Summer 2012 | Issue 3

Newsletter of the Otago Heritage Bus Society Otago Heritage Bus Society

Incorporated

Edgeley 29 Spencer St

Andersons Bay Dunedin

info@otagoheritagebus.co.nz www.otagoheritagebus.co.nz  

Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessary of those of the Otago Heritage Bus Society Inc.

A LEYLAND CAN NOT LIVE ON GRASS FOREVER By Peter Dowden and Andrew Robinson

With 170 safely rescued, we figured we could relax and put our feet up for a while. However, whenever Peter opened his curtains in the morning, the world’s scruffiest bus stared back at him. So we took the next logical step and sent it under the cover of darkness to live in the country where we couldn't see it, as befitted any Leopard with the wrong stripes. However within days it was prowling the city's streets again and generally causing embarrassment, so more drastic action was required. By this stage some tiresome electrical problems had developed, including dirty contacts inside what must be the worlds most complicated indicator switch. It was reasonably clear that to assemble the switch in the intended manner, it was necessary to turn the bus upside down to get all the springs, ball bearings and peculiarly shaped bits and pieces back in the right place. We had to bring in expert help to solve another problem, which turned out to be too much dirt , moss and dead bugs in the rear light assembly. The bus also developed a preference for trapping the occupants in the bus as the door kept failing closed (they're specially designed to fail open) which again required some outside advice to fix. 170 ousted 194 from our Burnside base. This was the first time these two members of the same fleet had met in 20 years and a few photos were taken in the fading light before Ritchies 83 vanished behind the double doors forever, to reappear as Dunedin City Transport 170. In preparation for the re-imaging, all the dents had been filled although only about a third of the volume of “bog” as that used on 194 was required. The Ritchies paint had been largely eaten by the lichen and an extensive sand was required, with nearly 40 sanding disks being worn smooth and the surroundings soon looking as though a snow storm had swept through. Extensive areas of the old yellow white and blue livery was found, as was a few patches of advertising and the two different versions of the fiesta yellow and transport tan livery being found, sometimes in unexpected places.

The available funds had been exhausted before the vehicle even made it into the shed, and the proper vehicle primer had added to the burden, so some economising was called for. A lengthy rummage at the local Charity Barn revealed 3L of 20 year old and rather lumpy off-white gloss enamel house paint. After this was strained and a few smaller tins of unwanted paint were tipped in, a colour approaching the correct yellow appeared and was applied. The project received a set-back when rain poured through a hole in the roof and onto the freshly applied paint. The tyres were repainted, the gloss black looking very different to the rather weathered rubber. The lack of shed lights also created extra challenges for the project. A single coat of a shade of tan that had been rejected during 194's refurbishment was hastily applied, as time and money were exhausted and we were desperate to get 194 back under cover. A lengthy list of jobs remains to be completed on 170, including replacing engine access hinges, applying a further coat of paint and renewing some broken pop rivets, as well as improving the signage and adding a back seat. But given the low cost and short timeframe of the restoration work to date, it's not a bad start. Special mention must go to Mark Calvo who has spent an amazing amount of time cleaning the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Extreme gratitude is extended to everyone who contributed to and believed in the project.. Very significant amounts of funding was provided by the Dunedin City council and Philip Riley, sincere thanks, and also a number of other members made donations which were pivotal to allowing the project to progress. And if all this sounds like something readers wish they'd been involved in, there's another chance as 174 is still to be tamed. An extended version of the Leyland Leopard 170 project will be available in the Autumn Edition of this newsletter in 2013.

