I drove these buses for 37 years in Sydney and loved every minute. We always look back at the good old days especially our childhood. For me the 1960's. Some comments here it is the 80's. Future adults will look back at the 2000's. For most of us our childhood memories are special no matter what decade. I remember riding the last tram across the Harbour Bridge with my nanna. I recently rode the new tram down George street. A very strange experience for me. The very young children on that tram will look back as adults and tell their children of their first ride on a Sydney tram. So the cycle continues.
Amazing footage, seeing all the Blue and White Merces and the last of the Leopard Mk2's brings back some childhood memories. Based on a fleet list of buses I saw you managed to capture a couple of preserved ones. At 12:38 is a real contrast of fortunes. No. 2235 is now listed as belonging to the Parker Family probably for preservation and right next to it is No 2041 which was one of the 5 sent to Dili, East Timor in December 2001 which turned out to be one big waste as the buses were too big for the roads, used by homeless then cut up by late 2012.
many memories on the way to and from work in the city at Waltons catching the 374 and 373 in the weekends. and in bkloody hot weather. You could open the windows the and nobody fell out. ha ha ha
Fantastic thank you. So hard to find this sort of stuff. I put this down to about 1986 or early 1987. The Moore Park bus roadway when thre buses could fly along there without the ridiculous restrictions of later years. Loved seeing the taxis and people as well.
James French Many thanks mate. Hoping to locate more old bus stuff soon. Have quite a bit of late 80s Central Coast bus stuff awaiting putting up here soon.
I don't know why i didn't Come across this amazing clip sooner Brad this is absolutely fantastic seeing The Mercedes MK I-IV buses and the MK II Leyland Leopards before the latter were withdrawn upon arrival of The PMC MK V Mercs/MAN SL-202's plus the pair of Renault PR 100-2's Forest Minatures has 2800 in it's Preservation stable plus MK-II Leopard 1660 among others.
I would never have actually noticed had you not mentioned it. Thats what I love about comments on the videos, people piuck up so much more that I have just missed.
I remember those buses from when I was living in Sydney until 1981. I now live in Melbourne, though some years back, some of the older Sydney buses were temporally used in the Box hill area here by a local bus company.
I remember The Met having a heap of our old Leyland Leopards at Doncaster once. Purpisely went to Melbourne to get a couple of shots. Don't think they were too popular. Many of them later went to Martins of Albury , where I caught up with them again. They were great days for the transporr fan.
The Doncaster ex-Sydney buses would have been the ones that I saw at Box Hill. The company at the time was National bus lines, which had a number of bus routes that were previously part of the state government bus services. All those services are now under Ventura. Another Sydney bus that I saw way back in 1981 near my home was an old green double deck bus privately owned by someone living close by. He used to often take the bus out on a run, which caught quite a bit of attention of passers by.
I know exactly where you are coming from. Been scanning so many 80s photos for Facebook, usually with 80s music playing at the same time. The 80s is my happy place :-)
I drove these buses for 37 years in Sydney and loved every minute. We always look back at the good old days especially our childhood. For me the 1960's. Some comments here it is the 80's. Future adults will look back at the 2000's. For most of us our childhood memories are special no matter what decade. I remember riding the last tram across the Harbour Bridge with my nanna. I recently rode the new tram down George street. A very strange experience for me. The very young children on that tram will look back as adults and tell their children of their first ride on a Sydney tram. So the cycle continues.
Many thanks for the post mate.
Oh to be able to travel back, even for just a week.
Damn for a moment i was a kid again … the 80’s were the best… so much simpler than now. Thanks for the upload 👍
Ahhh yes, you are another me.
Never been able to drag myself beyond the 80s.
Always have 80s music playing. Much to the disgust of my kids. :-)
Amazing footage, seeing all the Blue and White Merces and the last of the Leopard Mk2's brings back some childhood memories. Based on a fleet list of buses I saw you managed to capture a couple of preserved ones. At 12:38 is a real contrast of fortunes. No. 2235 is now listed as belonging to the Parker Family probably for preservation and right next to it is No 2041 which was one of the 5 sent to Dili, East Timor in December 2001 which turned out to be one big waste as the buses were too big for the roads, used by homeless then cut up by late 2012.
Thanks for the comments John.
