1952 LEYLAND TIGER OPS2/1

Vehicle Background:
Patronage declined rapidly on government bus services from 1950 as the population deserted public transport in favour of the private motor car. To ease the burden of declining receipts, bus operators turned to one man operation as an economy. In addition a replacement fleet was needed for the ageing half-cab single deckers which were coming to the end of their service lives. Wear and tear had been accelerated by their intensive use in the war years.

A design was developed by the Department of Government Transport (D.G.T.) which comprised modern ideas such as standee windows, air operated doors and full width body fronts, but retained exposed radiators. A total of 172 buses known as "31 seaters" were built for the D.G.T. between 1951 and 1955 by the Commonwealth Engineering Co. Granville, Sydney. 50 were constructed on A.E.C. Regal III chassis, 50 on Leyland OPS2/1 Chassis, 20 on Daimler CVG6 chassis. The final group of 52 buses, 34 on Leyland OPD2/1 double deck and 18 on A.E.C Regent III double deck chassis. They had modified bodies, closely resembling the under floor engined AEC Regal IV and Leyland Royal Tiger bus bodies, being supplied concurrently. The specifications for the Leyland chassis required that they be provided with air brakes and Wilson pre-selective gearboxes. These were not standard for front engined vehicles of the time.

2599 entered service on 19th September 1952 and operated from Kingsgrove and Burwood Depots for most of its Departmental life. It was retired in October 1975 after covering 480,793 miles. Soon after this time it was acquired for preservation .

SPECIFICATION

ENGINE: Six cylinder Leyland diesel engine Bore 4.8" Stroke 5.5", 600 cubic inch displacement, 125 brake horse power.

TRANSMISSION: Four speed air operated pre-selective gearbox and worm drive differential.

BRAKES: Air operated foot brake. Mechanical Park Brake.