 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Over the past few months we have mad a few interesting activities going in including the salvage of 170 from Ashburton and the repainting of this vehicle. This has been a huge undertaking from our Society volunteers, the project to date still needs completed, the next step in the process is to construct a back seat and then it will be subject to the pricey re-classification of the vehicle, changing its classification from a ‘movan’ to a passenger vehicle. Donations of money or skills are greatly appreciated to keep this restoration rolling. Our AGM proved popular with members and 2 new Executive Committee members have been appointed positions, Brian Wolff as Secretary and Jacquie Heyller as Treasurer. On behalf of the membership we welcome you on board and look forward to your contributions to our organisation. This December we will be operating the Christmas Day Public Bus Service between St. Clair, the Octagon and Normanby. Both urban Leopard’s (194 & 170) will be present for use (if 170 passes its reclassification). We are seeking volunteer Drivers and Hosts to assist us. We envisage each shift to be no longer than 2 hours. If you are able to assist with either roles (Driver or Host) please contact Brian Wolff or Peter Dowden. At the time of writing, MCD 501 is well under way for her prep work for the repaint. She has been at a contractors yard getting a few remedial rust repairs and some general TLC. For a few months we have been negotiating to use the name “Mount Cook” from Tourism Holdings Limited who own the rights to the name, with Air New Zealand / Mount Cook Airline coming to the party giving us permission to use the trademark Mt Cook Lily of the Mount Cook Group. Both of these generous gestures of using such trademarks and name are kindly appreciated and would not have been possible without both companies cooperation. The next step in the restoration is to have her painted in her original livery of 1977 and clean her interior to eliminate “That Bus Smell”. This is scheduled to be done between 1 – 14 December 2012. With Silly Season nearly upon us, the Executive Committee would like to invite you to BBQ WITH THE BUSES evening in Burnside on Saturday 8 December for members, volunteers and associates (and their family and friends), this gives us time to catch up, and reflect on the past 12 months of hard work. Details of this event can be found in this newsletter, RSVP IS ESSENTIAL, and this is free event, donations for diesel and RUC is greatly appreciated. Our next excursion out of town will be the EDENDALE CRANK UP in Southland on Saturday 26 January 2013. Bookings are now open online or by returning the enclosed booking form. Seats are Limited, Bookings are Essential. $50 per adult and $25 per child. 7:30am departure from Dunedin Railway Station or 7:50am from Mosgiel Railway Station. Other pickup points are Milton, Balclutha & Clinton. As we enter into the new year we have an array of activities our membership can be apart of including; volunteering time on the Christmas Day Bus Service, Assistance with painting 501, being a passenger, driver or host on board the Edendale Crank Up excursion and then there is the beginning of project Leyland Leopard 174 and DCT #1 begin the prep work of bring them south to Dunedin. Whatever you are able to assist with, be it time, skills of a donation of money, all are greatly appreciated. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Philip J Riley Chairman chairman@otagoheritagebus.co.nz

UPCOMING EVENTS

DEADLINES & DATES NEWSLETTER

Edition Deadline Autumn Friday 7 February 2013 Winter Friday 10 May 2013 Spring Friday 9 August 2013 Summer Friday 8 November 2013

If you are interested in contributing articles or information please

email: editor@otagoheritagebus.co.nz or send them to the Society’s postal address prior to the above deadline date.

EXCURSIONS & SERVICES Event Date / Vehicle

Christmas Day Public Service

25 December 12 194 / 170

PRIVATE CHARTER

28 December 12 194

Edendale Crank Up

26 January 13 501

Best of British Car (& Bus) Rally

10 March 13 194 OR 170

Good Friday Public Service

29 March 13 194 / 170

Easter Sunday Public Service

31 March 13 194 / 170

If you are interested in Driving or being the Conductor/Host on any of the above Excursions please call Peter Dowden on 021 137 2129 or or Brian Wolff or email: volunteering@otagoheritagebus.co.nz.

