Newcastle Mercedes O405s - December 2011

[743]

Newcastle Buses' Mercedes O405 Mk V buses will gradually be returning to Sydney over the next few years as delivery of new buses continues. With two Volvo B7RLEs (2386 and 2387) already at Hamilton Depot for operator training, the first batch may be departing very soon.

These photos generally focus on the older Mk Vs in Newcastle's fleet which I assume will be the first to return to Sydney (although stranger things have happened!).


The oldest bus currently in the fleet is 3097 seen here at Maryland.


The second-oldest is 3122. It's parked in Hamilton Depot behind one of the fleet's two oddballs, Mercedes O405N 3406.


3125 next to Volvo B12BLE 1413 awaiting maintenance at Hamilton Depot. 3125 was the Christmas Bus in 2003 and 2004.


3135 at Mount Hutton.


3137 passes through a very empty University on Route 225 (had it been University Semester, the carpark would have been more than full!). 3137 was one of the last buses in Newcastle to retain the original blue/cream interior and fleet number on the bulkhead. All Mercedes buses in Newcastle have now been refurbished with grey/white interior.


At Hamilton Depot from left to right are 3375, 3236 (the first Mk V to arrive in Newcastle in 1994), 3145, 3168 and Volvo 4957.


Former Sydney Buses Silver Service 3147 is a little bit ACTIONised at Hamilton Depot.


From left to right at Newcastle Layover are 3373, 3165, 3365 and 3367. All bar 3165 used to be based at Port Botany Depot.


Sometimes buses inadvertently end up grouped at Hamilton Depot in very close fleet numbers. 3168 is sitting in front of 3164 and 3165.


Mk Vs rarely make it out on Sundays / Public Holidays (except as Staff Buses) as all services are advertised as being wheelchair accessible. Of course, sometimes circumstances beyond operational control result in them going out. 3363 operated a Route 100 service and part of a 230 on Christmas Day before being changed over at Hamilton Depot where this photo is taken. The Depot's War Memorial is at left.

Thanks fo' lookin'.

[Buzz Killington]

Great photos, love the one of 3147 with the lineup behind it.

[Simes]

More mkV's forget the Volvos