The Queensland Omnibus & Coach Society (QOCS) has announced its latest addition to its Brisbane Transport Museum, with a 1959 Watt Bros bodied Bedford SB3 joining the QOCS family.
The 1959 model has operated for more than 30 years for the McDonald family’s Pioneer Bus Service at Ipswich, with the bus being owned by Neville Purtill of The Depot Museum in Deniliquin, NSW for the past five years.
Purtill acquired it from the McDonald family, who has owned the bus for the vast majority of its life.
Roughly a year ago, QOCS approached Purtill to formally acquire the vehicle for permanent display at Queensland’s first bus museum.
“Over the ensuing months, a plan was formulated to relocate the bus over 1,400km back to Brisbane,” QOCS says.
“We thank Neville Purtill and John Haig of The Depot for their help and support in making this acquisition happen, along with a range of other individuals and companies for financially sponsoring the acquisition and relocation back to where the bus belongs.”
The people and businesses sponsoring the bus include Pete White at Bus Stop Sales & Service, Southern Cross Transit’s Frank Oliveri, Michael Baulch at Emerald Coaches, Mt Gravatt Coach and Travel’s Del Cole, QOCS’ Nick Wilson, Richie Beaumont, Bob Jackson and Gerard O’Dempsey.