BOOKINGS & INFORMATION VISIT www.otagoheritagebus.co.nz

 OPERATIONS REPORT

The last quarter has been something of a roller-coaster ride as we'd gone into winter with one yellow and blue Citibus and emerged with 2 repainted Dunedin City Transport buses and a Mount Cook Denning on the payroll. Revenue generating opportunities were modest over winter, meaning that financial reserves are lower than we'd have liked although still firmly in the black. At times there has been a dizying mix of restoration, maintenance and driving work demanding time and money, although things are more settled at the time of writing. The majority of the restoration and excursion / charter work is covered elsewhere in the newsletter, but there are a few smaller items to report. 194 has received a paint touch-up to cover thin patches that were missed in the gloom of winter. The vehicle has been washed, polished and received a thorough clean. It runs well and proven popular on a number of local trips. A frustrating break-in resulted in the donation box being smashed and fire extinguisher stolen. The damage was swiftly repaired. 501 has also had a thorough clean both inside and out. As this vehicle has never had a COF in our ownership, we opted to seek a vehicle condition assessment from VTNZ. The results were generally excellent and it attracted quite a bit of positive attention during it's visit. At the time of writing, the suspension bushes are about to be replaced and the brakes adjusted. A new tyre has been fitted and some largely cosmetic rust has been dealt to. The countdown is on for a repaint, with this work being programmed for early December. Planning is well under way for Christmas and Easter “urban services”, with Nick Stoneman being a major driving force behind this. A few exciting excursions are being planned and some useful charters are “on the books”. However, with the fleet looking great, it would be nice to see them in more regular use. It would be appreciated if members could spread the word that we provide some really fun transport options and are a great cause, and able to provide prices for memorable trips and excursions. Seasons Greetings, Andrew Robinson Operations Manager operations.manager@otagoheritagebus.co.nz

SOCIETY CONTACTS Postal Address: Edgeley 29 Spencer St Andersons Bay Dunedin New Zealand General Enquiries: info@otagoheritagebus.co.nz Bus & Coach Hire: hire.a.bus@otagoheritagebus.co.nz Bookings: excursions@otagoheritagebus.co.nz Volunteering: volunteering@otagoheritagebus.co.nz Membership: membership@otagoheritagebus.co.nz Accounts: treasurer@otagoheritagebus.co.nz Executive Committee Members: Secretary Brian Wolff 03) 4727749 or 0274659163 secretary@otagoheritagebus.co.nz Chairman Philip Riley +61 4 22 174 516 (Australia) chairman@otagoheritagebus.co.nz Treasurer Jacqui Hellyer TBA treasurer@otagoheritagebus.co.nz Deputy Peter Dowden Chairman 021 137 2129

deputy.chairman@otagoheritagebus.co.nz Operations Andrew Robinson Manager 021 043 8348 operations.manager@otagoheritagebus.co.nz

BUS OF INTEREST …

VICTORIAN RAILWAYS STEAM BUS SERVICE

1 DECEMBER 1905 – 17 JUNE 1906 The Commissioners of the Victorian Railways in Australia were eager to stave off any development of suburban electric tramways, for fear that they would siphon off railway passengers. Therefore, they acquired six Chelmsford steam omnibuses to operate a service between Prahran Railway Station and Malvern Town Hall (4km). However, the service was not popular with passengers as the steam buses were not particularly reliable, and poor springing and rough roads led to a bone-shaking ride. They only ran from 1 December 1905 to 17 June 1906, of which they carried over 56,000 passengers after which the steam buses were placed in storage, to never be seen again. The six bodies of these vehicles were built in Newport Railway Workshops in Victoria, Australia, which is now home of Steamrail Victoria, a mainline heritage steam railway group. The chassis, mechanical workings and steam engine were imported from Chelmsford, England.

