The DGT ordered 150 9823E Regal IV’s to continue the policy of replacing Sydney’s tram system. They featured the 11.3L motor and semi automatic transmission. The 9.6L units in the previous batch of vehicles (see 2807) proved to be underpowered on some of Sydney’s hills, and the driver only needed to move the small gear change lever, instead of contest with the complicated pre-selector system. The type saw a shortened life span, as Leyland (who had taken over AEC) stopped making spare parts for these buses, with the last withdrawn from service in 1980.
Vehicle Background:
2914 is an example of the first group of 350 underfloor buses. The word "Underfloor" was used to indicate that the engine was mounted horizontally under the floor, between the forward and rear axles of the vehicle. In about 1950, the Department of Road Transport and Tramways prepared a new design for a large single deck bus and purchased a Royal Tiger OPSUI/1 chassis from Leyland Motors Ltd. And was bodied as a prototype by Commonwealth Engineering of Granville, N.S.W. It then ordered 100 chassis, 50 AEC Regal IV and 50 OPSU1/1 Royal Tigers from Leyland Motors Ltd. Commonwealth Engineering built the bodies and delivered them to the newly renamed Department of Government Transport in 1953 and 1954. The buses all had "Wilson" preselector gearboxes and 9.6L or 9.8L engines.
Next followed an order for 250 buses with the same body design. The A.E.C. plant provided 125 Regal IV's with bodies built by Commonwealth Engineering Co. whilst Leyland supplied 125 ERT1/1 Royal Tiger Worldmaster chassis with bodies built by the Cycle Components Manufacturing Co. The Regal IV's had electropneumatic operated epicyclic gearboxes and were numbered 2882-2901, 2912-2931, 2942-2961, 2972-2981, 2992-3001, 3022-3041, 3082-3111 & 3122-3126. The Leylands had air operated pneumocyclic gearboxes. They were numbered in the 2902 to 3131 series, entering service between 1956 and 1959.
While A.E.C. and Leyland are synonymous with the British commercial vehicle industry, the body design of the buses closely resemble the style of American buses of the 1950's and 1960's. The body type was known as "standee", a design which allowed standing passengers to see out through the small fixed windows above the opening windows of those of the seated passengers. These buses when new had 43 seats and 29 standing passengers, however this was soon altered to 27 standing (total 70).
2914 commenced its service life at Randwick depot. However, the bus spent most its life operating from Ryde depot and its "satellite" at Leichhardt.
The bus was withdrawn and sold in October 1979 to Cumberland Bus Company. This firm did not use the bus and sold it in 1981. The vehicle has since then had several private owners. The vehicle is now owned by a member who is restoring the bus into the colours of the Public Transport Commission, which replaced the DGT in 1972.
SPECIFICATION
ENGINE: Six cylinder O.H.V. AEC A220 diesel 11.3 litre displacement, bore 4.72", stroke 5.59", 150 B.H.P. @ 1800 R.P.M.
TRANSMISSION: Wilson four speed, CAV ‘Mono-control’ electropneumatic operated epicyclic gearbox and a worm drive differential.
BRAKES: Full air operated foot brake and mechanical park brake.
