Old REOs

Sydney / New South Wales Transport Discussion
User avatar
boronia
Posts: 21566
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 6:18 am
Favourite Vehicle: Ahrens Fox; GMC PD4107
Location: Sydney NSW

Old REOs

Post by boronia »

Perhaps GM can recognise these:
198m09 (Small).jpg
198m09 (Small).jpg (62.97 KiB) Viewed 8069 times
Preserving fire service history
@ The Museum of Fire.
User avatar
GM
Posts: 1065
Joined: Fri May 04, 2007 1:05 pm
Location: Central Coast

Re: Old REOs

Post by GM »

Boronia, the c1935 Reo appears to have Canterbury Stn - Dobroyd Point painted on its side.
The next one looks like a Reo that Rutty's had which went to Moores at Moorebank,
the 2LM looks like Brian Le Quesne's when owned Maroubra Beach to Randwick.
Parramatta Bus Co had two 34 Passenger Reo's m/o 274 and m/o 314, 314 became the tug for the Semi m/o 932.GM
Attachments
mo 274  REO - Syd Wood 33 - Nth Parramatta Depot 26 Jan 1950 - An RD Photo.JPG
mo 274 REO - Syd Wood 33 - Nth Parramatta Depot 26 Jan 1950 - An RD Photo.JPG (34.92 KiB) Viewed 8034 times
Fleet No 26 - 01 1942 White - Receipt for purchase from J H Moore of Parramatta-Epping Bus Service mo 857.jpg
Fleet No 26 - 01 1942 White - Receipt for purchase from J H Moore of Parramatta-Epping Bus Service mo 857.jpg (183.4 KiB) Viewed 8034 times
TRANSPORTATION - .jpg
Le Quesne B - mo 036 - REO 2LM - Syd Wood 00-00-1934 25 - Maroubra Beach to Randwick - LH Side - DRT & T mo 1613.JPG
Le Quesne B - mo 036 - REO 2LM - Syd Wood 00-00-1934 25 - Maroubra Beach to Randwick - LH Side - DRT & T mo 1613.JPG (58.04 KiB) Viewed 8034 times
tonyp
Posts: 12348
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:31 am

Re: Old REOs

Post by tonyp »

Wow what a blast from the past boronia. Most of those models were still running in the 50s.

It's interesting that they listed the Speedwagon on its own beside buses and trucks. Was there some distinctive characteristic of the Speedwagon chassis and was it both a bus and truck chassis?

Those younger among us who think that a centre door is a back door can see here what a back door looks like! ;)
The door arrangement on the forward control is more reminiscent of continental European practice.
User avatar
GM
Posts: 1065
Joined: Fri May 04, 2007 1:05 pm
Location: Central Coast

Re: Old REOs

Post by GM »

I have not seen before the statement "Trucks, Speedwagons, Buses".
I thought most Reo's were Speedwagons except m/o 186 which was a "Reo Safety Bus"?
The only person who is still alive that could shed some light on Reo vehicles is Peter Anderson.
The yard where 186 is and the house next door became Jim Newport's Delwood Bus Co Depot some years later when Herb Katen sold to W H Wilcox.
On the photo of Bill Neely's Reo m/o 787 you can see the "Reo Speed Wagon' nameplate on the side of the bonnet, also the Mechanical Hand and the front number plate which you had to make yourself because you only got the rear plate. GM
Attachments
Neely W A - mo 787 Reo Syd Wood 27 18.02.1938 - Oxford St Sth Granville 01.06.1947 - r.JPG
Katen H F - mo 186 Reo Syd Wood 27 02.04.1937 - Katen's Depot 1948 - r.JPG
Katen H F - mo 186 Reo Syd Wood 27 02.04.1937 - Katen's Depot 1948 - r.JPG (40.63 KiB) Viewed 7931 times
User avatar
GM
Posts: 1065
Joined: Fri May 04, 2007 1:05 pm
Location: Central Coast

Re: Old REOs

Post by GM »