 BILL’S MEMORIES: DUNEDIN'S LEYLAND BUSES IN THE EARLY 1950s

By Bill Cowan

The driver of a Kaikorai Valley–bound DCC Leyland Tiger bus setting off from the Octagon bus stop had two options. At this stop, situated at the foot of Upper Stuart St just outside the present AMI office, would he choose to start off in first gear or attempt second? Drivers seemed to be divided into equal camps over this procedure. To start off in a fully loaded Tiger in second was inviting a stall or at best the smell of overheated linings from the slipped clutch. First-gear starts required a slick flick of the gear lever into second as soon as the bus was rolling: probably a more humane way of treating the motor. But this had to be done quickly or the bus would soon roll to a stop on this steep street. From there it was a long haul in second gear until the relatively flat bit of Stuart St in front of the King Edward Technical College was reached where a carefully-judged shift into third was made followed by a double-declutch into second again by Cargill Street. Third may have been engaged in Littlebourne Road for a few hundred yards but it was mainly second gear work winding up through Fifield Street until Highgate and the Valley were reached. I don’t want to get too technical here but changing gears in these Leylands may have been more an art than a science. Some drivers were experts, others remained beginners. When changing up a gear these heavy motors took an appreciable time to return to idling speed when a clean change could then be made. For me these trips up the hill ended just near the site of the former Littlebourne House, a magnificent ‘pile’ which was pulled down just before I arrived as a boarder at Campbell House in 1950. For a boy from the country with an interest in things mechanical, Dunedin had a fascinating public transport system. There was a wonderful mix of electric trams, cable cars and buses of which Leyland were predominant. If I had been three years older I would have travelled to Campbell House on the Kaikorai cable car and not a Leyland bus. In 1950 there were still clear indications of this car’s route beside the Moana tennis courts soon to become the Moana Pool site. The rails had recently been pulled up leaving a muddy and overgrown track. Opposite Campbell House the little shelter shed nicknamed the ‘Rectory’ still stood and nearby was a long bluestone retaining wall. This scene was to change dramatically in the next couple of years when McJorrow the Ashburton contractor, his Caterpillar D8 diesel

bulldozers and carry-alls moved in to create the Stuart Street extension that extended directly over the abandoned cable car route. On the hill routes like Kaikorai and Wakari the post war Tigers predominated. Loaded to the gunwales they made their ponderous way up and down those steep streets. I think that the Wakari and Kaikorai routes started off from the same Octagon stand. However the Wakari bus took the left turn up York Place to the Rattray and Arthur Street intersections where it continued along City Road to terminate somewhere in Wakari. Talk about cruel and unusual punishment for any vehicle but that climb up York Place must have been one of Dunedin’s steepest bus routes. The Tigers could get no ‘run’ at this hill and they would soon be in low gear after rounding the corner. They were a reasonably quiet bus, lacking that authoritative ‘drum’ of the 680 motor. (I think they had the 7.4 litre motor, precursor to the legendary 600 and 680). But when they were pulling hard up York Place there would be a stream of heavy blue exhaust smoke reaching to the other side of the street.

As an aside I don’t believe that the City-bound Wakari buses returned via York Place but I could be wrong. This was not a street for heavy vehicles to venture down unless all the braking systems were ‘Go’. (There was tragedy here about 1954 when a Commer tanker of Europa petrol lost control in York Place finally piling into buildings on Filleul St-St Andrew St corner, killing its driver. By good fortune, a petrol explosion never occurred.) There were still a number of pre-war Leylands in service during the early Fifties: Tigers and a small collection of Cubs. By 1950 these had been relegated to the ‘flat’ routes or for special trips like the well-known ‘observation’ tours around the Peninsula. If you wanted to ride a Cub you chose the Glenleith route, as here they seemed to be a fixture. Most if not all of these Cubs had a type of wicker passenger seat. They also had a raucous exhaust; I assume they had petrol motors. I can still recall a Cub, Glenleith-bound, pulling away from the George Street stand near the Knox Church intersection with its sharp, wall-paper-stripping exhaust. Present-day boy racers couldn’t hold a candle to these sturdy Leylands on the noise front! The arrival of the ‘twins’ during 1950 heralded a vision for the future of Dunedin public transport: two new Tigers, numbers 49 and 50, arrived as bare chassis and were bodied in the Corporation workshops. These two buses were significant in that they were equipped with 600 motors and synchromesh gearboxes. These two vehicles set new standards in passenger comfort, ease of operation and ‘style’. I recall one of these being used on a ‘breaking-in’ route: Maori Hill along Highgate to connect with the Rattray Street cable car near Scarba Street. I am puzzled as to why the DCC didn’t buy more of these fine vehicles instead of those AEC full-fronted Regals with pre-select gearboxes. But that is another story

