The

RATTLER Issue number 361, September 2002

Monthly newsletter of the Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia

Does anybody know who these charming young ladies are, who owned the 1927 Chevrolet bus and where was the

photo taken? If you know please ring Max on 9349 4125

Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia fine) Postal Address for all general correspondence, including membership enquiries and other matters -

Secretary 1 Kobelke Street Dianella, WA, 6059

The Rattler is published monthly and circulated to members of the Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia (Inc) as part of their subscription. It is not sold separately, through newsagents or booksellers, so does not have a cover price. Copyright © 2001 Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia (Inc) and individual authors. Material published in The Rattler may not be reproduced in any form unless prior written approval is sought and received from the editor, except in the case of information extracted from news items which may be used in kindred enthusiast publications provided that acknowledgement is made of the source. The opinions expressed in articles in The Rattler are those of the respective authors and do o0t necessarily reflect or coincide with the views of the Bus Preservation Society of W 'h Australia or of the editor. Editor: Mark Tattersall Distribution: Christopher Bell . Material for publication in The Rattler, Including news items, articles and photos, should be sent to -

PO Box 879 Mirrabooka, WA, 6941

Or by e-mail - brat@joinet.net.au Nuts and Bolts

- Every Tuesday is a work day at Whiteman park and all are invited. The last work day will be December 17l .

- Dates for BPSWA remaining general meetings for 2002 are September 20th, and November 22nd. Dates for 2003 are January 29th, March 25th, May 27th, and July 23rd which will include the AGM. Remember "Have- A-Go" day will be held at the Burswood Park 9am to 3pm on Tuesday October 29l . There will be an exhibit of No 81, some photos and a sausage sizzle. We will require drivers and others to erect the displays and to sizzle the snaggc.^. Help for "sizzles" at the Harvey Norman store in Midland is always welcome - 5th October, 16th November and 28th

December. The Dulwich Street gate has been permanently closed and everybody must use the Lord Street entrance. We will be allowed a key for the Dulwich entrance only for evening General Meetings.

Page three We have a 6.95x14 cross pis tyre in good condition for sale. ideal for a trailer, only $5. Phone Max on 9349 4135. An Australian mini series "The Shark Net" is being made for the ABC. for the period 1950-60. We have been approached to assist with period buses. N'o8l and possible the Kalamunda Bedford. On Wednesday 1 ln (4'September we had a \isit from Our Patron the 1 Ion. Dr Judy Edwards. It was a vers agreeable and useful visit. Morning tea was served, inspection of the buses was made, and a ride in No8 1 to the Junction Station was enjoyed by all. Two members of the Heritage Council were with the minister and 1 1 of our members attended, including one members wife. P.E.T.S. open day will be held on Sundae 10n November. between 1 lam and 4.30pm. They will have displays, guided tours, sales etc. This year is the anniversary of a hundred years since the opening of the Kalgoorlie electric tramways (Eastern Goldfields Tramways) and 50 years since their closure. Also Fremantle Municipal Tramways closed 50 years ago and 10 years since restoration of Fremantle No29. For more information call John Stone on 9309 5501. Friends of Thomas the lank Engine Day will be held on Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20* of October.

Golden Jubilee - Number Seventeen: Pat Hallahan. The arrival in Kalamunda on 1411 March 1952 of the latest

Kalamunda bus to join the hills fleet marked a new stage in the evolution of bus transport. With its sweeping bright red stripes and attractive design. No 17 embodied the most modern of public transport technology for its time.

) As the first under floor diesel engined bus to enter service in Western Australia, it set a new standard that other bus companies would follow'. Metro. Scarborough. North Beach. Riverton. W.A. Tramways and Fremantle Municipal Transport quickly acquired their under floor diesel buses.

