Sydney Buses - Mercedes Benz O405 (Mk5) 3252 CNG

[R-C]

Here are some photos of the recently withdrawn 3252

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3252 laying up at King St Wharf - waiting to commence a 412 to Campsie

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After being off the road for a long time, 3252 finally gets its newly reconditioned engine

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A Kingsgrove Tour, where all the 4 prototypes were strutting their stuff.

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3252 visits Ryde depot.

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After finally getting the go ahead to be used in service at Leichhardt, 3252 gets left behind in the back corner of the depot whilst its twin 3251 goes out to play on 443s at L for the afternoon. Although it was feeling home sick on L's runs and had a dummy spit. Here is 3251 going out in service, the first and last time at L on roadwork, and possibly the last time it will see service before being withdrawn.

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3252 being taken to Kingsgrove to be fuelled, after the PM Yard Shift. The bus only made it so far down Norton St, where it overheated and sat waiting for a tow truck.

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3 hours later, 3252 is towed back to Leichhardt Depot, after being checked out by the all night corridor supervisor, where it was later found to have a blown head gasket and was deemed not to be driven or started unless under the mechanics instructions.

Once arriving at L it sat there for a few weeks against the back wall, until it was due to be given an inspection (as per the maintenance practices at STA) and was deemed as "OFF STRENGTH" from the L Fleet.

And on Wednesday December 7, 2011 - 3252 is no longer part of the STA fleet.

[3575]

Thank you for reporting us a little about its "biography". It's always a little sad loosing the old familiar vehicles.

Can you tell me what "Signal driver" means? Does that mean you have to give a signal to the Bus driver if you want to leave the Bus?

[Simes]

You signal the driver to stop, at the bus stop - in order to get onto the bus

[Beaches77]

In the Photo 4sm, apart from an excellent line up shot - there is quite a banged up MK III, does anyone know what happened to it?

[Simes]

In the Photo 4sm, apart from an excellent line up shot - there is quite a banged up MK III, does anyone know what happened to it?

I believe it's 2696, that went to Westfield Sports high for parts - the other, 2611 ended up at Manly Coaches
Basically 2696 ran into 2611 during a storm back in 2007

[TOXANA]

3251 goes out to play on 443s at L for the afternoon. Although it was feeling home sick on L's runs and had a dummy spit. Here is 3251 going out in service, the first and last time at L on roadwork, and possibly the last time it will see service before being withdrawn.

Yes and a certain long time employee gets to have his own page of honour in Greg Travers next book

[gld59]

I remember the line-up at Tempe Depot (on the K Mk II farewell tour?), but I'd forgotten the Tempe desto being shown.

gld

[AEC Decker]

After being off the road for a long time, 3252 finally gets its newly reconditioned engine.

If the engine was "reconditioned" by Duncan & Foster (current STA engine repair contractor), then it would have been rebuilt with only the faulty parts replaced, the same as the diesel O405 engines.

[NewcastleBuses]

It would be interesting to see the service & repair history of this pair over their lifetime compared to a regular MK5 R_C,

[Bus-1809]

Such a shame to see such a different, but similar bus withdrawn from service. It's sad because 14 of WA's 15 are still going strong (one having just received a 3Spd Voith and all receiving the Transcom Injection System modification, which makes them go like rockets). Would be interesting to see if the twins would make for something that PATH Transit could fix up, whack the injection system on to and send into service here in WA for a few years

[Ben_Daui]

Such a shame to see such a different, but similar bus withdrawn from service. It's sad because 14 of WA's 15 are still going strong (one having just received a 3Spd Voith and all receiving the Transcom Injection System modification, which makes them go like rockets). Would be interesting to see if the twins would make for something that PATH Transit could fix up, whack the injection system on to and send into service here in WA for a few years

Yes if they did end up going to Perth, it would be a nice side by side shot of the Perth & Sydney units together

[PoweredByCNG]

Even though they share similar running gear to the Perth units, you'll find that we won't be in a hurry to welcome them into our fleet due to structural differences as well as their age.

[CB80]

I think age would be the biggest factor.

[Swift]

After being off the road for a long time, 3252 finally gets its newly reconditioned engine.

If the engine was "reconditioned" by Duncan & Foster (current STA engine repair contractor), then it would have been rebuilt with only the faulty parts replaced, the same as the diesel O405 engines.

Having driven some 0405s with engines from this Blacktown based mob, I wondered why they didn't sound 'new'. Now I know why. Not a real reconditioned engine. Contractor is right!