Was not aware of what become of 2041, sad to hear, but interesting to know.
I did the Pier One gig for a few months great fun in a MK 1
I recall my memory when I did my degree from 1996 to 2000 in UNSW taking buses everyday via the Moore Park busway, it’s now gone
Back when I took the video, I would have laughed if anyone told me that some of that bus roadway would again carry trams :-)
many memories on the way to and from work in the city at Waltons catching the 374 and 373 in the weekends. and in bkloody hot weather. You could open the windows the and nobody fell out. ha ha ha
Oh what I would do to go back for a month.
Great footage of times lost. Thanks for sharing.
StealthCamp thank you for watching
The O305 engine is loud, aggressive sounding and scared me when I was a boy. How the hell did guys drive them?
Wow, Circular Quay was more lively back then, and buses reigned supreme
Was down there a few months back and the place seems so dead bus wise.
Fantastic thank you. So hard to find this sort of stuff. I put this down to about 1986 or early 1987.
The Moore Park bus roadway when thre buses could fly along there without the ridiculous restrictions of later years.
Loved seeing the taxis and people as well.
James French Many thanks mate.
Hoping to locate more old bus stuff soon.
Have quite a bit of late 80s Central Coast bus stuff awaiting putting up here soon.
Awesome video, brings back lots of fond memories , well done
First bus I ever drove was a Leyland Leopard ex-UTA with Gold Coast Citybus. I was 14y/o. (drove in depot)
You = so lucky.
A great memory to have.
I don't know why i didn't Come across this amazing clip sooner Brad this is absolutely fantastic seeing The Mercedes MK I-IV buses and the MK II Leyland Leopards before the latter were withdrawn upon arrival of The PMC MK V Mercs/MAN SL-202's plus the pair of Renault PR 100-2's Forest Minatures has 2800 in it's Preservation stable plus MK-II Leopard 1660 among others.
DKS225 Thanks mate.
Hoping to find more like this.
I didn’t know Sydney buses were still using Leylands in the late 80’s.
Just checked the Bus Australia site as my memory is useless nowadays.
Seems the Mk2 Leopards lasted until 1989.
6:37 - Studebaker Hawk...rare car, even in the 1980s!
I would never have actually noticed had you not mentioned it.
Thats what I love about comments on the videos, people piuck up so much more that I have just missed.
I remember those buses from when I was living in Sydney until 1981. I now live in Melbourne, though some years back, some of the older Sydney buses were temporally used in the Box hill area here by a local bus company.
I remember The Met having a heap of our old Leyland Leopards at Doncaster once. Purpisely went to Melbourne to get a couple of shots.
Don't think they were too popular.
Many of them later went to Martins of Albury , where I caught up with them again.
They were great days for the transporr fan.
The Doncaster ex-Sydney buses would have been the ones that I saw at Box Hill. The company at the time was National bus lines, which had a number of bus routes that were previously part of the state government bus services. All those services are now under Ventura. Another Sydney bus that I saw way back in 1981 near my home was an old green double deck bus privately owned by someone living close by. He used to often take the bus out on a run, which caught quite a bit of attention of passers by.
God i miss the 80s
I know exactly where you are coming from.
Been scanning so many 80s photos for Facebook, usually with 80s music playing at the same time.
The 80s is my happy place :-)
@@NeathSpadge such a good time to live!
Great video mate. Might send the link to a few bus enthusiasts
Go for it mate. I am glad people are enjoying it regardless of the quality. Hoping to do a second part soon.
i remember lenoards music centre they were at deepwater plaza woy woy for a couple of years after they first opened and weekends at ettalong markets
Think I tecall them at Deepwater Plaza.
My nan used to take me there every year while holidaying in Umina.
Ohhh if only we could travel back.
@@NeathSpadge i grew up in ettalong now live in woy woy they were good times back then
@@knightman1970 I try hard to make my kids enjoy now, as one day they will look back like we do and wish they could do it all again.
footage gold.
Thanks Jason
Amazing
Pretty much everything about this country was good back then ... these days meh
Couldn't agree more.
Awesome!!!!
See the two Westies probably heading to Manley
Feel sorry for the driver on the pier one bus no power steering mach 1 leyland
Tough days compared to todays buses.