Our Brown Bomber
Introduced in 1980-1981, the Volvo B58s (and B10Ms) were the backbone of Adelaide’s outer suburban routes for over 20 years
1466 was delivered to Aldgate depot in 1980 to replace the varied fleet inherited from various private operators in 1974. Designed with passenger comfort in mind, these buses featured extra seat padding and padded armrests. This made longer trips to the Hills suburbs more comfortable for passengers.
By the time of privatisation in 1996, bus 1466 had been transferred to Lonsdale depot in Adelaide’s south. It remained here through the TransAdelaide and was finally operated by private operator Southlink. Southlink renumbered it 2431 in 2000, and by 2002 it had been retired from service. A MAN 18.280 replaced it, numerically bus 2715.
After retirement from metro service, it spent some time in Whyalla with a tour company, before returning to Adelaide with Buses’R’Us. It continued earning its keep as a school and charter bus, numbered 32, until 2011. New legislation introduced at this time required buses to retire at 25 years of age, unless given an exemption from the Minister of Transport.
It was purchased by a to-be BPASA president in 2012. By 2016 it had been repainted (by hand) to its original “Brown Bomber” livery, and remains a pride of BPASA’s member-owned fleet.
1466 in Woodside after participating in the “Bay to Birdwood”, 2019
1466 while being repainted
Early in its life, 1466 travels down Pultney Street on an 825 service (unknown)
After being transferred to Lonsdale, 1466 is seen laying over in Flinders Street before heading south on a 721F service (Paul Nicholson)