Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
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- Centralian
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:03 pm
Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
Here's my 'eclectic mix of curiosities' from the Blue Mountains and thereabouts, taken over the last few months.
Hope you enjoy
Katoomba has a long history of tourism and the movement of those tourists. Here's a 'now' and a 'then' image for starters.
Easter Sunday this year saw a massive influx of tourists, many arriving by rail, and stretching the route 686 service.
In the image below just before 10 am 3737 MO departs with a full load, while 3709 MO and 3706 MO load passengers.
Almost the same location 90 years earlier. Judging by the clothes (allowing for the open air nature of travel then)
I suspect probably Easter as well. My photo above was taken from the verandah of the building behind the bus - now the Carrington Bar.
I haven't yet been able to identify with certainty the bus or operator in this image.
A new addition for Near or Far Bus & Coach of Lawson, replacing their former TV 975 Denning Denair.
I thought I'd seen just about everything a bus could be converted into after its operational life.
Until I found this 'Shower Bus' conversion parked in Werrington on National Heavy Vehicle plates.
Under cover on a wet April morning at Blue Mtns Transit Katoomba depot are TV 988 Volvo / Volgren
and 6618 MO Mercedes / CDC Tours. I suspect the Volgren ex Charterplus was on loan for the Jenolan Caves
tours while the CDC Tours coach was off the road for repairs. Haven't seen the Volgren around for some weeks now.
Hope you enjoy
Katoomba has a long history of tourism and the movement of those tourists. Here's a 'now' and a 'then' image for starters.
Easter Sunday this year saw a massive influx of tourists, many arriving by rail, and stretching the route 686 service.
In the image below just before 10 am 3737 MO departs with a full load, while 3709 MO and 3706 MO load passengers.
Almost the same location 90 years earlier. Judging by the clothes (allowing for the open air nature of travel then)
I suspect probably Easter as well. My photo above was taken from the verandah of the building behind the bus - now the Carrington Bar.
I haven't yet been able to identify with certainty the bus or operator in this image.
A new addition for Near or Far Bus & Coach of Lawson, replacing their former TV 975 Denning Denair.
I thought I'd seen just about everything a bus could be converted into after its operational life.
Until I found this 'Shower Bus' conversion parked in Werrington on National Heavy Vehicle plates.
Under cover on a wet April morning at Blue Mtns Transit Katoomba depot are TV 988 Volvo / Volgren
and 6618 MO Mercedes / CDC Tours. I suspect the Volgren ex Charterplus was on loan for the Jenolan Caves
tours while the CDC Tours coach was off the road for repairs. Haven't seen the Volgren around for some weeks now.
Last edited by Centralian on Wed May 15, 2019 11:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
You are still doing it GREAT PHOTOS
Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
The Mobile Shower Bus is x STA 3315 x CH32SE
Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
Great stuff as allways Centralian.
I allways enjoy your" postcard" series very much.
I really enjoyed your old and new shots of the main street in Katoomba.
That 686 route certaintly carries fantastic loadings on tourist weekends.
Near and Far Bus and Coach have certaintly established a nice little niche coach business with well presented second hand coaches.
Do you think they have won work that was previously done by Blue Mountains Transit and for decades before by Pearce ??
I do not see the Blue Mountains charter fleet out and about near as often as I used to see Pearce coaches .
Thanks again Centralian.
I allways enjoy your" postcard" series very much.
I really enjoyed your old and new shots of the main street in Katoomba.
That 686 route certaintly carries fantastic loadings on tourist weekends.
Near and Far Bus and Coach have certaintly established a nice little niche coach business with well presented second hand coaches.
Do you think they have won work that was previously done by Blue Mountains Transit and for decades before by Pearce ??
I do not see the Blue Mountains charter fleet out and about near as often as I used to see Pearce coaches .
Thanks again Centralian.
- Centralian
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:03 pm
Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
Thanks burrumbus.
The charter business in the Mountains seems to be shared between CDC (through Charterplus), Fantastic Aussie Tours and Near or Far Bus & Coach.
Other than the CDC Tours Mercedes at Katoomba, I haven't seen any other tour or charter vehicles based at the BM Transit depots here (other than the Volgren briefly).
If booked I suspect they are supplied by Charterplus from their St Marys base. Probably some school sports work in between the am and pm school runs by the local fleet.
FAT and Near or Far I suspect target slightly different markets from each other, although overlap as well. Compass Tours (with links to Winmalee) may come
into the mix in the lower Mtns as well.
The charter business in the Mountains seems to be shared between CDC (through Charterplus), Fantastic Aussie Tours and Near or Far Bus & Coach.