 TAKING HOME A BIG TIGER

- Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster Update - By Phil Murphy

I never started out to buy a bus. I was really only attempting to make a model of a Dunedin trolleybus, a big part of my life in the 60s and early 70s growing up in Normanby. But I started wondering about the diesels I used to see. I could not recall the type or manufactures name. The only picture I could find after many months of searching was in a Sean Miller book I purchased which had a black and white picture of a DCT Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster.

After a bit of “googling” I discovered they were Leyland's most successful bus. Some 20,000 were made and exported around the world. Then saw on YouTube a Worldmaster actually going at the WA Transport Museum. The sound of the engine brought back memories. So could I make a model of this bus? Were there any around to still see? After a few phone calls, I discovered Otago Road Services had one. ‘I am going to scrap her shortly’ I was told. ‘Could you hold off a few days?' I asked and explained why. 'OK.' So a day off work and a quick trip from Timaru to Dunedin was undertaken. What a sad, forlorn sight greeted me. Dents in the body work, lights, mirrors, wheel trims etc missing, red paint all over the right hand side, seats missing, grab rails dented or missing. Nothing like the lovely bus in the picture. Quite depressing! To my surprise there was still a road user charge label with the registration number on it. Wondering what number she had been in the DCT fleet, I looked in my bus register. I was absolutely stunned to find she was the very same bus as pictured in Sean’s book. From then on, felt I had been tapped on the shoulder and told ‘This is your mission: save and restore this bus.’ However, things did not go according to plan and ORS sold her as a storage container. I was somewhat disappointed. Luckily someone saw her near Brighton and told me. Contacting the owner, I was able to purchase. Two weeks later, after stopping in Dunedin for some urgent repairs

so she would sort of go, my new 35’ long, 8 ¼ tonne toy arrived on the back of a transporter in Timaru. Oh dear, what had I let myself in for. I guess the making of a model had been put on the back burner! I have spent many satisfying hours cleaning, removing offending paint, sourcing bits and pieces in New Zealand and around the world, having rust removed and dents repaired in order to return this bus to something of her former glory. One thing I cannot ascertain is what mileage she has done. The speedo only goes to 99,999. One can only guess how many times it has ticked over. Painting the exterior is scheduled for later in the year. There is some serious mechanical work to be done, sadly beyond my capabilities. So with help from a few good people, the guys at OHBS, just maybe at some point in the near future she may once more grace the streets of Dunedin

Facts about this vehicle: Leyland Royal Tiger Worldmaster ERT1/1 Dunedin City Transport (DCT) No 136 Built 16 April 1966 Sold to Otago Road Services 1982 Retired December 2002 Bodied by NZMB, with 47 seats Leyland 680 cu inch (11.1L) engine developing 150 bhp at 2000rpm through a 4-speed semi-automatic gearbox. Max speed 45mph.

 TRIP REPORT

- Kingston Flyer Opening Season & T.S.S Earnslaw Centenary - 29 September 2012

Written by Peter Dowden & Andrew Robinson. Photos courtesy of Dave Jeffery.

It was interesting to compare the dry-hired Passenger Transport Citibus Isuzu LT coach used on last year's excursion with the performance this year in the Detroit Diesel powered Mount Cook Denning coach 501. Many Japanese buses and coaches have a similar effect on me as Japanese restaurants: that was nice but I could do with about twice as much - sushi or engine power. Our Landliner simply romped to Kingston. We picked up at Mosgiel and Balclutha, then replaced last year's toilet and refreshment stop in Gore with one at Mandeville's Croydon Aircraft Collection where we were welcomed by the museum's cafe staff. There were murmurings that an outing especially to the aerodrome would be worthwhile someday.

