Norms Restoration - 31 Seater Projects & Leyland TD 5 Project

1939 Leyland TD5 [1635 DD]

2020

Discussion June

Norman Julian 2nd Jun
If anyone is interested a TD5 cost just over $3,200 pounds back in 1937.
That would be the rolling chassis, engine gearbox etc and the cost of building the body.
The body was around 1000 pounds.
Pablo E. Laredo
In today's drachma that Oz pound1K is $93,874.82 in 2019 which is probably comparable to the body builders oncost of building a route bus.
Norman Julian 3 Jun
For those of you especially the overseas folk that are intrigued as to why the reason for change of location for the headlights on d/decker buses, this information comes from a book printed some time ago:
"During the war, the headlights on DRTT buses were moved from the location immediately at each side of the radiator, to positions at the extreme width of the vehicles. One account given for this was that the move avoided buses being fitted with additional clearance lights when operating in 'Brownout' conditions." Courtesy "From City to Suburbs".
Headlights had masks on them at night because of what was happening at that time, so the headlights would have been fairly dim and light was directed downwards.


Pete N El Try
...and you cant trust a bus with headlights too close together! ��
Peter Phelan
I knew a bloke in the bush in the 60s who had an old early 40s Buick in his workshop, full of dust, straw and chooks. The wartime dimmers were still on it.
Also had a ride up City Rd. from Manly in a camouflaged d/d during the War, the position of the lights is probably why it broke down in the middle of the night.
Norman Julian 8th Jun
I thought some of you would may enjoy this video!

Sydney Bus - Transport Heritage Group 2020
Sydney Bus Museum
Take a Sunday drive aboard Albion '1892', a former NSW Government double-decker bus from the 1940s, as it travels from the Queen Victoria Building in York Street, Sydney to Ryde.
'1892' forms part of a fleet of operational vintage buses preserved and maintained by volunteers at the Sydney Bus Museum.
Norman Julian
The whine of an Albion gearbox!
Norman Julian
John Lidstone
Norman Julian
John Swadling Wayne Swadling
John Swadling
Gordon Brown you go ok as well with the gears definitely the whine and clunk is normal only need to repair 2nd .
Worth a look, will sit in the drivers seat this afternoon and Show Albert
I'm sure he will enjoy it
Norman Julian
Very good of the museum to do this!
David Wilson
Even an OPD1 photobomb
Marcus Allaway 10 Jun
NMP
Ben Summers
John Ward photo.
Philip Marks
My first job at Pellegrini 1957
David Wilson
Leyland OPD1 1833
Dennis Boros
Yellow double lines.
That takes me back.
Norman Julian 16th Jun
This is what would have been imported from England.
A working rolling chassis with all the trimmings.
LOL.
Then a body was built on top.
Photo courtesy of Bill Parkinson.
Chris Dempsey
You wanted spare parts Norm jump into the picture and help yourself
Norman Julian
Yeah!
Wouldn't that be nice
Norman Julian 16th Jun
Factory shot!
Courtesy of Bill Parkinson of the Commonwealth Engineering Group
Norman Julian
Granville!
Norman Julian
In England there was a factory properly set up to overhaul their entire fleet.
When a bus came in to be overhauled the body was lifted off the chassis and then the chassis was check, engine overhauled and anything else that needed to be done would be.
The body of the bus then would be checked over with new panels replaced where needed and then the body would be placed back on a refurbished chassis.
More than likely not the same as it originally had.
It would then be painted etc. etc.
Here in Australia the body and chassis were mated for life.
When it was time for an overhaul, panels were stripped and frame cheked.
Engine and gearbox would be overhauled and more than likely depending on the bus and situation the engine would be different than what it came in with.
The main bus builders were Waddingtons and Commonwealth Engineering.
Overhauls were mainly done at Enfield and some light repairs may have been done at the dept.
Depending on the dept.
Norman Julian
If I am missing any vital information then please make comments.
Lorie Norton
Norman Julian does anyone have any photos inside comm engineering herein Oz?
Norman Julian 20th Jun
Photo courtesy of Bill Parkinson of the Commonwealth Engineering Group
Ben Summers
Brisbane AEC Regal IIIs.
Norman Julian
Might be an optical illusion but that roof looks a little higher than standard!
Chris Dempsey
MTT Adelaide 113 Daimler CVG6 224-664 new 1947-48 withdrawn 1960 powered by Gardner 6LW
Norman Julian 22nd Jun
Photo is courtesy of Bill Parkinson. Granville plant taken around the late 40s.
Unfinished decker bound for Adelaide.
Norman Julian 22nd Jun
Courtesy of Bill Parkinson of the Commonwealth Engineering Group

