AEC Regent III 2338
Soon after the end of World War II, a total of 845 double deck bus chassis were ordered by the Department of Road Transport and Tramways, from manufacturers in the United Kingdom. The chassis when bodied were to be used for several purposes as follows:
replace the original buses purchased new in the 1930s
replace those purchased as a stop gap measure during the war
resume the gradual tramway replacement process in Sydney and Newcastle, and
expand the scope and operation of government bus services in both cities.
Chassis were ordered from A.E.C., Leyland and Albion. While the first batch of buses was 90 Leyland OPD1s, an AEC Regent III chassis was bodied in advance of the rest of the type. This bus had fleet number 792 (m/o 1792) later fleet number 1792 and entered service on 15 May 1947. The bus had a revolutionary new semi-automatic pre-selector epicyclic type gearbox.
Eventually, a total of 359 postwar AEC Regent III buses entered service. However, only the last 50, built by Clyde Engineering Co. Ltd. of Granville, Sydney were equipped with jack knife doors. The first 309 A.E.C. double deck vehicles were all built by Commonwealth Engineering Co. Ltd. of Granville and were fitted with canvas concertina doors. The entire group had their canvas doors removed at overhaul and a seat for two persons installed. Safety reasons had dictated the removal of the canvas doors as there had been accidents involving school children. While all the buses started out as 59 seaters, the first group of 309 eventually all became 61 seat vehicles.
2338 was built by Commonwealth Engineering Co. Ltd., Granville, NSW. and entered service on 2 December 1949. Initially allocated to Randwick, it subsequently saw service at Pagewood, Enfield, Willoughby, North Sydney, Ryde, Leichhardt and Burwood depots. The bus was withdrawn from service on 27 November 1973.
Hunter Valley Coaches, Maitland NSW, purchased the vehicle and reregistered it MO 5203. The company deregistered the bus in 1977 and sold it to a member in the Newcastle area of northern NSW. 2338 was brought to Sydney in 1986 for eventual restoration at the museum at Tempe. The bus was restored by several members to represent the era of the 1960s and 1970s when these buses operated without the front doors and carried various modifications.
Specifications:
Engine: Six cylinder O.H.V. AEC diesel 9.6 litre displacement, bore 4.72", stroke 5.59", 125 BHP @ 1800 RPM.
Transmission: Four speed Wilson pre-selector air operated gearbox with a worm drive differential.
Brakes: Air operated foot brake to all wheels and a mechanical hand brake on the rear wheels.
Body: Commonwealth Engineering
Status:
Preserved, off-road awaiting mechanical repairs at Leichhardt.