MOTAT’s bus collection covers buses which operated in the outskirts of Auckland, connecting with Ferry Services and acting as Tramways feeder services. Eventually replacing the Tramway itself and enabled further urban sprawl. 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF OMNIBUSES

Auckland has had a long association with the bus. Firstly horse buses operated in the late 19th century in competition with the Horse Tramway, then with the invention of the steam, petrol, then diesel engines, reliable vehicles served outlining areas of Auckland not served by the Tramways from the 1920s. The flexibility of buses, not requiring any more infrastructure than roads, has been their ultimate success. 

PETROL AND DIESEL BUSES IN MOTAT’s COLLECTION :

Name/Title: White Motor Company petrol bus, North Shore Transport No. 4.
Description:
Year Built: 1924
In Service: 1924 – Unknown
Chassis: White Motor Company 
Chassis number 124531
Bodywork: Gilmore, Joel & Williams, Auckland 
Seats 23
Engine: 4 cylinder side valve petrol engine
Transmission: 4 speed crash gearbox with mechanical linkage to rear axles
Operators: Alf Smith, The United Service Motor-Omnibus Co Limited, Devonport 1924
North Shore Transport. Sometime after 1924 - 1938
Rangitoto Scenic Tours 1938 - Unknown
Preserved: Sole survivor
Condition: Complete and on Display

Name/Title: Tramway Feeder / Hospitals Bus 
Description: OWB Bedford ATB Fleet No. 14/314
Condition: Complete
Year Built: 1946
In Service: 1946-1958
Chassis: Bedford OWB 58 (O Model Wartime produced Bus chassis)
Chassis number OWB 58/30289
Bodywork: Wooden body built by the Auckland Transport Board.
Seats 33
Engine: Bedford Petrol O Model
Operators: Auckland Transport Board 1946-1958
Sold to Green Line Buses, Avondale 
Later used in Hunty as a School Bus
Number in fleet: 9 OWB & 34 OB buses (almost externally identical) 
Preserved: Sole survivor
Donated by: Paul Gourley
Condition: Complete. In storage.

Name/Title: Daimler Freeline bus ATB Fleet No. 150/201
Description: Imported complete from Wales. 
NZ Registration: AFU950 (formally EZ2454).
Year Built: 1953
In Service: 1953-1983
Chassis: Daimler Freeline 
Chassis number 25081
Bodywork: Saunders Roe “Rivaloy” Wales
Seats 44
Engine: Daimler D650H Gearbox: Pre Selector
Operators: Auckland Transport Board 1953-1963
Auckland Regional Authority 1963-1983
Number in fleet: 160
Preserved: Sole preserved survivor
Condition: Complete and Operational.

Name/Title: A.E.C Regal Mark IV bus. ATB Fleet No. 59/359/954 NST No. 154
Description:
NZ Registration: EZ2665
Year Built: 1953
In Service: 1953-1977
Chassis: Associated Equipment Company A.E.C Regal Mark IV 9821E
Chassis number 534
Bodywork: New Zealand Motor Bodies
Seats 44
Engine: A.E.C. 9.65 litre Diesel
Operators: No. 59/359 Auckland Transport Board 1953-1964
Auckland Regional Authority 1964-1969
No. 154 North Shore Transport 1969-1971 
No. 954 Auckland Regional Authority 1971-1977
Number in fleet: 13
Preserved: Sole survivor
Donated by: Peter Fairgrey, John Wolf and members of the Onmibus Preservation Group Auckland.
Condition: Complete and in storage

Name/Title: Leyland “Royal Tiger” bus ATB Fleet No. 464
Description:
NZ Registration: EZ2641
Year Built: 1953
In Service: 1953-1983
Chassis: Leyland Royal Tiger OPSU1/1
Chassis number 524860
Bodywork: Saunders Roe “Rivaloy” PKD (Partly knocked down) 
assembled from kit set by the Auckland Transport Board
Seats 44
Engine: Leyland 0.600 Diesel Gearbox: AEC Pre Selector 
Operators: Auckland Transport Board 1953-1963
Auckland Regional Authority 1963-1983
Number in fleet: 50
Preserved: Sole survivor
Condition: Complete and operational

Name/Title: Daimler Half Cab bus. North Shore Transport Fleet No. 72
Description: 
Registration: EX9625
First Registered: 3-11-1949
Year Built: 1949
In Service: See below 
Chassis: Daimler CVG 5 SD Chassis number 16294
Bodywork: North Shore Transport with a wooden frame.
Seats 33
Engine: 5 Cylinder Gardiner 5LW Engine No. : 75533
Gearbox: 4 speed pre-select Brakes: Vacuum/Hydraulic
Operators: North Shore Transport: 1949 to 17-10-1968 (sold at 55526 miles)
Dillingham-Stevenson (Waiuku):17-10-68 to 7-2-1970 (sold at 58702 miles)
Keneth Smith (Waiuku): 7-2-1970 to 11-5-1971 (sold at 59160 miles)
Owen Diffey (Foxton Beach): 11-5-1971-?
Larry Jarden (Tahekeroa): -
Number in fleet: 6
Preserved: Sole example
Condition: Complete and in storage.