Addendum, when Bill Neely sold his depot on the corner of Guildford Rd and Marion St Guildford to become a Service Station, he purchased land in Lisbon St., Villawood.
When Dick Rowe purchased Bill's Route 186 he named it Parramatta-Villawood.
Many years later Jim Newport had to get out of his depot in Onslow St., Granville, because of the expressway, and purchased Parramatta-Villawood to get a new depot which meant he ended up with Bill,s Lisbon St Depot.
Bill Neely always had Reo's, when he could get them, he did have a Bedford, several GMC'c, an Austin and an International over the years, all Normal Control.
He did not believe in Forward Control buses.
It was not till his son Robert entered the business that an F/C bus was purchased which was of course a Reo Syd Wood m/o 636. GM
tonyp
Posts: 12348
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:31 am

Re: Old REOs

Post by tonyp »

GM wrote: He did not believe in Forward Control buses.
It was not till his son Robert entered the business that an F/C bus was purchased which was of course a Reo Syd Wood m/o 636. GM
That's funny! What year was 636?

It seems the Speedwagon was basically a truck chassis, a pick-up:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REO_Speed_Wagon

Of course not to be confused with this!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REO_Speedwagon
User avatar
Bedford-29
Posts: 4942
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:31 pm

Re: Old REOs

Post by Bedford-29 »

Here are couple pictures of some REOs.Pictures from Ken Magor collection.
Attachments
HIGLETT`S COACHES REO CSK-859
HIGLETT`S COACHES REO CSK-859
CENTRAL COAST COACHES REO TV-051
CENTRAL COAST COACHES REO TV-051
THE ENTRANCE RED BUS REO MO-3643
THE ENTRANCE RED BUS REO MO-3643
HIGLETT`S COACHES REO MO-4530
HIGLETT`S COACHES REO MO-4530
ROBERTS BRISBANE WATERS COACHES REO MO-5951
ROBERTS BRISBANE WATERS COACHES REO MO-5951
RUTTY`S BUS SERVICE REO MO-6137
RUTTY`S BUS SERVICE REO MO-6137
Previoulsy known as United Diesel 15
tonyp
Posts: 12348
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:31 am

Re: Old REOs

Post by tonyp »

Those buses are too modern for this thread Bedford-29 :wink:

(but appreciated nonetheless :) )
User avatar
GM
Posts: 1065
Joined: Fri May 04, 2007 1:05 pm
Location: Central Coast

Re: Old REOs

Post by GM »

Bedford 29's Reo MO 5951 had many guises, in the photo it is painted for Roberts of Gosford.
It originally was built for Eric Riley of Ettalong in 1947, then upon his death it passed to Richter Bros of Umina c1953, in turn it was sold to the Baptist Church at Green Point Gosford, then went to Roberts.
After Roberts it went down the Coast to around Batemans Bay.
Where was purchased by Peter Anderson and it now resides at Deepwater awaiting restoration? GM
Attachments
Green Point Baptist - ESO 200 Reo Waddingtons - r.JPG
Riley E S - MO 3422 REO Commonwealth Engineering 10.12.1947 38 - 12  Ettalong Beach 30.12.1947.JPG
Riley E S - MO 3422 Reo Commonwealth Engineering 38 10.12.1947 - Builders Plate.jpg
Riley E S - MO 3422 Reo Commonwealth Engineering 38 10.12.1947 - Builders Plate.jpg (116.95 KiB) Viewed 7848 times
Riley E S - MO 3422 REO Commonwealth Engineering 10.12.1947 38 - 11 Ettalong Beach 30.12.1947.JPG
Keats
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2014 3:22 pm
Favourite Vehicle: Comair Bedford SB3
Location: In front of the computer...

Re: Old REOs

Post by Keats »

Just happened across this pic - the REO operated by Clarinda Transport in the late 1950s, shown here in late 1958:
Clarinda Reo bus.jpg
User avatar
Reo
Posts: 136
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:04 pm
Favourite Vehicle: Deckers-AEC,Leyland,Albion
Location: South West Rocks, NSW

Re: Old REOs

Post by Reo »

Thanks everyone for the fantastic photo's and history !
tonyp
Posts: 12348
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:31 am

Re: Old REOs

Post by tonyp »

They were also basically truck chassis except for the odd forward-entrance bus chassis like the Higlett's bus above and HHBC MOs 4269 and 4399. Another even rarer chassis here was the forward-entrance, rear-engined Reo Pusher of which I think there were only a couple of examples here.
User avatar
boronia
Posts: 21566
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 6:18 am
Favourite Vehicle: Ahrens Fox; GMC PD4107
Location: Sydney NSW

