can anyone ID this old bus

This old bus or motorised tram? is part of an old shack at the pieman heads on the west coast of tassie.

any ideas?

no idea but it does add character to the shed ...

Post the pic on the Bus Australia forum
www.busaustralia.com/forum/index.php
Someone there will probably recognise it.

Thought about asking somebody in that area, who just happens to be a 'train spotter', that sure looks like a rail motor to me.


regards greenie [smiley=vrolijk_1.gif]

My first thought was a NSW paybus, one of which is preserved.
The location hints at a railmotor, probably former Emu Bay Railway. However, searching for a comparison photo will be slow.
Lots of railmotors of the 1920s (unstreamlined) and 1930s (streamlined) were based on contemporary bus practice. Most were for conveying passengers; others were inspection vehicles for officers and engineers.

Post edit, after breakfast: I had the EBR fleet at hand readily, and I can't match this with those. That still leaves the prospect of TGR, but I don't have a ready reference.

The suggestion to post to the bus forum is a good one. The group is quite ecumenical, and many/most members have interests across all transport.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Looks like an old bus but does appear to be modified.

Roderick could be correct being a railcar. I do have a book on the history of the Emu Bay at home and seem to remember that they did have a couple of railcars. Will have a look tonight.

Here are two railmotors, showing the resemblance to contemporary bus practice.

RM16 was the QR Central Division general manager's inspection railmotor, based at Rockhampton (still in use in 1968, now preserved at the station).
It is typical of most 1920s railmotors: the motor end is supported on a bogie, partly to reduce the axleload, and partly to provide better tracking and ride; the drive shaft is pure automotive to a fixed rear axle. This one is smaller than similar vehicles designed for passenger services. Many of those were still in use in 1968; one is preserved, and has appeared in some films.

The other is a purpose-built NSWR paybus. It was restored by apprentices, and was part of a special display at Sydney. Normally, it is at the museum at Thirlmere.
I would have to search more for a builder, but Waddingtons would be likely, and Waddingtons also built one railmotor for EBR, but I couldn't get its detail to line up with the mystery photos which started this quiz.

Post edit: See < sites.google.com/site/queenslandgreattra...he-red-railmotors> ;
RM16, and all the other QR ones described, were 1930s (and some postwar streamlined ones).
VR's ones were early-mid 1920s. See
< en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEC_railmotor> ;.
A different view of the EBR Walker, knocking it out of consideration.
< www.tassteamalive.com/ebr.htm> ;

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

I was going to lean towards a railway tram / pay bus
but could be a bus... known as the pie cart in south aust
coincidence??????

g'day old dog .. i reckon your pic is a pretty close proximity to the one in tas... only that the headlights are mounted lower...cheers

Roderick - is this the same grille as the NSWR paybus? Ford V8

Clickety click ... www.car-pictures.ws/item/14306