BCSV: Bus and Coach Society of Victoria in Caulfield East, Victoria, Australia | Transportation service

BCSV: Bus and Coach Society of Victoria

Locality: Caulfield East, Victoria, Australia

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24.01.2022 Ventura's first two Scania hybrids are currently at Volgren Waiting delivery . Here is 1453, the other is 1456.

24.01.2022 Merry Christmas! Grenda's #12 (1984 Volvo B10M, Volgren) runs on the Dandenong CBD Courtesy Shuttle some years ago now Michael Kane photo

24.01.2022 Further to yesterday's Thursday Throwback photo, the 1980s was an experimental period for Reids after the demise of Bedfords. The pair of IBCs arrived in 1981 and were followed by a pair of Cat powered Hancocks in 1982. 1984-5 saw Isuzu ECRs enter the fleet before a pair of Mercedes 1316 in 86. All had Newnham bodies, a big convenience since Newnhams were less than a 10 minute drive from the Reids depot. Here's one of each in the fleet livery from Geoff Foster. Another peculiarity of the Reids operation was that the two newest buses were usually used only on school runs and charter until the next two arrived, and only then did they go onto route 508.

23.01.2022 El Presidente visited Daylesford this week and was in the right place at the right time for afternoon bus departures. In addition to the multiple services run by Little's there are also three single bus operators and the Secondary College runs a Rosa. And best of all not one of them was a no name snowflake.

22.01.2022 #ThrowbackThursday The 3rd and final instalment of our Elwood series. While mostly purchased by Melbourne operators a small number of Victorian country operators purchased some Elwoods as well as a limited number of interstate operators. This final instalment we will look at examples of such Elwoods as well as photos of ones in preservation.

20.01.2022 Secretary Paul Kennelly has now in fact posted the Christmas Special so sneak peak 2 has been moved up to day. Other articles cover the history of Leylands post war cub models, Coomealla Bus Service on the NSW border run by long time BCSV member Geoff Sawyer and a comprehensive history of Sandringham Bus Co - the latter two again written by Paul. Each article had some leftover photos which are presented here.

20.01.2022 Seen today at Volgren - new bendys 226 and 227 for CDC Ballarat.

20.01.2022 Today a look back at Shave's Bus Service. Oliver Shave was running services in the Dandenong area, which he sold to the Grenda family in October 1945. By August 1948 Oliver was running the 47A Carnegie-East Oakleigh service. After several changes to the route it became Chadstone-Oakleigh-Holmesglen and was renumbered 622 in 1971. ... The Chadstone to Carnegie Tram portion became part of new route 27A St Kilda- Chadstone - Glen Waverley North. After losing the last bit of the run it terminated at Glen Waverley becoming 623 in 1971. The 623 was a successor to route 27A Caulfield Town Hall to Ripponlea, an original route from 1925. It was extended to St Kilda Beach in May 1948. This had several operators, notably Cartins from St Kilda who abandoned St Kilda-Murrumbeena in May 1955. After being run first by Lee and then by Micro Tours between 1956 and 1962, Shave reopened the run in July 1962. In April 1966 Shave acquired their third run Malvern to East Kew, which was being run (or possibly had been abandoned) by Melbourne Motor Coach Company having had a rich prior history. Shave immediately amended the route to Chadstone-Caulfield-Tooronga-East Kew and it became route 625 in 1971. By this time Oliver Shave had been succeeded in the business by his son Kevin. Observations by enthusiasts of the era suggested that the company seemed to operate on the principal of "run it till it breaks down, tow it home and fix it" as there was a high breakdown rate. More apocryphal is the notion that the ex Canberra AECs were repainted by standing at Chadstone with a roller, putting an extra bit on each time the buses passed through. The Shave business was sold to the Driver family in September 1986 being rebranded as Waverley Transit. The first thing they did was to introduce the concept of preventative maintenance and strangely the breakdown rate plummeted! Geoffrey Foster

20.01.2022 Remember bus tours? We hope to resume them in early 2021. In the meantime here are some pics from the BCSV visit to Crown Coaches in 2009.