Name/Title: Seddon Half Cab bus. North Shore Transport Fleet No. 80
Description: 
Year Built: 1955
In Service: 1955-1968
Chassis: Seddon Mk6/2
Chassis number 9475
Bodywork: North Shore Transport 
Seats 33
Engine: Perkins P6 Diesel
Operators: North Shore Transport
Number in fleet: 3
Preserved: Sole survivor
Donated by: Mr Frank Bowket of Frank Bowket Truck Parts.
Condition: Complete and in storage.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TROLLEY BUSES IN AUCKLAND

Auckland’s first Trolleybuses

In 1938 Farmers Department Store, located in Hobson Street replaced their courtesy motor buses with modern trolley buses. Four trolley buses were built to Auckland Transport Board specifications and operated under contract for the Farmers Trading Company Limited as the “Farmers Free Buses”. Four chassis and sets of electrical equipment were imported from England. Eight wooden bodies were actually manufactured in total , the first four being destroyed by fire in the contractors, DSC & Cousins & Cousins Limited premises in Kitchener Street. The second set of bodies were manufactured by DSC & Cousins & Cousins Limited staff in the Auckland Transport Board’s Royal Oak tramway workshops. The service commenced 19th December 1938.

The four Farmers Free Trolley Buses operated a one kilometre long loop from Farmers in Hobson Street, down Victoria Street, turning into Queen Street finally traversing steep Wyndham Street back to Farmers. These buses were operated until 1967, when an experimental overhaul of No 3 concluded it uneconomic to overhaul the remainder of the fleet. The four buses were distributed amongst the three Tramway Museums, No 1 and 3 to MOTAT, No 2 to the Wellington Tramway Museum and No 4 to the Tramway Historical Society, Ferrymead, Christchurch. 

The “Farmers Free Bus” continued operating with newer Trolley Buses, then diesel buses until the early 1990s when Farmers Hobson Street store closed.

The Tramway Replacement Programme

The tramway replacement programme started in September 1949 with the conversion of the Herne Bay tram route to trolley bus operation and concluded with the closure of the Auckland tramway system 29th December 1956. The trolley bus routes expanded until 1960 with the conversion to trolley bus operation of the Onehunga route from diesel buses. At its height the system covered 86 kilometres using 133 buses.

The trolley bus system used the majority of the old Tramway electrical system which was reaching 80 years old. Trolley buses began being withdrawn in 1977 in favour of Diesel buses. 

On 28 September 1980 the ceremonial last trolley bus ran and the Auckland trolley bus system closed. A change in policy within the Auckland Regional Authority saw the proposed new-generation trolley bus system abandoned in 1981, despite 20 new Volvo chassis with Ansaldo electrical equipment and Robosio overhead being ordered and delivered. The new buses were sold to Wellington City Transport and completed to their specifications. More recently they were sold and converted to diesel buses.

TROLLEY BUSES IN THE MOTAT COLLECTION:
Name/Title Auckland Farmers Free Trolley Bus No.1
Condition: Complete and in storage.
Description: Farmers Free Trolleybus
Auckland’s first Trolleybuses. Used on a circular route Queen / Wyndham / Hobson / Victoria Streets. Eric Culpitt, present member was an apprentice with DSC & Cousins & Cousins Ltd and assisted in construction of the four buses.
Year Built: 1938
In Service: 19th December 1938-1967
Chassis: Leyland Trolley Bus chassis
Chassis numbers 17881
Bodywork: Wooden body built by DSC & Cousins & Cousins Limited at the ATB Royal Oak Workshops after their factory burnt down destroying the first four wooden bodies.
Seats 37
Electrical Equip: Metropolitan Vickers
Motor: 95 hp MV 206A 
Running Voltage: 550 - 600 Volts Direct Current, supplied by overhead wires
Operators: Farmers Trading Company
Auckland Transport Board / Auckland Regional Authority
Number in fleet: 4 buses (numbers 1-4)

