GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
An Aussie Busman's Holiday in New Zealand
A sneak peek at the buses I've photographed over nearly 50 years of visiting New Zealand. From celebrating my parent's 25th Wedding Anniversary, to taking our daughter to compete in the NZ Irish Dancing National Championships to yet another latest this year.
An Aussie Busman's Holiday in Egypt Turkey and Greece
A sneak peek at some of the old buses I captured on my travels around the Eastern Mediterranean from 1985 - 2010. 69 Colour pages of some stunningly awful buses and other real beauties. Even a peak inside the MAN factory in Istanbul in 1995.
Inside Australia's Imported Bus and Coach Body Builders
Welcome to the 9th book in the Gone but not Forgotten Series - Australia's Imported Bus and Coach Body Builders.
These sneak peeks give examples of the content of this final addition to elements of the Australian imported bus and coaches.
So many amazing vehicles ranging from Pykes Tours Van Hool and Duple bodies; Ansett Pioneer GMC and MCI fleet; the infamous Mercedes O302 that set the benchmark for European luxury coaches.
Silver Eagles from Greyhound and the Bova Futura for the long distance bus working Australia’s continent and huge kilometres at high speed and ambient heat.
Some amazing vehicles with classic styles and the “not so pretty” bodies. We have included many of the used buses and coaches imported from the United Kingdom and Japan as well. It’s fully indexed and it includes a large bonus bus section for the late inclusions.
Inside Australia's Domestic Bus and Coach Body Builders
Welcome to the 8th book in the Gone but not Forgotten Series - Australia's Domestic Bus and Coach Body Builder
This pictorial history covers all of the known and some little known Australian Bus and Coach Body builders from the 1910's through to today that operated in various States and Territories. There are over 210 that we have uncovered through your help.
The basic statistics are that this book has over 1000 bus operators, over 85 chassis types with over 500 chassis models. Most importantly for this book there are over 210 Australian bodybuilders listed in the index.
To keep it reasonably simple , we have listed the bodybuilders alphabetically from A-Z in the hard cover edition and A-L & M-Z in the soft cover set. If we had three images or more then the Body Builder has its own chapter. The index simply lists some of the major builders. Smaller builders can all be found in the index so you can find your particular interest still listed alphabetically.
There is also a Miscellaneous "Odd Bods" chapter for the one off/in house builders or where three images were not available. In addition there is an Unknown chapter where we still need some help trying to identify the bodybuilder. Some of these have been identified between draft completion and printing.
Don't forget the Bonus Bus chapter where late entries have been captured.
Personally, I like the body shapes and styles. Some are just ugly although we accept that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You are the final judge! The noisy bits of the vehicle i.e. the chassis are complimented by "the shed" that goes on top.. the body. Sorry, I was a chassis salesman for most of my working life.
Please go to “sneak peeks” as there are a few of different body styles and captions.
The hard cover book is 1255 pages and covers various personalities, stories and chassis and body detail in the limited 3 line space available. The soft cover set is a little more as the index was duplicated to make it easier for the reader, in our opinion, to locate a particular vehicle.
Photographers who have contributed are acknowledged where they are known to me or can be identified. Industry personalities are also listed in the index and captions detail my connection, subject to available space.
As always we try and be as accurate as possible based on information at hand. Nevertheless, there a better enthusiasts than I going back decades and also current folk who will find corrections. Feel free to contact us and we can add it into our errata for the book. Fingers crossed there are none!
Stay safe, get vaccinated during Covid and have an enjoyable read.
Inside Government and Municipal Buses of Australia
Welcome to the 7th book in the Gone but not Forgotten Series - Government and Municipal buses of Australia.
This pictorial history covers all the Australian States and Territory government operators and also the municipal buses operated in various States.
This volume also lists the previous private operators absorbed or purchased by cities such as Perth, Adelaide and Sydney.
Private operation tenderers, in more recent times, seems to be the trend where contractors operate the vehicles whilst the Government maintains ownership of the asset and routes. This enables management companies to be swapped over if the current contractor isn’t successful with the next tender process.
Defence, Police, Emergency Services, Education and various Commissions are also detailed.