Flower. Davies and Johnson were the Perth agents for the famous A.E.C. bus. Boss Kostera had purchased his first A.E.C. diesel in 1938. The chassis of No 17 was exhibited at the Perth Royal Show in 195 1. Garaged in the sheds at the Kalamunda Bus Depot in 1 lay nes

Page four Street following the show, the chassis remained there for several months before Bolton's Body Builders of West Perth were ready to commence building.

With the horizontal diesel engine slung under the chassis between the wheels, the uncluttered platform allowed for maximum seating space for passengers and a much quieter and cooler ride in the summer months. The 9.6 litre engine, pre-select gears and fluid drive transmission combined to give a smooth ride.

No 17 could seat 49 passengers, and in peak periods a further 25 or more passengers would stand. It was not uncommon for No 17 to bottom on the front springs in the dip in the road before the hill in Shepperton Road, Victoria Park. Damage to the front body panels w U problem. Des Beard, one of Kalamunda's drivers, told of one trip when 119 passengers were on board. The original seating configuration had all seats forward facing, passengers over the wheel arch had to accept a fairly uncomfortable seating position.

With the arrival of the new bus several new innovations were introduced. The livery of Kalamunda buses was changed. Silver paint replaced black on the roof, pleasantly contrasting with the black above the window line and maroon and bright red waist band and wheels. The silver on the roof reflected the heat. The remainder of the fleet was re­painted in the new colour scheme , the work being done in the Kalamunda Garage Workshop. The Kalamunda - Perth sign above the window line on all Kalamunda buses (excepting the older buses No 2, 3 and 4) was also changed in 1954 to Kalamunda Bus Service. Local sign writing artist Fred Francis was employed on this.

The Transport Board of the day allocated route numbers for all the bus companies. As well as showing the district destination, No 17 also displayed route numbers. The Lesmurdie and Welshpool ser h was 364, The Maida Vale service 361. It was not until the Metropolitan (Perth) Passenger Transport Trust (M.T.T.) was established following the amalgamation of all the bus companies that route numbering on all buses became standard. No 17 also had an additional destination sign box located near the entrance door.

Kalamunda buses preserved the concept of a parcel shelf in the saloon. No 17's were an attractive varnished light timber. A mechanical

Page five signalling arm that was illuminated at night preceded flashing indicator lights that became standard on all buses around 1960.

A typical workday for No 17 would commence at 0730 and end at 0015. During these hours she would make at least 6 return trips from Kalamunda to Perth, plus some additional short trips to East Belmont and Wattle Grove. A bay was set aside in the bus depot for No 17's after midnight return, her parking space was on the concrete pad near the hoist accessed from Central Road.

As with many new pieces of equipment experience of operation was the best teacher for the mechanics who serviced the vehicle. A low level wheeled engine platform was designed and made in the workshops t hable the engine to be removed for major overhauls. No 17's engine had one such overhaul, the opportunity was taken to re-furbish the vehicle at this stage. She was a very reliable bus mechanically and seldom missed her shifts. Her all steel body construction was trouble free.

Because of its large capacity, No 17 was popular on special hire work such as district school sports carnivals. The Darling Range Repertory Club hired her for a night trip to His Majesty's Theatre, the local scouts did the same for their Perth rallies. She brought many people to the hills on the weekend services.

As "Pride of the Fleet" the drivers enjoyed their shift with this bus. In 1954 Kalamunda buses carried over one and a half million people on its routes. This was the peak year for the company and with the increasing availability of cars, there was a steady decline in demand for bus services in the following years.

On 6th December 1958 the Kalamunda Bus Service was absorbed into the M.T.T. No 17 left the city at 2350 via East Belmont. Boss K Jera drove it from Boonooloo Road to the terminus in Railway Road preceded by a small band on the back of a local builders truck. Many scrambled on the bus, some even climbed onto the roof, reminiscent of crowded public transport during the war years. No 17 was re-numbered 201 in the M.T.T fleet and did a further 19 years service before being withdrawn in 1977. She had completed a total of 25 years with Kalamunda and the M.T.T.