Re: Old REOs

Post by boronia »

GM wrote:Bedford 29's Reo MO 5951 had many guises, in the photo it is painted for Roberts of Gosford.
It originally was built for Eric Riley of Ettalong in 1947, then upon his death it passed to Richter Bros of Umina c1953, in turn it was sold to the Baptist Church at Green Point Gosford, then went to Roberts.
After Roberts it went down the Coast to around Batemans Bay.
Where was purchased by Peter Anderson and it now resides at Deepwater awaiting restoration? GM
Now that Peter Anderson has passed away, I wonder what will/has happened to his collection?
Preserving fire service history
@ The Museum of Fire.
User avatar
system improver
Posts: 2893
Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:38 am
Favourite Vehicle: 1949 MBA Seddon
Location: Melbourne

Re: Old REOs

Post by system improver »

Keats wrote:Just happened across this pic - the REO operated by Clarinda Transport in the late 1950s, shown here in late 1958:
Clarinda Reo bus.jpg
Great photo - never say never - I thought pictures of ex Clarinda Transport buses would never come to light. The bus was new to Giuseppe (Joe) Cianciarulo, one of the multiple operators on Route 1, North Road (and Kooyong Road) to the City, in 1946 and has a Giles body with a Hercules diesel engine. With the amalgamation to form Melbourne Brighton Bus Lines in 1954, it became their No 16 and Graeme Bail (son-in-law of Lew Page) acquired it from Joe to come into the business. He sold it to Bert Trotter's Clarinda Transport in December 1957, just a few months before the sale of his business to Ventura in May 1958. Seven of the 8 Clarinda buses continued on with Ventura until they were replaced with new Bedford SB3 buses (two Piper bodied and 6 CAC bodied) in 1959/60. At the time of the sale, Ventura's newest and highest numbered bus was No 33. So the ex Clarinda buses were numbered 40 to 46. None of them were painted into Ventura's livery but stayed with the two tone green Clarinda livery.
burrumbus
Posts: 2049
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:12 pm

Re: Old REOs

Post by burrumbus »

Peter Anderson's collection of buses has been advertised for sale by his family.Thus far the collection is being sold in a piecemeal fashion one by one and for parts as I understand it.
burrumbus
Posts: 2049
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2011 10:12 pm

Re: Old REOs

Post by burrumbus »

And judging from the fleet number 46 displayed on the Reo/Giles it was under Ventura ownership at the time of the photo.
neilrex
Posts: 697
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:34 pm

Re: Old REOs

Post by neilrex »

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/tailgat ... wagon-bus/

A REO Speed Wagon bus would be a rather small bus.
tonyp
Posts: 12348
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:31 am

Re: Old REOs

Post by tonyp »

burrumbus wrote:Peter Anderson's collection of buses has been advertised for sale by his family.Thus far the collection is being sold in a piecemeal fashion one by one and for parts as I understand it.
I guess that includes Hunters Hill's MO 4576, a rare bus?
tonyp
Posts: 12348
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:31 am

Re: Old REOs

Post by tonyp »

neilrex wrote:https://www.hotrod.com/articles/tailgat ... wagon-bus/

A REO Speed Wagon bus would be a rather small bus.
The ones illustrated early on this thread are mostly short chassis versions. They were also full-size buses (back in the days when buses were about 10 metres rather than 12 metres).

http://www.busaustralia.com/gallery/dis ... ?pid=19820
neilrex
Posts: 697
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2016 8:34 pm

Re: Old REOs

Post by neilrex »

they would presumably have been built on the chassis of one of REO's other truck lines, I would have thought.
tonyp
Posts: 12348
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:31 am

Re: Old REOs

Post by tonyp »

The Reo Speedwagon truck chassis was also used as a bus chassis and was available in different lengths (client-specified I guess). Some of the Australian examples were converted from normal control to forward control:

Image

Reo also offered a variant with the front axle set back for a forward-entrance bus chassis. Only a few of these reached Australia:

Image

Reo also had a rear-engined bus chassis known as a Reo Pusher. Again, very few of these reached Australia, all pre-war I think.

