Leyland OPD2 2033

Leyland Motors Ltd. secured orders for several batches of double deck chassis. 203 of them were OPD2/1’s, equipped with synchromesh gearboxes. They were nicknamed the “Synchros”. Commonwealth Engineering Co. Ltd. of Granville, Sydney built 93 bodies while Clyde Engineering Co. of Granville manufactured 110. All were fitted with canvas concertina doors. These were later removed.

No. 2033 was built in May 1948 and issued to traffic on 21 August 1948. It was 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. The bus was transferred to Newcastle, Randwick and Kingsgrove and was withdrawn in September 1972 after covering 585,900 miles.

2033 was sold to Jim Hill, bus dealer of Wollongong, NSW. in December 1973. The bus was resold for use as a school bus at Leeton in the Riverina district of south western, NSW. The Londonderry Evangelical Fellowship was next to acquire the bus. Next it was purchased by a syndicate of members of the Association who in turn sold it in 1992 to the State Transit Authority. The bus was then overhauled by Pressed Metal Corporation and the bus was registered m/o 8556 in September 1993. State Transit allocated the bus to Willoughby depot for vintage bus charter work.

2033 was withdrawn from government operation for the second time on 27 September 1997 and immediately made available to the Sydney Bus Museum. 2033 is now one of the main work horses of the vintage double deck fleet. It was overhauled mechanically and had extensive body repairs and restoration works completed at the Museum by volunteers, relaunching to the public at the Harbour Bridge 90th birthday event in 2022.

Specifications:

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: Commonwealth Engineering

Status:

Operational.