No 1 7 pictured in park lands east of Perth on delivery run to Kalamunda. March 1952. Courtesv Kostera Collection.

Page Seven Stuart Kostera purchased the bus and re-commenced the

Kalamunda Bus Service in 1978 catering for students attending private schools and colleges. The bus livery was changed back to Kalamunda colours.

Today she is resplendent in her Kalamunda colours and is housed in the Bus Preservation Society's Depot at Whiteman Park.

History of the Metropolitan Omnibus Company: Max Hayles Extract from Metro minutes 1933 A.G.M. held on January 12th

1934. This was the first complete year since the railways had reduced their fares, increased their passenger journeys by 1,200,000, lost £926 in earnings and spent an additional £40,000 in running costs. Metro had a ) reduced fares and passenger journeys by 224,000, lost £9164 but saved £3750 by running 103,230 less miles. With the reduced petrol price to 6d. per gallon, Metro was able to maintain a satisfactory profit.

Due to the uncertainty of petrol prices and possible further restrictions from the government, Metro was to consider starting a Trolley bus service from Perth to Fremantle. A scheme was drawn up and presented to the government on several occasions, but they were turned down.

The Metro fleet had completed over 8,250,000 miles due to the care of staff and reliability of the buses. Depending on the future steps taken by the Transport Board Metro may begin to withdraw some of the older buses and replace them with new ones.

Reference was made to compression ignition engines (diesels) and 300 had been brought by a Scottish company costing £380 more than petrol engines. Fuel would be supplied by C.O.R. (Commonwealth oil Refineries) at 8d, per gallon but consumption would be 50% less.

The use of the Leyland torque converter which eliminated the gt box was discussed. It was similar to the Daimler fluid flywheel and was filled with kerosene. Metro would consider sending a representative to England before purchasing either of these developments. 1934 February 6l - Damage had been caused to bus No22's differential due to a broken ball race and it had been run short of oil. Leyland advised a considerable price increase for buses. Petrol price was increased by one penny per gallon. Metro ordered 35,000 gallons at old price.

Page eight February 16th - Moved that 3 new buses be ordered, motion lost. Moved that a Metro representative go to the U.K. to study new trends before ordering new buses, carried. March 20th - Agreed to invest £1500 in Goodyear 8% preference shares. April 20th - A bus swerved on St George's Terrace and killed a woman. May 29th - The new Transport Board had renewed licences subject to, (1) No passenger pickup within 250 yards of a railway station. (2) No passenger pickup or putdown on inward / outward journeys to Perth between Bay View Terrace and a point 150 yards on Perth side of Loch St and Stirling highway intersection. (3) Pay 6% tax on gross earnings June 16th - The driver who was responsible for the accident was elm yd with negligent driving and may be upgraded to manslaughter. Metro appealed to Transport Board about new conditions without success. July 3r - Driver convicted of negligent driving. August 1st - Due to increasing costs to operate 20 Lioness buses, 6 new buses should be purchased. Mr David would depart for the U.K. to study makes and models on August 20l 1934. September 4th - A special meeting was called to discuss acquisition of Alpine Taxi Service. Agreed to also approach United Bus Service again re acquisition. October 10th - A special meeting called to discuss taxi offer of 60 to 70 individual owners vehicles at £400 each. Taxis had also approached Sydney Atkinson Motors (General Motors Agents) for 30 or more 10 -12 seat omnibuses. Metro proposed a lower price for taxi rights plus vehicles at individual valuation. November 10th - A cable had been received from George David in the U.K. as follows - " Advise purchase of 5 Leyland Lion diesels £6050 with Strachan bodies at £2250. Delivery 2 fortnightly. ? )tal construction not advisable." Considerable discussion by the Board resolved to consider 1 further bus due to the price being lower than expected. David to ask Leyland Motors if even more buses available at those prices. November 14th - Alpine Taxis keen to sell but still pursuing new 14 seat option on new Parlour cars. Metro still interested in negotiating present fleet.