Having lived all of my early life on the interface between private and government territory, these petrol-engined Reos were limousines to ride compared to the rough and noisy diesel government buses. I think that's when my philosophy of passenger-focus-first developed!
User avatar
GM
Posts: 1065
Joined: Fri May 04, 2007 1:05 pm
Location: Central Coast

Re: Old REOs

Post by GM »

TonyP Reo Pusher, 1942 Model, Eight supposed to have entered Australia only one survives in Victoria.
Fogg's Newcastle
The Entrance Red
Wagg A J
All had Syd Wood Bodies and converted to front engine
Still looking for rest? Have to ask Peter?
Attachments
Fogg's Motor Service - A 516 REO Syd Wood.JPG
Red Bus Services - No 07.01.08  MO 802 - REO - Syd Wood - An RD Photo.JPG
Red Bus Services - No 07.01.08 MO 802 - REO - Syd Wood - An RD Photo.JPG (41.54 KiB) Viewed 6455 times
Wagg A J - mo 538 Reo Syd Wood, mo xxx International Properts.JPG
Wagg A J - mo 538 Reo Syd Wood, mo xxx International Properts.JPG (35.67 KiB) Viewed 6455 times
The History of a Reo Pusher in Victoria.PNG
T & BT - Feb 1942 Page 14 & 15 - Reo Pusher - r.JPG
T & BT - Feb 1942 Page 14 & 15 - Reo Pusher - r.JPG (105.43 KiB) Viewed 6455 times
Keats
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2014 3:22 pm
Favourite Vehicle: Comair Bedford SB3
Location: In front of the computer...

Re: Old REOs

Post by Keats »

Here's another Victorian REO, operated by Parlorcars:
Reo, Parlorcars Grampians net.jpg
Reo, Parlorcars Grampians net.jpg (260.73 KiB) Viewed 6435 times
tonyp
Posts: 12348
Joined: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:31 am

Re: Old REOs

Post by tonyp »

There were also two Hunters Hill buses that looked very much like Reo Pushers (or converted ones). These photos iirc came from GM or elsewhere on this forum. The suspected Pusher at the right was I think MO 430 (??).

http://www.busaustralia.com/gallery/dis ... ?pid=19919

And MO 863:

http://www.busaustralia.com/gallery/dis ... ?pid=19911

This Reo brochure illustrates the three different chassis:
conventional.jpg
pusher.jpg
I have a hunch that they had trouble with cooling the rear engine as here the radiator is shown to scoop from the side of the bus. In the Australian climate it seems logical that, from experience, they converted them to front-engined buses.
User avatar
Red and Cream
Posts: 983
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2005 9:35 pm
Location: Sydney

Re: Old REOs

Post by Red and Cream »

Some more pusher Reo's i have come across in my travels.
m/o 789 a pusher Reo owned here by Woronora Bus Company and was taken over when the Smith brothers purchased Mayman Brothers in 1966 who ran between the Woronora River and Sutherland. The photo was taken in Sutherland. When the Reo was retired the m/o 789 plate was taken over by a Cheetham and Borwick bodied Daimler bought from Melbourne by the Smith's and was registered as m/o 5073 before it acquired the 789 plate..
m/o 789 a pusher Reo owned here by Woronora Bus Company and was taken over when the Smith brothers purchased Mayman Brothers in 1966 who ran between the Woronora River and Sutherland. The photo was taken in Sutherland. When the Reo was retired the m/o 789 plate was taken over by a Cheetham and Borwick bodied Daimler bought from Melbourne by the Smith's and was registered as m/o 5073 before it acquired the 789 plate..
MO 258 Syd Wood bodied Reo pusher was owned by Lewis of Berrigan and is seen here between school services.
MO 258 Syd Wood bodied Reo pusher was owned by Lewis of Berrigan and is seen here between school services.
Attachments
Wagg's Reo shown in GM'S post as m/o 538 also had another identity as m/o 544 and is seen here in Pacific Highway Chatswood near Fullers Bridge Road.
Wagg's Reo shown in GM'S post as m/o 538 also had another identity as m/o 544 and is seen here in Pacific Highway Chatswood near Fullers Bridge Road.
Post Reply

Return to “Discussion - Sydney / NSW”