This photo from our collection was taken by the Manly Council engineer in May 1940. To me, it simply showed a bus in Lauderdale Avenue. However the experts at Australian Bus magazine, where the photo was reprinted in September 2006, were able to tell me that the bus was a Leyland TD-3 in the Syd Wood group, 1182-1185. It was on the 143 route to Manly District Park. The bus had just had an overhaul, and had been given red and cream livery. Its English-style headlights had been moved to the transverse bar; this was a unique feature of Sydney’s back platform double-deckers.
Enthusiasts see so much more in a photograph, don't they?
The other interesting feature of the photo is how much width of the road the bus took up – good job the traffic was light.
The other interesting feature of the photo is how much width of the road the bus took up – good job the traffic was light.
We would love to have more photos of Manly buses for our collection - drop us a line if you have any you would like to share.