Ben Summers
These are Daimler CGV6's awaiting delivery to Adelaide's Metropolitan Tramways Trust.
Joshua Power
Joseph Brettig
Lee Hall
Is it a shorter wheelbase? Has one less window on the side..
Gregor Neil Robertson
Great photos, thanks for sharing
Norman Julian 23rd Jun
Photo courtesy of Bill Parkinson of the Commonwealth Engineering Group.
Granville workshops.
Norman Julian 23rd Jun
Photo courtesy of Bill Parkinson of the Commonwealth Engineering Group.
Chris Dempsey Rockhampton City
Council Leyland OPS3 for the 1939 tram replacement buses
Chris Dempsey
Chris Dempsey 21 first to the left.
Picture from Ian Lynas https://flic.kr/p/21B8xkc
RCC 1949-02 (21) 1971-11-04 Ld Tr OPS3-1 (482515) & (18) depot - INL
flickr.com
RCC 1949-02 (21) 1971-11-04 Ld Tr…
RCC 1949-02 (21) 1971-11-04 Ld Tr OPS3-1 (482515) & (18) depot - INL
David Wilson
not tramway replacement at all .
They were Albion Cx13s
Peter Phelan
I still like that shape better than anything since.
Norman Julian 24th Jun
Phil Mackay
I'm intrigued by the girders in the foreground of this photo.
They look like the top braces of some rail bridges.
I.e. Meadowbank
Norman Julian
These were mainly on the bulk head walls of single deck busses.
Phil Mackay
Norman Julian ahh ok, thanks.
Norman Julian 24th Jun
Photo courtesy of Bill Parkinson from the Commonwealth Enginering Group.
No details just that this is a post war AEC Regent III.
It would have a 9.6 litre diesel engine with a preselector gearbox.


John Clarke
Only single back wheels, I see.
Why was that?
Norman Julian
Duels at the back on all these buses.
Any number of reasons why there are no outside tyres on.
John Clarke
I meant tyres!
Just looked a little strange
Marcus Allaway
John Clarke no bumper etc as not fully finished yet
John Clarke
Marcus Allaway Of course!
Graeme Knappick
Here’s the above bus (2028) as a shed at Nangiloc (V) on 21/6/91. (my photo)
Rusty Williams
What was the number of the decker behind it.
Graeme Knappick
Rusty Williams 2429
Rusty Williams
thanks
Norman Julian
Sorry Graeme Knappick but I like the other pictures better.
L
Chris Dempsey 25th Jun
2028 AEC Regent III Bondi Road passing Waverley Crescent Waverley 4/1/1970.
Photographer John Ward picture from the City of Sydney archives website
Norman Julian
I was reading about how some deckers were painted with a silver roof.
Some even were painted cream.
They took temperature readings in the middle of summer and up to 10 degrees difference was achieved with silver over the traditional brown.
Andrew Blacklock
Newcastle did some in cream
John Clarke
Andrew Blacklock There's that famous pic of the decker with the cream roof near Newcastle Station.
Andrew Blacklock
John Clarke everything famous was done in Newcastle lol
John Clarke
Andrew Blacklock ����
Brian Blunt
As ususal, only a few buses gout the light coloured roofs.
Even back then, DGT was interested in passenger comfort.
Chris Dempsey25th Jun
2306 Leyland OPD2 with a 363 service to Pacific Street heading along Main Road Cardiff 12/7/1968.
Photographer John Ward picture from Living Histories @ UON website
2429 Leyland OPD2 with a 438 service to Abbotsford Ramsey Street Haberfield 12/6/1971.
Photographer John Ward picture from the City of Sydney archives website
Last updated
June, 2020
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