2087



1948 LEYLAND TITAN OPD2/1
 1948 LEYLAND TITAN OPD2/1

1948 LEYLAND TITAN OPD2/1

Vehicle Background:
Soon after the end of World War II in 1945, a total of  845 double deck bus chassis were progressively ordered by the Department of Road Transport and Tramways (D.R.T. & T) from manufacturers in the United Kingdom.

Leyland Motors supplied 90 Leyland OPD1 chassis with four speed constant mesh gearboxes followed by 203 Leyland OPD2/1 equipped with synchromesh gearboxes "Synchros"  and 50 Leyland OPD2/1's fitted with Wilson pre-selector gearboxes.
 
No. 2087 was one of the batch of 203 "Synchros" and was issued to traffic on 21 August 1948, as one of the replacement vehicles for the Ashfield - Burwood - Mortlake / Cabarita tramway services that had operated out of the Enfield Tram Depot. The bus was new to Burwood Depot which initially was responsible for the replacement bus services. When Enfield was reopened after conversion to a bus depot on 9 January 1950,  2087 was one of 42 Leyland OPD2/1 transferred from Burwood to the newly rebuilt depot. Later in the mid 1950's the bus was reallocated to Burwood Depot where it spent most of its service life of 24 years. From the late 1960's until withdrawal on 29 August 1972 it also operated at Brookvale, Randwick, Kingsgrove and Tempe Depots.

The "Synchros" were popular with maintenance and operating staff alike and some of the buses ran high mileage prior to being withdrawn. No. 2087 was converted at an overhaul in the mid 1960's from 59 to 61 seats by removal of the front canvas concertina door and addition of a two person seat.

A group of members purchased the "Synchro" on 1 September 1972 only three days after withdrawal. Its acquisition set a precedent as it highlighted the fact that the days of the famous Sydney double deckers were coming to an end. Since then other double deckers have been added to the museum running fleet and very frequent vintage bus services can now be operated. As part of the restoration process, No. 2087 has had its canvas concertina door reinstated and is now in original 1948 condition as a 59 seat bus.

ENGINE:
Six cylinder Leyland 0.600 diesel engine of 9.8 litres displacement, bore 4.8", stroke 5.5", 125 B.H.P. @ 1800 R.P.M.

TRANSMISSION:
4 speed synchromesh and a worm drive differential.

BRAKES:
Vacuum operated foot brake and a mechanical hand brake.

BODY:
Clyde Engineering Company, Granville, August 1948

Sydney Bus and Truck Museum Home PageContact Sydney Bus and Truck MuseumSydney Bus and Truck Museum LinksMembership of Sydney Bus and Truck MuseumAustralian Bus & Commercial Vehicle HerirageSydney Bus and Truck Museum ShopSydney Bus and Truck Museum Recent EventsSydney Bus and Truck Museum FleetVisiting Sydney Bus and Truck MuseumAbout Sydney Bus and Truck Museum LimitedSydney Bus and Truck Museum Home Page

l>