Name/Title Auckland Farmers Free Trolley Bus No.3
Condition: Restored, operable and on Display.
Description: Farmers Free Trolleybus
Auckland’s first Trolleybuses. Used on a circular route Queen / Wyndham / Hobson / Victoria Streets. Eric Culpitt, present member was an apprentice with DSC & Cousins & Cousins Ltd and assisted in construction of the four buses. Overhauled in 1967 as a trial for the four buses. Uneconomic, so all four buses were retired soon afterward.
Year Built: 1938
In Service: 19th December 1938-1967
Chassis: Leyland Trolley Bus chassis
Chassis numbers 17883
Bodywork: Wooden body built by DSC & Cousins & Cousins Limited at the ATB Royal Oak Workshops after their factory burnt down destroying the first four wooden bodies.
Seats 37
Electrical Equip: Metropolitan Vickers
Motor: 95 hp MV 206A 
Running Voltage: 550 - 600 Volts Direct Current, supplied by overhead wires
Operators: Farmers Trading Company
Auckland Transport Board / Auckland Regional Authority
Number in fleet: 4 buses (numbers 1-4)

Name/Title Auckland Trolley Bus 50 (known as BUT’s)
Condition: Restored, operable and on Display.
Description: Suburban Auckland Trolley bus
Year Built: 1952-3
In Service: 1953-1977
Chassis: British United Traction 9711t built by the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) 
Chassis number 36
Bodywork: Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage & Wagon Co
Seats 43 
Assembled from kitset by the Auckland Transport Board
Electrical Equip: Metropolitan Vickers
Motor: 135 hp MV210CX2
Operators: Auckland Transport Board / Auckland Regional Authority
Number in fleet: 55 buses (numbers 5-59)
Preserved: Sole survivor

Name/Title Auckland Trolley Bus 85 (known as “Saro’s” or “Tanks”)
Condition: Complete and operable (Leased to Foxton Trolley Bus Museum).
Description: Suburban Auckland Trolleybus
Year Built: 1956
In Service: 1956-1977
Chassis: British United Traction RETB½ built by Leyland 
Chassis number 532162
Bodywork: Saunders-Roe
Seats 45
Assembled from kitset by the Auckland Transport Board
Electrical Equip: British Thomson Houston
Motor: 125 hp BTH210CXG6
Operators: Auckland Transport Board / Auckland Regional Authority
Number in fleet: 40 buses (numbers 60-99)
Preserved: Sole survivor

Name/Title Auckland Trolley Bus 108 (Parkroyal)
Condition: Complete, operable, but un-restored.
Description: Railway - Queen Street – K’Road Shuttle Bus
Was the last Trolley bus to carry fare carrying passengers in normal revenue service during the evening of 26 September 1980.
Year Built: 1958
In Service: 1958-1980
Chassis: British United Traction RETB½ built by Leyland 
Chassis numbers 562431
Bodywork: Parkroyal 
Assembled from kitset by the Auckland Transport Board
Seat 38
Electrical Equip: British Thomson Houston
Motor: 125 hp BTH210CXG6
Operators: Auckland Transport Board / Auckland Regional Authority
Number in fleet: 34 buses (numbers 100-133)
100-112 K’Rd, Queen Street, Railway Station Shuttles 38 seats
113-133 Suburban Trolley buses 44 seats
113-115 converted to K’Rd, Queen St, Railway Station Shuttle.
Preserved: 4

Name/Title Auckland Trolley Bus 115 (Parkroyal)
Condition: Complete, operable, but unrestored.
Description: Railway - Queen Street – K’Road Shuttle Bus
Was the ceremonial last Trolleybus to run in Auckland Sunday 28th September 1980 driven by Garth Stewart.
Year Built: 1958
In Service: 1958-1980
Chassis: British United Traction RETB½ built by Leyland 
Chassis numbers 562881 
Bodywork: Parkroyal 
(115 built as 44 seater and converted to 38 Queen Street Shuttle) 
Assembled from kitset by the Auckland Transport Board
Seat 38
Electrical Equip: British Thomson Houston
Motor: 125 hp BTH210CXG6
Operators: Auckland Transport Board / Auckland Regional Authority
Number in fleet: 34 buses (numbers 100-133)
Preserved: 4 

SUPPORT VEHICLE:

Name/ Title: Bedford model SG (1956) Tow truck and breakdown wagon No.39.
NZ Registration: EZ2527
Condition Restored and operational
Description: One of two S series Bedford trucks used to tend to disabled buses and trolley buses in the Transport Board’s fleet. Fitted with winch, lockers and specialist towing equipment for ATB/ARA buses. Loaned to MOTAT in 1980’s by ARA. Donated 
Operators: Auckland Transport Board / Auckland Regional Authority from 1964.
Loaned then given to MOTAT from ARA/ARC in about 1994.
Number in fleet: 2

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