Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day 2

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Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day 2

Post by Mr OC Benz »

Following on about the news of former Transperth Mercedes-Benz O405's 679 and 686, here are some shots from Day 2 of our travels from Sandfire Roadhouse to Fortescue River Roadhouse (south of Karratha).

LINK to Day 1 photos plus an introductory into the acquisition of 679 and 686.
679 and 686 awake at Sandfire Roadhouse and await to be refueled
679 and 686 awake at Sandfire Roadhouse and await to be refueled
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A safety message in this photo
A safety message in this photo
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679, 686, the RRU and a looooooooong road!
679, 686, the RRU and a looooooooong road!
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More juice is pumped in at BP near Port Hedland International Airport
More juice is pumped in at BP near Port Hedland International Airport
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Photo stop! Some Earth lumps exposed for the camera
Photo stop! Some Earth lumps exposed for the camera
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Waiting at the Railway Crossing for a loooooooong Freight train near Karratha!
Waiting at the Railway Crossing for a loooooooong Freight train near Karratha!
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Diesel buses 679 and 686 pose outside the gas plant
Diesel buses 679 and 686 pose outside the gas plant
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Coming across the bridge to our final resting point for the day was 679, 686 and a Rio Tinto Irizar bodied bus
Coming across the bridge to our final resting point for the day was 679, 686 and a Rio Tinto Irizar bodied bus
679_Fortescue_River_Bridge_15-12-12.jpg (81.16 KiB) Viewed 6522 times
Getting refueled before heading to bed
Getting refueled before heading to bed
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by I love the old buses »

Is there a problem with one of the doors on each of the buses or is the open/closing of the doors out of sequence with each other?
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by Mr OC Benz »

It was the set up that Pearl Town Bus Service, Broome had for their school bus services in town.
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by perthbus »

686 was involved in a near life ending accident on a few years back near Warwick I/C when it was nearly torn in two.

The rear doors aren't Kickertt like they had at delivery a new rear set had to be fabricated and made up and as a result they were never 100%.
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by Mr OC Benz »

One of the noticeable things, as with the "crabbing" that it seems to do. But nevertheless, it seems PATH did a good job reconstructing it. The door mechanisms had been slightly altered by PTBS so that only front leaf on front and rear doors opens on 686 which makes doing school runs much easier as you don't have kids rampaging on. But for some reason, 679's rear doors both open. A simple fix and they'll work the way they use to. But I quite like the current set up at the moment! :P :D
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by mrobsessed »

You could put a switch on it (hidden of course) to make one or both doors open. Easy mod!
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by adx666 »

1 question, did you get a special pass to travel 2500 k's with no rego plates? :shock:
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by E.L.Wood »

It always seems there's a train going through that crossing near Karratha, but then Rio Tinto do have 2 unloading points there.
yolo seems to be a bit of a trend!
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by High Floor Bus »

1 question, did you get a special pass to travel 2500 k's with no rego plates?
yes we did , there just standard unregisted vehicle permits covering point A to point B for $21 for 48 hrs, so more than one was got for the journey back. :
)aswell as 3rd party & property insurance just in case for the unseen senerios. :wink:
Last edited by High Floor Bus on Thu Dec 20, 2012 3:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by adx666 »

Great stuff, actually seems quite a reasonable charge!
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by Bus-1809 »

686's front doors were fixed this evening by yours truly with a bit of help from some of SEB's equipment. Just need to get the rear door, rear leaf working and she'll be good as new. Those home made doors on the rear of 686 were always a bit dodgy, but they did the job, which is the important bit
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by Maladjusted »

Great pictures and story Mr OC Benz, shows the enormity, colour and terain of the area, with a respectable charge to move them as well.
You give the impression Mercedes drink fuel as you had to stop to fuel up all the time. :lol: But over 2500k you wouldn't have gone far on a tank.
These 2 vehicles look like very good examples to preserve for future.
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by Mr OC Benz »

We actually stopped at more roadhouses in between than the shots I've posted up. It allows the buses to cool down, check for anything suspicious, toilet breaks etc... But we didn't necessarily fuel all the time, or sometimes only one bus fuelled, or the bus and the car fuelled.
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by Cordes Express »

You guys are making me jealous... Every time I seem to be looking thru for updates on how you boys are getting on with New buses being delivered.. It seems that members are buying all of the old ones.... I mean, Merc 0305's, 0305G's and now 0405's.... You now have more Transperth buses in restoration/preservation over there, than I have model buses sitting on my shelf...