The Government sector invests huge money into supporting the Australian bus and coach industry, in particular the body builders.
It deserves its own volume as a very important element in our local industry.
Here are a few “sneak views” of some of the various Government operators such as Brisbane City Council and STA Adelaide.
In addition, not seen here will be Defence, Police and other Government Departments and Councils who have purchased buses.
The book is 596 pages and covers various personalities, stories and chassis and body detail in the limited 3 line space available.
Photographers who have contributed are acknowledged where they are known to me or can be identified.
Inside "New South Wales Regional Buses"
Gone but not Forgotten - NSW Regional Buses is a valuable and informative resource that will preserve the richness of the New South Wales rural and regional bus industry in perpetuity.
This book perfectly illustrates the story of the NSW bus industry as an exemplar of commitment to staff, to community, to public safety, to private enterprise and family businesses.
From humble beginnings post World War One, through rapid growth in the 1950’s, stoushes with the State Government during the decades and today, to the inevitable operator consolidation that we see of late.
Tony Finneran has masterfully crafted this historical pictorial account that crystalises the contribution many bus companies, family, partnerships and individual proprietors have made to residents and visitors alike over generations.
Tony’s book is sure to be enjoyed by operators, enthusiasts and the public..everyone has a bus or coach story that they can recall.
Each photo is a record of a place and time in the NSW Rural and Regional bus transport history,
This book is in full colour on heavy gloss paper stock. Each vehicle lists its age the body builder and the chassis. There are stories of the Bus and Coach Industry and it’s personalities included with the photos and the book is fully referenced with over 630 operators listed.
Inside 'Lost Liveries of Melbourne's Route Buses'
"Gone but not Forgotten - Lost Liveries of Melbourne's Route Buses" is a valuable and informative resource that will preserve the richness of the Victorian bus industry in perpetuity.
This book perfectly illustrates the story of the Victorian bus industry as an exemplar of commitment to staff, to community, to public safety, to private enterprise and family businesses.
From humble beginnings post World War One, through rapid growth in the 1950’s, stoushes with the State Government in the 1980’s and 1990’s and today, to the inevitable operator consolidation that we see of late, Tony Finneran has masterfully crafted this historical pictorial account that crystalises the contribution many bus families have made to residents and visitors alike over generations.
Tony’s book is sure to be enjoyed.
Each photo is a record of a place and time in Melbourne's bus transport history, mostly they are full colour on heavy gloss paper stock. Each vehicle lists its age the body builder and the chassis. There are stories of the Bus and Coach Industry included with the photos and the book is fully referenced with over 130 operators listed.
Inside 'Australia's Long Distance Bus'
"Gone but not Forgotten - Australia's Long Distance Bus" is a record and huge pictorial history of Express Buses and Coaches in Australia which have played a huge role in the transport needs of Australia. Each photo is a record of a place and time in Australia's express transport history, mostly they are full colour on heavy gloss paper stock. Each vehicle lists its age the body builder and the chassis. There are stories of the Bus and Coach Industry included with the photos and the book is fully referenced with over 150 Express operators listed. A few old timetables are also featured.
Inside 'Australia's Touring Coaches'
"Gone but not Forgotten - Australia's Touring Coaches" is a record and huge pictorial history of Coaches in Australia which have formed the backbone on the Tourism Transport Sector. Each photo is a record of a place and time in Australia's transport history, brought to life in one volume. Each Coach lists its age the body builder and the chassis. The stories of the amazing people who make up the Bus and Coach Industry included with the photos and the book is fully referenced.
Inside 'All Over Advertising Buses'
"Gone but not Forgotten - All Over Advertising Buses -Australia" is record and pictorial history of Buses in Australia which, over the years have been used a mobile billboards. But each photo's data tries to include the product or service being advertised, bus company name, the chassis, body builder and the build date. Other interesting facts are added if known. The book is arranged in chapters grouping like advertisements together.
Inside 'Lost Liveries'
"Gone but not Forgotten - The Lost Liveries of Sydney's Route Buses" is essentially a pictorial history. But each photo's data tries to include the bus company name, the chassis and body builders and the build date. Other interesting facts are added if known. The book is arranged in alphabetical order by Bus Company name.
