Sydney Vintage Bus Ride

If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to travel on public transport back in the 1930s, have a look at this. Vintage buses recently hit the streets of Sydney. Our very own Guy Harvey has this story.

Once a year there’s a rare opportunity for the people of Sydney to revisit the past. Vintage buses come out to take young and old out for a ride around the city. And it’s for good reason that you don’t see them on the road more often.

[Roy Gould, Sydney Bus and Truck Museum]:
“We’re running approximately 20 vehicles around the city from 73 years of age up to 30 years of age.”
So if the buses are that old, surely they’d break down all the time?

[Roy Gould, Sydney Bus and Truck Museum]:
“We don’t allow them to break down ‘cause I get my hands dirty if they break down and it makes me cranky. No, it’s all in the preparation we start six weeks ahead and each bus is thoroughly serviced, checked for safety, checked that it complies, so that we’re reducing the chances of anything going wrong greatly.”

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One passenger commented on the ride, without the modern comfort of air conditioning.

[Brendan McLauchlan, Bus Passenger]:
“It's not that comfortable. I'd hate to do it on a daily basis."

But double-decker buses are a novelty for kids, and they love them.

[Roy Gould, Sydney Bus and Truck Museum]:
“Actually you could leave all the single decks, the bottom decks behind – ‘cause no-one rides in them - all the kids want to go upstairs”.

But being so high up will the double-deckers tip over, if they go ‘round the bend too fast?

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Jumping on and off all day for free, there’s plenty of other buses to see.

[Brendan McLauchlan, Bus Passenger]:
"I'll probably go on some of the others throughout the day."

Sydneysiders will need to enjoy the chance, as rides like this won’t come again for quite a while.

Guy Harvey, NTD, Sydney.