Around the end of 1973, the Canberra bus service was faced with a deteriorating vehicle situation.
For example, on 7 January 1974 almost 70 vehicles of the fleet of 180 were not available for traffic. At the time, it was reported that the situation appeared to have arisen because of a number of factors, including a shortage of mechanics and the supply of spare parts [and new buses] being curtailed because of industrial disputes in Australia and overseas.
But the situation was about to get much worse, as free school travel was scheduled to be introduced on 1 February 1974.
Desperate times called for desperate measures, and the following buses were sourced to supplement the fleet:
226 – Ford R192
- Number in class: 1
- Chassis: Ford R192
- Engine: Ford 300 I6
- Gearbox: Five-speed synchromesh
- Wheelbase: 16 ft 0 in
- Bodies: Athol Hedges Pty Ltd, Northgate Qld
- Seating: B45F
- Length: 32 ft 0 in
- General notes: Stock unit purchased from Athol Hedges Pty Ltd at time of 1974 vehicle shortage.
Bedford SB (237 & 231)
- Number in class: 2
- Chassis: Bedford SB5 (227) Bedford SB3 (231)
- Engine: Bedford 330 diesel (227) Bedford 300 petrol (231)
- Gearbox: Five-speed synchromesh
- Wheelbase: 18 ft 10 in (extended)
- Bodies: Pressed Metal Corporation Ltd, Revesby NSW
- Seating: B43F
- Length: 31 ft 4 in
- General notes: Stock units purchased from Sydney dealer Suttons Motors Pty Ltd at time of 1974 vehicle shortage.
227 was transferred to the Department of the Capital Territory Special Duty Fleet and used as spare bus (ZIE.404), while 231 was transferred to the Department of the Capital Territory Special Duty Fleet and hired to the Capital Territory Health Commission (ZID.612).
228 – Bedford VAM
- Number in class: 1
- Chassis: Bedford VAM3
- Engine: Bedford
- Gearbox:
- Wheelbase:
- Bodies: Athol Hedges
- Seating: B45F
- Length:
- General notes: Stock unit purchased at time of 1974 vehicle shortage.
Transferred to the Department of the Capital Territory Special Duty Fleet and hired to the Department of Police and Customs (ZIA.733)
230 – Bedford VAM
- Number in class: 1
- Chassis: Bedford VAM70
- Engine: Bedford 466 diesel
- Gearbox: Five-speed synchromesh
- Wheelbase: 19 ft 1 in (extended)
- Bodies: Athol Hedges Pty Ltd, Northgate Qld
- Seating: B45FR
- Length: 34 ft 5 in
- General notes: Purchased from Sydney dealer, Suttons Motors Pty Ltd, at time of 1974 vehicle shortage. The vehicle was constructed to the order of Western Road Transport, Parramatta, but the firm did not take delivery.
Transferred to the Department of the Capital Territory Special Duty Fleet and hired to ACT Police (ZID.554).
240 – Thornycroft Trident
- Number in class: 1
- Chassis: Thornycroft Trident PG/CR6/1
- Engine: Thornycroft CR6/1
- Gearbox: Five-speed ‘crash’
- Wheelbase:
- Body: Syd Wood
- Seating: B47F
- Length:
- General notes: Acquired from J Bowden, Sydney, at time of 1974 vehicle shortage. 240 (and also 241-249) became available when Bowden ceased operating Sydney route 79. It was new to King, Kempsey, in 1962.
241 – Bedford SB
- Number in class: 1
- Chassis: Bedford SB5
- Engine: Bedford 330 diesel
- Gearbox: Five-speed synchromesh
- Wheelbase: 19 ft 2 in (extended)
- Bodies: Motor Body Specialists Pty Ltd, Eagle Farm Qld
- Seating: B43F
- Length: 31 ft 8 in
- General notes: Acquired from J Bowden, Sydney, at time of 1974 vehicle shortage. It was new in 1973.
242 – BMC 3.45FG
- Number in class: 1
- Chassis: BMC 3.45FG YJBGR1R
- Engine: BMC
- Gearbox: Four-speed synchromesh
- Wheelbase: 15 ft 2 in (extended)
- Bodies: Motor Body Specialists Pty Ltd, Eagle Farm Qld
- Seating: B31F
- Length: 25 ft 4 in
- General notes: Acquired from J Bowden, Sydney, at time of 1974 vehicle shortage. It was new in 1971.
243-245 – Ford D400
- Number in class: 3
- Chassis: Ford D400
- Engine: Ford 365
- Gearbox: Four-speed synchromesh
- Wheelbase:
- Bodies: Motor Body Specialists
- Seating: B35F
- Length:
- General notes: Acquired from J Bowden, Sydney, at time of 1974 vehicle shortage. They were new in 1972.
Ford Thames
- Number in class: 4
- Fleet Numbers: 246, 247, 248 & 249
- Chassis: Ford Thames 570E
- Engine: Thames
- Gearbox: Five-speed synchromesh
- Wheelbase:
- Bodies: Duple ‘Yeoman’
- Seating: B40F (246, 248) C36F (247, 249)
- Length:
- General notes: Acquired from J Bowden, Sydney, at time of 1974 vehicle shortage. All four were new to Pykes Tours, Sydney: 246 in 1965, 247 in 1963, 248 in 1964 and 249 in 1966.
Leyland Tiger OPS2 / ComEng
- Number in class: 12
- Fleet numbers: 2564, 2596, 2600, 2606, 2609, 2631, 2632, 2633, 2637, 2656, 2658, 2659
- Chassis: Leyland Tiger OPS2/1
- Engine: Leyland
- Gearbox:
- Wheelbase: 17 ft 6 ins
- Bodies: Commonwealth Engineering
- Seating: FB31FR
These vehicles were hired from the Public Transport Commission of NSW at the time of the 1974 vehicle shortage. During their stay in Canberra they carried NSW metropolitan series ‘MO’ plates which matched their PTC fleet numbers. All 12 vehicles were new to the then NSW Department of Government Transport in 1952.
By mid July, the situation had not improved, with The Canberra Times reporting that 27 commuter peak hour and 16 school bus services were to be discontinued until the August school holidays. The cancelled services were selected according to available alternatives and relative need. Previously, cancellations were announced ‘on the day’ leading to uncertainty for commuters.
Many services were reported to be over patronised, which were thought to have contributed to inefficient demisters – a problem during Canberra’s winters.
This page was last updated on 29 April 2023
