Vehicles being restored
m/o3697 Leyland Leopard Mark 1 Restoration
Restoration Started on this vehicle in June 2009. This vehicle will be restored to its Newcastle Double Downswept Blue and White Livery.
This vehicle hopes to be finished restoration in the next coming months.
With the Outside which is most of the work the worst job is taking out the back window which need rust work as these leopards werre common for rust back in there service days. And also with 3697 spending most of its service days in Newcastle the Salt air does not help very much. Hopefully this job will be done as soon as possible which will involve weilding and refitting the window.
Also not as much panel damage and only small minor panels need to be replaced and then we can make way for replacing broken pop ribbetts and then next we hope to make way for the primer to protect the vehicle from rust. then once the primer is complete the lines from the Double Downswept livery will be marked out and then we will be able to take place for painting. Also the Engine Door Hatches need to be refitted
As you can see with the Interior isnt so bad which you would inspect worse with a vehicle this age. All what has got to be done with the interior is that the back part of the ceiling needs repainting as it was peeling.
The reason for the ceiling in the mk1 leopard for peeling is that when they were Overhauled in Chullora Sydney and Hamilton Newcastle they were all brush painted as the ceilings were a green colour which was the original colour for the Mark 1 Leyland Leopards. The Walls need a bit of a refreshen up and also refitting the centre door pole which goes in the door way.
Photo of m/o3697 just after been pressure washed.
m/o2135 Mercedes Benz 0305 Mark 2 Restoration
Restoration started on this Vehicle in April 2010 this vehicle was to be restored intime for the 75th Anniversary of Government Buses in Newcastle for September 2010.
This Bus is to be restored into the Mercedes Benz 0405 Mark 6 Livery which it was in back in 1990 when it was in Government Service in Newcaslte. This Bus was also Transferred to Waverley in Sydney Eastern Suburbs in its later life and finished service sometime in 2005.
2135 on the first day of restoration work like removing the exterior Add racks , Red Sticker , Fleet Numbers and the Please Signal driver sticker were all removed on the first day of its restoration.
On Saturday 3rd July the Repairs on the seat frames began as back in the days of the mk2 Mercedes day is Government Service the seat frames were common for paint to come off and rust so myself and a few other Enthusiasts decieded that we were going to Prime all the Seat frames and repaint them all Back which they were back in there service days.
Alot of work has been done to this bus like sanding and removing any non original items from this vehicle so we can return this vehicle back into its 1990s condition.
Painting to the outside is now prepaired and is inspected to hopefully start by the end of the month and will make the restoration of this vehicle complete.
Leyland Leopard St Ives Bus Service Restoration
After is days Operating for St Ives Bus Service when the company was Brought out By Shorelink & Forest Coachlines in 1998 this Bus was Sold to Sugar Valley Coachlines Edgeworth.
This Vehicle is now upto the stages for painting.
m/o1740 Leyland Leopard Mark 2 Restoration
1740 was supose to attend a tour last year in October 2009 to mark the 20th Anniversary since the Withdrawal of the Mark 2 Leyland Leopard being Withdrawn from Government Service back in 1989 but sadly wasnt done in time.
The Next Stages for this vehicle are the walls need repainting and also the Drivers Cabbin needs repainting and for the exterior the panels need refitting.
m/o2135 Mercedes Benz 0305 Mark 2 Restoration
Restoration started on this Vehicle in April 2010 this vehicle was to be restored intime for the 75th Anniversary of Government Buses in Newcastle for September 2010.
This Bus is to be restored into the Mercedes Benz 0405 Mark 6 Livery which it was in back in 1990 when it was in Government Service in Newcaslte. This Bus was also Transferred to Waverley in Sydney Eastern Suburbs in its later life and finished service sometime in 2005.
Alot of work has been done to this bus like sanding and removing any non original items from this vehicle so we can return this vehicle back into its 1990s condition.
Painting to the outside is now prepaired and is inspected to hopefully start by the end of the month and will make the restoration of this vehicle complete.
Leyland Leopard St Ives Bus Service Restoration
This Vehicle is now upto the stages for painting.
m/o1740 Leyland Leopard Mark 2 Restoration
The Next Stages for this vehicle are the walls need repainting and also the Drivers Cabbin needs repainting and for the exterior the panels need refitting.