Other than the CDC Tours Mercedes at Katoomba, I haven't seen any other tour or charter vehicles based at the BM Transit depots here (other than the Volgren briefly).
If booked I suspect they are supplied by Charterplus from their St Marys base. Probably some school sports work in between the am and pm school runs by the local fleet.
FAT and Near or Far I suspect target slightly different markets from each other, although overlap as well. Compass Tours (with links to Winmalee) may come
into the mix in the lower Mtns as well.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
Thanks Centralian.
I know Compass Tours-Chalker lives in the lower Blue Mountains and does pick up charter work in that area.Jeff and Sharon Chalker have done very well building a relatively modern ,well presented, medium sized charter fleet,with some new coaches purchased.
CDC operating their charter fleet from a St.Marys base would certaintly have to increase their charter rates for Blue Mountains based jobs due to the dead running involved.The local fleets would only be able to do local sports transfers between school run hours.Interesting business decision there not basing coaches in the Blue Mountains.
I know Compass Tours-Chalker lives in the lower Blue Mountains and does pick up charter work in that area.Jeff and Sharon Chalker have done very well building a relatively modern ,well presented, medium sized charter fleet,with some new coaches purchased.
CDC operating their charter fleet from a St.Marys base would certaintly have to increase their charter rates for Blue Mountains based jobs due to the dead running involved.The local fleets would only be able to do local sports transfers between school run hours.Interesting business decision there not basing coaches in the Blue Mountains.
- boronia
- Posts: 21567
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- Favourite Vehicle: Ahrens Fox; GMC PD4107
- Location: Sydney NSW
Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
There is more than "dead running" factored into the cost of charters.
Years ago when I was booking subbies for a large Sydney operator, I could often get better prices from Newcastle and Wollongong operators to work in Sydney than I could from local companies. Even then, their prices were often less than what we were charging our clients.
Years ago when I was booking subbies for a large Sydney operator, I could often get better prices from Newcastle and Wollongong operators to work in Sydney than I could from local companies. Even then, their prices were often less than what we were charging our clients.
Preserving fire service history
@ The Museum of Fire.
@ The Museum of Fire.
- Centralian
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:03 pm
Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
An example of what you mention boronia is at this weekends Ultra Trail Australia event at Katoomba. It's spred over 4 days from today with I believe a few thousand participants
in the 50km and 100km races through the National Park, and shorter events. Shuttle buses are running every 15 minutes from and to various locations in Katoomba and I assumed a
local operator would have the job. Instead I spotted today all white coaches from an operator in Belmore eg TV 9151. I assume accommodation is included for the drivers over
the 4 days, and still the locals appear to have missed out.
in the 50km and 100km races through the National Park, and shorter events. Shuttle buses are running every 15 minutes from and to various locations in Katoomba and I assumed a
local operator would have the job. Instead I spotted today all white coaches from an operator in Belmore eg TV 9151. I assume accommodation is included for the drivers over
the 4 days, and still the locals appear to have missed out.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
- Swift
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Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
A shame one of the Willoughby MANs wasn't turned into a shower bus. It looks good.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
- ScaniaGrenda
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Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
I'm very disappointed in the condition of the ex Brisbane Transport Volvo Austral bus. Poor bus deserves better than that.
Transport enthusiast & photographer / videographer since 2016, documenting & preserving our local Transport History through videos & photos.
Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
i would love to live where you live no Grafffiti
- ScaniaGrenda
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- Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2016 1:46 pm
- Favourite Vehicle: Scania,Volvo or Mercedes Buses
Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
???
All I'm saying is I'm disappointed in the condition that bus has been ended up in. Good grief if I even say something deserves to be in better condition instead of rotting. Not sure what called for you to make the comment you did but I don't appreciate it.
All I'm saying is I'm disappointed in the condition that bus has been ended up in. Good grief if I even say something deserves to be in better condition instead of rotting. Not sure what called for you to make the comment you did but I don't appreciate it.
Transport enthusiast & photographer / videographer since 2016, documenting & preserving our local Transport History through videos & photos.
- Newcastle Flyer
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Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
A shower bus???
White lives matter too.
Australia Day 26th Jan, the most important day in Australia as is 19 April, Cook's discovery of eastern Australia
Australia Day 26th Jan, the most important day in Australia as is 19 April, Cook's discovery of eastern Australia
Re: Blue Mountains postcard - Autumn 2019 Part 1
May be it could be used in Newcatle for people who don't put there hand over there monthNewcastle Flyer wrote:A shower bus???