19.01.2022 Great to see our friends over the ditch enjoying some normality with their restored fleet Hopes and dreams for 2021 for us Then again today's groomy & wet Saturday was meant to be Grand Final Day, so not all bad

17.01.2022 Christmas is approaching and with it BCSV members will receive their 2020 Special issue of Australian Bus Panorama. One article by Paul Kennelly covers Adelaide's Marion Road bus services operated by Bridgland's and Campbell's. Here are a handful of photos to whet the appetite. More teasers next week. Not a BCSV member yet? Why not visit the sign up page and join up?

17.01.2022 A great morning out at Cranbourne Transit in September 2016 - fingers crossed tours can restart again next year!

15.01.2022 Ventura's second hybrid 1456 - this one seen after a visit from the doctors of spin.

13.01.2022 Todays post is just something found on the net - a view of Bourke Street featuring M&MTB single and double deck buses.

13.01.2022 Remember bus tours? Our first tour for 2020 was to have been visiting Coles Coaches and McHarrys Bus Lines, however due to Covid this didn't happen. We still hope it can be run as perhaps our first tour for 2021. Here is a look back at the last time BCSV visited these two operators back in 2009.

13.01.2022 Cheetham & Borwick bodied Inter K5 belonging to Waterton of Daylesford as seen in 1963 (John Masterton)

12.01.2022 #ThrowbackThursday In the first of a 3 part series we look back at the Elwood/PMC bus of the 1980's. The first of the Elwood integral buses designed in Melbourne (hence the name Elwood) and constructed in Adelaide. A basic, no frills bus adaptable for route, school and charter operations coupled with an attractive design found favour with operators looking for a replacement of the Bedford which had ceased production. The first Elwood was purchased by G W Clarke in Ballarat... before being acquired with the business by Davis after becoming part of the Kefford family. This week we look at Elwood's of Melbourne North and Western suburbs were they were quite popular, as well as some photos of the first Elwood built.

12.01.2022 Seasons Greetings to all from the Bus and Coach Society of Victoria. I'm sure we all hope our 2021 will be better than our 2020. We all love our buses and here is a love letter to buses, penned by former 3AW breakfast presenter John Burns.

11.01.2022 A message from BCSV President Geoff Foster Greetings members and other readers. As a result of today's announcements from the Victorian government, bus enthusiasts will be able to lawfully resume their bus photography etc as from Wednesday morning as the "four reasons for leaving home" is finally being removed. ... HOWEVER your 25km from home travel limit will still apply in the metropolitan area. So no trotting off to the other side of town just yet please. It has also been foreshadowed that as from Monday 9 November the 25km travel limit will be removed as will the "ring of steel" between Melbourne and regional Victoria. Please bear in mind any or all of this may be subject to subsequent change so please continue to monitor the government announcements. There will be no announcements from BCSV about events etc until we can be clearer about what "covid normal" will look like for 2021. Bus operators would also need to know and understand this before they could be in a position to allow depot visits etc. Hopefully this information will become clear during November/ December. Once we know that we will see what can be done about meetings and tours. Time to get your cameras out of mothballs folks!

10.01.2022 #ThrowbackThursday Moreland Bus Lines # 32 BLA950 Mitsubishi Canter/Melba seen working the 511 Brunswick (Moreland) - Strathmore. This route ceased as part of the 1991 cuts with selected 512 trips deviating via Connans Hill as a replacement. Geoff Mann Collection

09.01.2022 The November issue of Australian Bus Panorama is nearing completion. One of the articles this time around covers the history of Victorian bus builder Transit Motor Bodies including a full body list. In addition to the 11 pics in the mag, here are three more as a preview. Manions, Tasmania B98FL a 1992 Hino RG197K new in with body T037. It was new to and is still in the livery of Westernport Road Lines. Photo by Geoff Foster Gray of Mallacoota EKD 346 was a Isuzu LT1-11P new i...n 1991 and worked the most easterly school run in Victoria. Photo by Bruce Tilley. Phoenix Coaches of Devonport TAS FH8294 shows body T003of 1986 on an Isuzu ECR570 in the original body style. It was new to Swanton of Port Albert. Photo by Geoff Foster Another preview post will appear next week.

