It’s Ronnie’s-Rocket! Sit down and hold on!

Delivered new in 1992 to the STA 1344 was the 2nd to last of 25 diesel SL202s to enter service. Based out of the recently opened Mile End depot it would be one of the few in its class to never see work on Adelaide’s O-Bahn. Re-painted into Admet Livery, it would be re-numbered 444 under Serco’s operation, and operated out of Port Adelaide depot. Torrens Transit relocated it back to Mile End in the early 2000s where a well known ‘PM shift’ (a shift starting after 12 Noon) driver. Ronnie, took a fancy to operating it on many evening shifts. The nickname ‘Ronnie’s Rocket’ stuck long after the operator’s retirement. In 2011, it was relocated to Morphettville depot under Light-City Buses. A BPASA member working at Morphettville had a keenness to operate it not-unlike Ronnie. Ensuring its final date in service wasn’t to pass without note, Joseph documented the day & subsequently acquired the bus for preservation in late 2019. It has since been restored to its 1992 ‘as delivered’ condition, and received the number ‘1344’ again. As a nod to its time in service at Morphettville depot when Joseph fell in love with it, the number ‘444’ remains on the inside bulkhead.