next big restoration project is well underway! Our 1930 wood-framed Thornycroft bus is in the workshop and restoration has begun.
Neil and his team have already started building the wooden frame onto the chassis. The "spare" vehicle in the southern lease compound has been stripped down to salvage any usable parts for the restoration. The engine has been partially stripped and poses numerous challenges. Work is progressing on three fronts with different teams - the chassis, the body work and the mechanical components. A big job ahead but the team is enthusiastic! |
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Turning Scrap into Cash
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Two of our industrious volunteers, Reg and Tom, got busy stripping copper wire from an old electrical motor. The copper wire will be sold as scrap along with other scrap metals and batteries to bring in much needed funds for our restoration projects.
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Service Inspection
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After a very successful day providing free bus services around York at the Motor Show, John Young put our 1962 Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster (MTT 452) over the pits for a thorough inspection to check for any oil or water leaks. The Worldmaster performed beautifully on the day in York but it pays to be cautious and provide the 56 year-old bus with the care and respect that it deserves.
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Making Tyres Last The Distance
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One way of getting the most out of tyres is to re-groove them and the latest addition to our workshop equipment is a tyre re-groover. Not all tyres can be re-grooved, but those that are marked "Regroovable" can be given a new lease on life. A single new tyre for a bus can cost upwards of $700, so this little machine has already earned its keep. Ron Franklin (who has extensive experience with re-grooving), Ron McDiarmid and Paul Gentelli were getting acquainted with the equipment whilst Colin Davison looks on with interest.
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1950 AEC Regal MkIII (MTT 378)
Work is progressing well on the restoration of this 1950's era half cab bus. This is an example of a Western Australian Government Tramways (WAGT Bus 73) AEC Regal half cab bus that was later modernised by the MTT (MTT Bus 378). It has undergone a near complete body restoration including replacement of the floor and repair or replacement of exterior body panels. The mechanical components have been checked and repairs carried out and new tyres have been fitted. The destination rolls have been returned to original MTT display format and work is now being directed to the interior and exterior. The external panel and paint work in green and cream is looking spectacular under the skillful guidance and work of Peter Hancey and is almost complete. The next major tasks will include installation of glazing, and the internal floor covering prior to installation of the seats.
It's always a busy time at the Workshop - come join us!
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About Our Workshop
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- The BPSWA Workshop is situated inside Whiteman Park along with the Bennett Brook Railway, the Perth Electric Tramways and the Park's maintenance workshops.
- Visits by the public to the 'Workshop area are welcome by arrangement - click Contact Us to request a visit. The Workshop hours are 8am to 1pm each Tuesday.
- When visiting the workshops, please consider your safety - wear close-fitting clothing and closed shoes. Children must be supervised at all times. Hi-Vis vests, safety glasses and ear plugs are available for visitors thanks to one of our generous Sponsors - Stocklands.
- Morning Tea is generally at 9.30am and lunch at 12.00pm. You would be very welcome to join our volunteers in the crib room for coffee or tea and a biscuit.
- If you would like to join our volunteer organisation and participate in preserving Western Australian history - click Join The Fun.
The Workshop
BPSWA has about 2,500 square metres of workshop and undercover storage space at our depot at Whiteman Park. Here we house about 27 buses, some of these we have restored or rebuilt; some are in undercover storage as they are rare or unique and need to be protected from the elements. Others (about 15) have been rebuilt /refurbished and operate as part of our unique collection of operating 'in service' buses and need storage undercover.
The dedicated workshop area has;
The People
Each area has a committed team of trades and trade assistants, and each project has an identified Project Leader working under the management of the workshop foreman. A 'stores' controller, manages the supplies of (largely) recovered parts from previously 'broken up' buses. Usually the 'crib room' has about 25 to 30 people enjoying the fellowship at morning tea or lunch. A small group collect batteries and metal waste from sponsors who continually donate these items to the Society. These are 'on-sold' to earn funds for the restoration activities. There is a group of administrators/archivists who prepare material for display; digitise manuals and other documents for use in the workshops; record and manage the archival material and some 20,000 items of memorabilia, books, photographs and other records.
A small group of volunteers check tyres, batteries, water, oil and fuel each week for the operational buses in the fleet. As well, these intrepid group of volunteers service these buses on a rotational basis to make sure that they are available for the weekly running on the Shuttle and Explorer services operated by the Society for Whiteman Park, each weekend. All our members are volunteers who give up their time and energy to work on a range of projects and activities such as these.
BPSWA has about 2,500 square metres of workshop and undercover storage space at our depot at Whiteman Park. Here we house about 27 buses, some of these we have restored or rebuilt; some are in undercover storage as they are rare or unique and need to be protected from the elements. Others (about 15) have been rebuilt /refurbished and operate as part of our unique collection of operating 'in service' buses and need storage undercover.
The dedicated workshop area has;
- a pit and floor space for general maintenance,
- a body shop,
- a mechanical workshop,
- a dedicated section for up to five major projects/rebuilds.
The People
Each area has a committed team of trades and trade assistants, and each project has an identified Project Leader working under the management of the workshop foreman. A 'stores' controller, manages the supplies of (largely) recovered parts from previously 'broken up' buses. Usually the 'crib room' has about 25 to 30 people enjoying the fellowship at morning tea or lunch. A small group collect batteries and metal waste from sponsors who continually donate these items to the Society. These are 'on-sold' to earn funds for the restoration activities. There is a group of administrators/archivists who prepare material for display; digitise manuals and other documents for use in the workshops; record and manage the archival material and some 20,000 items of memorabilia, books, photographs and other records.
A small group of volunteers check tyres, batteries, water, oil and fuel each week for the operational buses in the fleet. As well, these intrepid group of volunteers service these buses on a rotational basis to make sure that they are available for the weekly running on the Shuttle and Explorer services operated by the Society for Whiteman Park, each weekend. All our members are volunteers who give up their time and energy to work on a range of projects and activities such as these.