08.01.2022 So for the second year in a row there is no reason for bus enthusiasts to be camped out near Flemington Racecourse awaiting the procession of coach day bus and coach arrivals. Hopefully next year! So, in the absence of an outing today, lets have another retro look at Cup Day coaches from the 1970s through to our last proper one in 2019. Enjoy your day.... Geoffrey Foster

07.01.2022 #ThrowbackThursday Reservoir Bus Company #37 Bedford SB5/Newnham at the Epping Terminus in 1981 awaiting it's return trip to Northland. Geoff Mann Photo

07.01.2022 Another random internet find today. Darwin AEC Regal III in 1958- National Library of Australia.

07.01.2022 This photo and text from member Hayden Ramsdale. 20 years ago today was the official opening Ceremony for the Sydney Olympics, my allocated Coach back then was Nuline (101) Scania K93CRB Northcoast, and it is seen at East Malvern prior to heading for Sydney. In between this shot and heading for Sydney it operated a Day Tour down to Phillip Island in rather wild conditions and the wrap over the windows let go! ... I actually drove Mercedes 1418/PMCA 'Commuter' (92)to Sydney and (101)followed having been based at Clipper Tours temporary shed at Alexandria where the wrap was redone before the Games started.

07.01.2022 A message from BCSV President Geoff Foster. The Annual General Meeting for 2020 was originally scheduled to be held this coming Sunday. Naturally as members will realise Covid lockdown restrictions prevent us from holding any meeting or other event at this time. Normally we are required to report to the regulatory authorities on the AGM outcomes and annual report by the end of December, however there is provision for a 3 month extension to 31 March which has been sought. ... The next scheduled meeting would be on 15 November but it remains unclear as to where Victoria will be by then. Because of this the Committee is of the view that will probably be early 2021 before events can resume. If this changes we will review accordingly. Once restrictions are eased to an appropriate level, we will try and resurrect the Cole/ McHarry tour that we intended to run back in March of this year, followed by other events in due course. The AGM could be held in conjunction with a tour (on the trip down) or could be done as a separate event between January and March. In the meantime members should have received their September ABP by now. The November issue is being prepared and Paul is preparing a number of operator histories for the annual special. Stay safe and see you on the other side.

06.01.2022 Another Saturday night at home on the couch for our members in the #LockdownCapital of Melbourne. While we can't hold our now traditional Spring tour with our good friends at Mooneevalleycoaches Mvbl this year, reminisce on our September 2017 tour which featured photo stops at Essendon Fields Airport & Diggers Rest. No masks or social distancing to be seen! ... The good news is that planning continues for a north-western tour in 2021, including their neighbours on Beverage Dr! Thanks to Michael Lancaster for the memories!

06.01.2022 Sunny Sunday to everyone. How sweet it is! And yes today's tasty temptation is the former fleet of Sweet's Transport from Bacchus Marsh. This long established operator ran school services mainly into the local Bacchus Marsh schools with a fleet of 8 buses by the mid 1970s. Like most school bus fleets of the era it was primarily Bedfords moving to other brands during the 1980s.... The operation was sold to Donric on 1.3.89 and was renamed Bacchus Marsh Coaches. The operation was considerably expanded as he area grew, new schools were developed, runs gained into Melton and other areas, an aggressive approach to expanding charter services and a Bacchus Marsh town service developed. Bacchus Marsh Coaches was sold to Christians Group in September 2019 and there are currently 92 buses listed on ABFL. Here are most of my photos from the fleet. I'll be back on Tuesday with, naturally, a selection of shots from previous Melbourne Cup days. Geoffrey Foster

03.01.2022 Well its a big wet and windy morning so I thought I'd better get a post done in case we all get blown off to Oz. Today its a collection of the unusual from the weird and wonderful world of rural services, including a couple from areas which are now considered outer suburban. Update - while I was preparing this the only fence that survived the big wind in June has now split. Here we go again.... Geoffrey Foster

03.01.2022 Another of the articles in the forthcoming November issue of Australian Bus Panorama is a short history of Terinfield Pty Ltd AKA Bayswater Bus and Coach Service. PWB 527 was one of two Motorcoaches bought second hand from NSW . This 1990 unit came from Great lakes Coaches and passed on to Townsend of Renmark. Seen at Flemington on Cup Day. Photo by Hayden Ramsdale. 1023 AC was a Leyland Leopard with Athol Hedges body rebuilt by Newnham and is still in the livery of its previos owner Mt Dandybus. Seen on a winery tour. Photo by Geoff Foster.