But in saying that... Keep it up!!!! :)
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by adx666 »

Personally I think it is great so many are privately buying buses and restoring them, means we never really have to say goodbye to our old faves
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by PoweredByCNG »

There's much more to come, trust me! :P
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by High Floor Bus »

There's much more to come, trust me!
Thats good news, hope it pans out for ya. :)

Here are my day two shots. :D
Having waken at first light ,here we see the two amegos getting there fluids cheeked and toped up, but had to wait for fueling till opening time at 7.00am .Due to our late arrival the day before we were unable to fuel for an early start. the overnite parking of the buses facing toe to toe was done so the battery compartments faced each other , so to faciilate a jump start if need be. :wink:
Having spent the nite before at Sandfire Road House , a wonder around the place reveiled to what we think is X MTT 913 seen to the right in the background of 686.
early morning at Sandfire roadhouse 15-12-2012
early morning at Sandfire roadhouse 15-12-2012
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A timely reminder to us to not over do our driving times behind the wheel.
679 and abandoned car 15-12-2012
679 and abandoned car 15-12-2012
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Recent bushfires in the area and new growth shows a vast empty road to travel. :D
Agent "86 & 79 on the open road 15-12-2012
Agent "86 & 79 on the open road 15-12-2012
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One of the many dry river crossings that have no wet season rains in it yet.
686 River crossing 15-12-2012
686 River crossing 15-12-2012
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This rock formation from a distance to me looked like a bird beak , but hey i just mite be seeing things :wink: :lol:
Bird beak rock ?? near Port headland 15-12-2012
Bird beak rock ?? near Port headland 15-12-2012
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a lot of fuel gets moved up north.
686 and fuel tanker truck 15-12-2012
686 and fuel tanker truck 15-12-2012
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686 at a Port Headland Train crossing15-12-2012
686 at a Port Headland Train crossing15-12-2012
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A long way from home.15-12-2012
A long way from home.15-12-2012
P1100116 2cr.jpg (79.95 KiB) Viewed 6219 times
686 & 679 passing by X sydney DD 2159 at Whim Creek air field.
686 & 679 with sydney DD 2159
686 & 679 with sydney DD 2159
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by Cordes Express »

How do you guys get on, driving these without registration Plates on them?
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day

Post by High Floor Bus »

How do you guys get on, driving these without registration Plates on them?
if you missed the answer that was posted , here it is quoted below . :)
1 question, did you get a special pass to travel 2500 k's with no rego plates?
yes we did , there just standard unregisted vehicle permits covering point A to point B for $21 for 48 hrs, so more than one was got for the journey back. :
)aswell as 3rd party & property insurance just in case for the unseen senerios.
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day 2

Post by Maddog »

Mr OC Benz and High Floor Bus you give me much hope!
I've an o405 that won't get above 80 on the highway. Can I pm/email you and pick your brains?!
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day 2

Post by High Floor Bus »

Maddog, firstly let's establish what kind of O405 you have and from what state operator it came from . Is it a Perth O405 or O405 nh or a Sydney one or any other state. A previous fleet number would also be handy in determining if its not limited by gearbox/differential combination to a lower speed . Whether the engine is speed governed ect.
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day 2

Post by Maddog »

Hey HFB, its an ex Newcastle Volgren (so I imagine from Sydney). I was told by the 3rd party seller that it was super governed, but that's been removed for no improvement. It's a naturally aspirated engine (no idea if its mki or mkii 447) pushing a 5hp500 gearbox. It has the 37:27 diff and planet hubs with 85 outer ring and 35 sun ring teeth.
Is any of this interchangeable with other parts that would be more suitable for greater heighway time?
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day 2

Post by Fleet Lists »

There were no O405 Volgrens taken over by Newcastle Transport from Sydney Buses so it may not be ex Sydney and we have no record of any ever operating with Sydney Buses.
It could come from any other Newcastle operator but I dont think it would be CDC
Does the bus still have plates with a body number?
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day 2

Post by High Floor Bus »

Maddog , yes a picture of bus , rego , body vin number , engine number ,and old fleet number will help in identifying your bus correctly, no use us guessing from limited information. Knowing this info yourself helps you when chasing parts from suppliers.
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Re: Broome to Perth adventure in two preserved O405's - Day 2

Post by High Floor Bus »

679 looking much better 8 years down the track now.
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679  Marangaroo Dr Ballajura
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