The

RATTLER Issue number 362, October 2002

Monthly newsletter of the Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia

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Bus Preservation Society of Western Australia (inc) 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 tot necessarily reflect or coincide with the views of the Bus Preservation Society of Wciern 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 If anybody has stories, jokes, photos or news items they would like included in the Rattler please send them in (bus related of course). Every attempt will be made to use them (with the discretion of the editor). Every Tuesday is a work day at Whiteman park and all are invited. Table space has been expanded to cater for increasing numbers, and I'm sure more could be fitted in. The last work day will be December 17l and normal workdays will resume on January 14th. The Dulwich Street gate has been permanently closed and everybody must use the Lord Street entrance. We will be allowed a key for the UoTd St entrance only for evening General Meetings. Dates for BPSWA remaining general meetings for 2002 are and November 22nd. Dates for 2003 are January 29th, March 25th, May 27th and July 23rd which will include the AGM.

C a v e eiv,\«?e Help for "sizzles'" at the 1 farvey Norman store in Midland is always welcome - 16' November and 28'1 December. Remember "Have- A-Go" day will be held at the Burswood Park 9am to 3pm on Tuesday October 29 1 . There will be an exhibit of No 81. some photos and a sausage sizzle. On October 3 1sl Number 8 1 will be filmed by a crew working with the ABC production "The Shark Net',' This will be done in the Nedlands Dalkeith area. Following a decision last October to sell the Leyland RTF bus, it was advertised by public tender. An English couple flew- here from the U.K. and have now purchased it. Part of the proceeds will go towards our proposed extension if we finally get a grant from the lotteries-An initiation is extended to all members, their partners and families that we are planning a pre-Christmas get together at the depot on Sunday December 1 5ln. We hope to have the chance to meet new faces as well as older members who have not seen the progress made on No22 and No 101, There will be more detail in the November issue of the Rattler.

Flashback On September the 9lh 1903 the first motor car service from Perth

to Victoria Park began, to replace the horse drawn buses. Mr Copley and Co initiated it, the first service of its kind in Australia. It caused great interest and excitement to the citizens of Perth, and to those of Victoria Park in particular.

The two cars, as they were described, would have been called buses by us. They started at the Perth GPO with invited guests and a cmwd of about 200 gathered. The trip was to Mint street in Victoria 1 Jt, a distance of about three miles. This run was completed in just over 30 minutes.Due to the stones on Adelaide Terrace and the uneven planks of the causeway the journey was a little uncomfortable. However everyone on board the buses were satisfied for comfort and mobility.

The inclines were easily negotiated and the vehicles could turn in their own length. The ratepayers were said to be rejoicing in the opening of this service, and would soon be in competition with Tramways.

As for the buses themselves, they were capable of carrying up to 18 passengers. They were built by Stirlings Motor Carriages. Edinburgh,

Page four were 14 feet long and were driven by a 12 HP motor under the drivers feet.

The speed of the vehicle was regulated to four, eight and twelve MPH. by means of three pinions of varying ratios. The tyres were solid rubber and some windows could be removed in summer. At full speed the vehicle could be brought to a standstill within nine feet. A demonstration of this was carried out when the vehicle was brought to a stop from seven MPH in a few inches.

The buses cost £800 and could be run for about 4 pence per mile. The agent for Stirlings claimed that there was far fewer accidents with motor buses than any other form of transport. This was due to improvements in engine construction, it was now impossible . k an explosion.

The first motor car service from Perth to Victoria Park.

Daimler Freelines (Thanks to N, Pusenjak) The following photo was taken around 1958 of the last tram to North Perth, it also shows bus No 139 when near new. 20 Daimler Freelines were purchased to enable the closure of the last couple of tram routes in Perth. However the Tramways Daimler Freelines were not popular with the older people or women with small kids as the floor was high and steps steep. The big chrome bumper bars were removed in MTT days.

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At Scarborough beach. 1974/75. Now belonging to Mike Chandler

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Photo taken in Scarborough Beach Road, Osborne Park 1974/1975

The photo was probably taken in Angove Street, near the corner of Charles Street where the North Perth tram route terminated.

One Daimler Freeline that is still around belongs to Mike Chandler. He has had the bus since 1992 before that she was a kitchen van for Sabemo Construction for quite a few years. However even earlier than that it would have been WA Government Tramways No 147. It was placed in service on 22nd October 1957,

MTT had one identical bus to this with a horizontal Gardner 6LW diesel. This bus was the only underfloor engined Guy Arab to have operated in Perth and was WA Govt Tramways 135 and became MTT 308. It was sold to Swanleigh school near Caversham and was >) k seen at Soltoggios truck wrecking yard on North Lake Road Myaree and presumed broken up.

History of the Metropolitan Omnibus Company: Max Hayles 1934 November \6U - Agreed to order six new buses, four with English Strachan bodies and two as chassis. Bodies for these two to be built by Campbell & Mannix.

November 22 nd Page seven

Agreed to take over Rockingham Taxis for £220, conditional on the taxi being replaced by a bus with Transport Board approval. December 12th - The Metro Company was attacked by Unemployment Minister, Mr Kenneally in the press for importing bus bodies. December 17th - Alpine Taxis would sell out for £350 per vehicle, but Metro first to ensure transport Board approval to replace with buses. December 18th - Metro to request Rockingham Road Board for a subsidy for a daily bus service. Taxi No. RO-9 (A. Paige) to be sold for not less than £100. Metro would seek assurance from Transport Board tv l no Taxi service would be allowed. 1935 January 41 - As the six new buses on order were to be diesels, a new fuel tank was to be built. January 9{ - Metro was advised that only half of the Alpine Taxis were now prepared to sell.

Alpine Taxi owned by F. Mills January 25th - Letter received from Alpine officially terminating negotiations. Bus No22 had been overhauled at a cost of £23, having run 99,795 since last overhaul. Bus No28 had broken a rear axel after

Page eight running 311,000 miles. Negotiations with Suburban Bus were to be reopened. February 5th -Mr. David outlined a scheme put to him by a committee of Alpine owners representing at least 35 Alpine owners proposing the formation of a separate Company for buying the goodwill of as many taxi owners as possible either by cash or shares, and for Metro to purchase a fleet of 34 seater buses. Agreed to offer options not to exceed £200 each, and a committee of Metro directors to make further enquiries. February 22nd - Metro 12A (Lioness) had been overhauled for £35 after running 340,320 miles. The manager recorded that 40 Alpir taxi licencees had signed agreements. 18 of them being guaranteed employment. For the remaining owners Metro would agree to £200 with employment or £250 without employment. Offer to terminate by 9.00am on March 1st 1935. March Ist - Letter received from remaining Alpine owners refusing Metro offer and stating any further offers would be futile. Metro would contact Transport to arrange to transfer taxis to buses. March 12{ - Four new buses had arrived and the directors were pleased with the bodywork and seating. Campbell & Mannix to be asked to arrange similar seating in the two additional buses.

This guy is cleaning out his garden shed finds a very old and dirty bottle which he wipes. Out pops a genie who says "you have freed me so I will grant you one wish". The guy replies "what I really want is a bridge, over to Rottnest island". The genie says "well this is a very big askj what with all the steel and concrete needed, so possibly is there a )her« wish you might have". The guy has another think and says well my next door neighbour is really passionate about renovating old buses and I would really like to know what makes him want to do this". The genie thinks about it for a moment and turns to the guy and says "mate how many lanes did you want on that bridge". (Thanks to our new member Ross Groat)

A friendship that ended never really began