03.01.2022 Happy new year folks. To start off, here is a selection of old and interesting buses that were in the Dee Decker Tours fleet back when Geoff Foster visited the depot on 2 November 2013.

02.01.2022 The November ABP will be with you next month. In September we had Grant Wise's look at Germany, Poland and the Bus Expo of 2019. Earlier in 2019 Geoff and Jeanette Foster were in Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe. A three part article commences in November with part 1 covering the first two countries. Here are some of the leftover pics. And in other good news Jason Blackman will be back on Thursday with Part 2 of the Elwood series.

02.01.2022 A great weekend with thanks to Donric group...amazing to think this tour was 5 years ago already!! Before the sale of Gold Bus too.

02.01.2022 A message from BCSV President Geoff Foster. Hi folks. Several things to advise. Firstly we hope you have all survived lockdown as its end hopefully approaches. I'm sure everyone is busting to get out there and take some photos - I know I am. Not to mention the charter and tours sector being able to emerge from hibernation. Assuming all goes well we will aim to resume our events program early in 2021.... Second the continuation of the Thursday Throwback Elwood series has been delayed due to personal circumstances with Jason Blackman. Hopefully he will be back on board soon. Third - the November Australian Bus Panorama is at the printer and should go out out on time - subject to any postal delays. Lastly - recently I started posting express coach era pics on several groups and this led to a query about whether or not the express coach cd BCSV issued some years back was still available. The good news is yes. There are some 1400 photos on the cd from Flxible Clippers and onwards through the golden age of express in the 80s and early 90s with all the companies represented. A few samples of express coach photos are attached to whet the appetite. Anyone interested should advise their name and address details to [email protected]. Cost including postage is $12 payable to the BCSV at BSB 063159 Acct no 10024243. Stay safe but hopefully next week or the week after it will no longer be stay home.

01.01.2022 On September 23 1995, a fledgling new Company Bayside Coaches (Czarvic Pty Ltd) took delivery of 2 vehicles from Craig Coop's Nuline Bus Service. They were (54) a Denning Denair and (90) a Hino AC140. Since then Geoff Vickers and Andrew Czarnecki have built the Bayside Coaches and Nuline brands into a thriving 100+ coach operations doing everything from school sports and rail replacement to extended touring and the AAT-Kings Melbourne day tour program. BCSV member Hayden Ram...sdale started doing weekend casual work with with them in 1997 before later going full time with the company until his decision to go into semi retirement a few years back. Hayden's two photos show 90 outside the Sandringham Bus Lines depot where they were initially based whilst (54) is seen parked up at the first Australian Moto GP event at Phillip Island in October 1997. This coach had also been Hayden's allocated vehicle when he had worked at Melbright a decade earlier. BCSV congratulates Bayside/ Nuline on 25 great years. We'd like to think that the presence of a few "driver enthusiast" types on their books over the years has made some small contribution! The company has been a great supporter of the BCSV in many ways, for which we are very grateful. Like many things in 2020, it has not been possible to organise a celebratory event at the right time. But that's not to say it won't happen....after all some people celebrate Christmas in July. So watch this space in 2021 for (hopefully) both a big ABP article and celebratory event.

01.01.2022 #ThrowbackThursday This week Throwback Thursday is back and we continue the Elwood series with part 2. While not as popular as in the North and Western suburbs of Melbourne there was still a number of Elwood in Melbourne's South East. Most of these Elwoods were operated by smaller operators who later sold out or sold their runs and as result ended up with Ventura or Moorabbin Transit. Next week we be the 3rd and final stage of the Elwood series were will look at Elwood outside of Melbourne as well as ones preserved today.

01.01.2022 #ThrowbackThursday Reid's #11 IBC Mk III - CAT 3208/Newnham seen approaching Moonee Ponds on a 508 service.

01.01.2022 A special Tuesday Throwback For the first time in decades there will be no bus enthusiasts presence at the Melbourne Cup today. In early years we would be in the bus park area during the drop off period. In later years sitting on our folding chairs on Epsom Road as coaches approached. In the 70s and 80s the focus was on tour coaches with many interstate visitors. More recently the focus has been on local operators servicing cruise boats. Geoff Foster has provided this selection of Cup Day photos from earlier decades.