Bus enthusiasts in Tasmania partook in a two-day tour around the state recently
Bus enthusiasts from around Australia partook in the annual Tasmanian Bus and Coach Society (TBCS) two- day tour, which this year was conducted in the Hobart region in April.
It was the society’s biggest tour yet with 48 delegates attending on the Saturday and 51on the Sunday.
Twenty-seven guests flew in from the Mainland, some from as far away as Perth.
The society was formed in 2010 by a group of bus enthusiasts many of which are Metro Tasmania drivers.
The society’s goal is to preserve Tasmania’s rich transport history through preservation of buses and conducting tours to remember the past and also celebrate the present.
TBCS member Grant Wise says the tours always start and finish in Hobart with visits to the north west and North of the state every second and third year.
The 2016 tour saw participants bused about the Hobart area visiting various operator’s including Tassielink Transit, Redline, O’Driscolls, Metro Tasmania and Wisbeys.
The tour group was able to ride on various buses including two from Tassielink Transit, a new 2015 Bustech VSTC Scania and a 1987 Volgren Volvo B10M.
On the second day of the tour the participants visited Metro Tasmania and we’re addressed by chief executive officer Stuart Wiggins before a ride on Metro’s latest bus.
Other buses of interest were Coal River Coaches 1980 Volgren bodied Volvo B58 articulated ex Metro, rides were taken on the Tasmanian Transport Museum’s 1975 ex Metro Leyland National and also 1956 AEC reliance.
Wise would like to thank all the operators who took part in the tour, TBCS tour co-ordinator Neil Robbins, and all the guests who attended the event.
Photography: Grant Wise