By the mid 1930s the Department of Road Transport & Tramways (D.R.T.& T.) was faced with the need to further improve its bus fleet. A standard double deck bus design had been developed. The Department was satisfied that a fleet of standard double deck high capacity buses would be ideal to meet the increasing demands for its existing and newly taken over bus services. The (D.R.T.& T.) had acquired a large number of private buses from independent bus operators from 1932. These buses had been obtained from various vehicle manufacturers. The chassis and bodies were all non standard and were of varying capacities, conditions and ages. Furthermore, the Government wanted to expand its operations and withdraw some of the tramway services that were in need of refurbishment and track renewal.

Leyland Motors supplied 35 Leyland Titan TD4 and 7 TD4C (the torque converter drive model variation of the TD4) chassis, totalling 42. These were followed by the updated version known as the TD5 of which there were 97 examples.

Leyland TD5 1438 represents the standard pre Word War II double deck bus design. Waddingtons of Granville, Sydney, built the body in December 1937. Postwar vehicles varied only slightly in their body design. No. 1438 commenced its service life on 6 January 1938 and operated at Woolloomooloo, Newcastle, Kingsgrove, North Sydney and Willoughby depots. It was withdrawn from Willoughby on 28 Oct 1960.

No. 1438 was sold for use as a stationary caravan at Coonamble, NSW. A member tracked it down at nearby Pilliga in the early 1990s, where it was being used as a shed. The owner indicated his willingness to swap it for another double decker and AEC Regent III 2451 which the museum had previously acquired was prepared as an exchange vehicle. A full coat of green and cream paint was applied to the A.E.C. as an added inducement. On the appointed weekend in 1996, the AEC was driven by museum members to Pilliga. The Association's Leyland Buffalo No. 036 towed the AEC on some stretches owing to its ability to travel faster than the bus. This strategy also saved on fuel. It was remarkable that after 36 years of hybernation in a distant inland location, the bus still looked like it had just done a shift out of Willoughby depot. For the time being at least it has been decided that the bus will be displayed in its 1960 condition. In this guise it is a time warp of that period.

SPECIFICATIONS
Engine:
6 cylinder Leyland diesel over head cam shaft, bore 4.5", stroke 5.5", 82 B.H.P. of 8.6 litre displacement.

Gearbox:
4 speed constant mesh and a worm drive differential.

Brakes:
Vacuum assisted hydraulic footbrake and mechanical
park brake.