We arrived in good time for the Kingston Flyer train excursion to Fairlight and back; the driver enjoyed a quiet rest by the lake while the passengers were off reliving steam-powered glory days. The once-notorious Devil's Staircase between Kingston and Queenstown proved a doddle to 501's V6 power and heavy-duty Jacob's Engine Brake. Within an hour we were idling into Queenstown Airport, once a hub of the famous Mount Cook Line of coaches, airliners and sightseeing planes, for a brief photo opportunity. We arrived at the steamer wharf in good time to board our passengers on the twin-screw steamer Earnslaw for a lake excursion while the driver protected 501 from Queenstown's zealous parking wardens and an increasing mob of Mount Cook Line geeks flocking to fondle the coach. Soon Earnslaw was back in site and it was time to meet Andrew at the Intercity coach stop while our passengers wandered off for tea.

While everyone was at Kingston, I was in Dunedin boarding the Intercity coach for Queenstown. People involved in driving commercial vehicles (including the club buses) can only work for a maximum of 13 hours a day. Time travelling to take over the driving of another bus also counts as "work', so for the Kingston trip a second driver who hadn't had the 6:30am start was required. I managed to get the front seat on the modern looking Hino coach and settled back to see how the professionals operate a long-haul

service as well as re-acquaint myself with the route. Not far south of Mosgiel, an alarm sounded and then faded away. When we stopped for passengers at Milton, the alarm sounded again and the embarrassed and despairing driver removed the taped-down floor panel to expose the radiator filler and topped it up out of a soft-drink container. I know how he felt, as on our club's first excursion 194 developed a similar thirst and even now we're no strangers to the low water alarm. The half-full Hino coach seemed to lack torque but made adequate time to Roxburgh, encountering a Model T rally going in the other direction, and a glimpse of an old NZR Hino that requires further investigation. The coach clawed back lost time making an on-time arrival in Queenstown feasible. However, more time was lost with slower progress and lengthier stops. After finally navigating the snarled up “inner city” traffic in Queenstown, we reached our destination and Peter escorted me to where 501 was waiting beside the steamer wharf.

I turned the key and was rewarded by the throaty roar of the Detroit 6v92. After heading up the lake to the One Mile Creek roundabout to turn the bus, I opted for the more circuitous route through downtown Queenstown. 501 seemed very much at home, and despite the streets being choked with buses, everyone seemed happy to make way for the “old girl”. The Detroit roar resonating off the buildings just seemed right for Queenstown. We made quite slick progress past Lake Hayes and eased up through the Kawarau Gorge corners. Alexandra was a much appreciated coffee stop and a chance to check the vehicle over. With everything being in tip-top condition, we roared off into the night. On low beam, the headlights of that bus are OK, but on high beam the whole valley is lit up like daylight. Mount Cook must have used the same bulbs for its aircraft as its buses. They were so good they were almost embarrassing to use. A more conservative approach had been taken to the instrument lights and I suspect the 1977 bulbs are still in place. The coach handled well through-out the journey and it was almost a disappointment to reach State Highway 1 and the homeward leg. We dropped off passengers at two points along the way before the service terminated at the Dunedin Station. Remarkably, despite the extremely long day, all the passengers seemed to emerge from the coach looking fresh and chirpy. Normally after a long trip in a modern coach, the passengers look a bit jaded and move stiffly, so it's a credit to Mount Cook using the best of everything to build the vehicle and their maintenance division for keeping it in good form for so long. And a credit to Philip for keeping this awesome vehicle in our midst.

 EVENT REPORT

- Autospectacular - 1 September 2012

Leyland Leopard 194 was easily the largest vehicle at the Autospectacular held on 1 September. The only other two large vehicles which appeared were another bus, of a much older vintage, and a Pacific truck.

Interest in 194 was fairly large, the sight of the recently applied DCT ‘peaches and custard’ livery suddenly re appearing for the best part of quarter of a century and re-jogging old memories had some people thinking the bus had been stored away in a shed for the last two plus decades, rather than working until October 2010. Other exhibits at the show included Fords, Holdens, Citroens, VWs to name a few. One of the Holdens was a replica of Peter Brock's Bathurst Torana, with period advertising. And a TV star, a ’69 Dodge Charger done up as the General Lee from 'The Dukes of Hazzard' featured as well. Thanks to several sheets of card and newspaper 194 was prevented from embarrassing herself on the Edgar Centre's green carpet floor. An interesting aspect of showing such a big vehicle at this sort of show was that she needed to be first to arrive and last to leave so there would be plenty of room. That same evening, 194 did a run to Chicks Hotel in Port Chalmers to a live band performance.

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 DAVE HARRIS HEADS OFF TO HIS FINAL DESTINATION

by Peter Dowden Our good friend and bus club member Dave Harris passed away in October days after being elected at the AGM to full life membership of Otago Heritage Bus Society, as his long brave battle with disability ended with a short illness.

It was great to have Dave's company from the beginnings of the Society. He was a passionate attendee at executive committee meetings where his ideas and perspective were useful and appreciated. Dave was instrumental in running our successful Easter bus services this year, and he always supported the idea that the bus club should benefit the community as well as preserve heritage. A memorable day was our re-enactment of a scene from "On the Buses" when we helped Dave shift house in Leyland Leopard 194. Another great moment was to see the joy he felt in helping to bring the newly acquired Mount Cook Denning 501 to Dunedin. As he blasted down State Highway 1 with a huge grin on his face he was actually wagging from hospital where they were waiting to break the news to him that he would soon need to give up driving.

In the years his disability of myotonic dystrophy gradually took hold I never heard Dave complain. When he was given the shock news that on top of his disability he had incurable cancer, he shrugged it off, quoting Monty Python: "always look on the bright side of life."

Last time I saw Dave at Dunedin Hospital, he told me he was "holding out to the AGM on Wednesday." He did make it, and on the following day Philip presented him with his life membership. It was a proud moment for us all. A few weeks before he died Dave asked if he could book a bus for his funeral. I asked him which one he would like, and he replied, "well, which one do you think!" Accordingly 501 turned up and Dave was sent off with full bus club honours. I know he would have liked to see all his little nieces and nephews scrambling around in his favorite coach.

BBQ WITH THE BUSES

As the silly season is nearly upon us, we would like to invite all members, volunteers, friends, family and associates to the Bus Society's Christmas Function – BBQ WITH THE BUSES. When: Saturday 8 December 2012 Where & Time: Departs: Woodhaugh Street 5:20pm / Dunedin Railway Station at 5:30pm / Cargill's Corner

(Hillside Road, South Bound) 5:40pm Destination: Burnside Bus Depot / OHBS Temporary Restoration Shed RSVP: rsvp@otagoheritagebus.co.nz or call Brian on (03) 4727749 or 0274659163

(leave a message, as he maybe driving a bus, but he will get back to you) COST: FREE (however donations happily accepted to cover the small running costs) As a token of our appreciation of everyone’s hard work we will be supplying a free BBQ of sausages, salad, burger patties, bread and buns, however everyone has a variety of different tastes in the drinks department so it will be a BYO Drinks. If you are interested in coming along and as we require number for catering, please RSVP to the above details. The bus will leave Burnside at about 7:30pm returning via the same route. If you don't wish to catch the bus, you can meet us at the Burnside Depot from 5pm. Once you RSVP, if required directions will be given, along with a map from Google, so you don't get lost finding the depot. In the shed on Saturday 8 December, we will have two, possibly all three of the Society's vehicles, 170, 194 in their lovely new "old" DCT livery and 501 will be in for her turn to get a lick of paint to replicate her 1977 Mount Cook livery. This occasion will be a very informal and is friends and family friendly. .