BCSV: Bus and Coach Society of Victoria

BCSV: Bus and Coach Society of Victoria Bus and Coach Society of Victoria This includes both present day operations as well as the history of current and past services.

The BCSV (Bus and Coach Society of Victoria) aims to cater for all those who have an interest in road passenger transport in Victoria, in particular, and Australia more generally. Current Society membership includes operators, enthusiasts, bus companies and historical groups. The Society maintains photographic and other historical archives most of which have been digitised or are in the process of

being digitised. The Society holds indoor social meetings in March, May, July, September and November at the Hawthorn Tram Museum on Sunday afternoons featuring guest speakers and slide presentations. The BCSV also organises visits and tours to bus manufacturers and operators, farewell tours (for both operators and chassis) and other events for members. The Society publishes Australian Bus Panorama 7 times a year. Six editions are bi-monthly publications which include activities around the states, recent deliveries and disposals, in full colour. The seventh publication is a Special at Christmas which is usually dedicated to one or two items only. In the past, company and manufacturer histories have featured. A number of historical CDs featuring buses from the 60s, 70s and 80s have been published and are available through the BCSV. Details will be published on the BCSV Facebook wall periodically, otherwise those interested can contact Paul Kennelly, BCSV secretary at [email protected] or by calling (03) 9509 1593

One for the AEC 'Tramway' bus fans 🚍😍👌
12/06/2026

One for the AEC 'Tramway' bus fans 🚍😍👌

A unique bus in the Bentleigh Charter Service fleet was LED 777, a 1970 Bedford VAM70 with CVI body, widely nicknamed t...
11/06/2026


A unique bus in the Bentleigh Charter Service fleet was LED 777, a 1970 Bedford VAM70 with CVI body, widely nicknamed the sausage bus

Acquired when only 18 months old from Collins Radio of Canberra

Geoff Foster photo

09/06/2026

Another stunning video celebrating the recent opening of our Classic Bus Pavilion at Museum of Vehicle Evolution - MOVE in Shepparton 🚍🏛👏

Best to double-check the King's Birthday guest list to avoid a big freeze 👑❄️🚍 This incudes Routes 503 & 506 receiving p...
07/06/2026

Best to double-check the King's Birthday guest list to avoid a big freeze 👑❄️🚍

This incudes Routes 503 & 506 receiving public holiday honours forevermore.

We have also confirmed with the new monarchs that Routes 536, 538 & 558 will be running on King's Birthday this year, as part of their kingdom-wide rostering procedures.

Don't waste the long weekend! Visit Shepparton & our Classic Bus Pavilion at Museum of Vehicle Evolution - MOVE @ Emeral...
06/06/2026

Don't waste the long weekend! Visit Shepparton & our Classic Bus Pavilion at Museum of Vehicle Evolution - MOVE @ Emerald Bank 🚍🏛

Catch the 9:16am train and be met by the FREE Out & About bus running this weekend, with thanks to Shepparton & Goulburn Valley, Greater Shepparton City Council & Dysons

MOVE is open daily 10am to 4pm - www.moveshepparton.com.au

Come see the buses & ride the trains! 🚍🚂If you're coming to Museum of Vehicle Evolution - MOVE in Shepparton & Goulburn ...
06/06/2026

Come see the buses & ride the trains! 🚍🚂
If you're coming to Museum of Vehicle Evolution - MOVE in Shepparton & Goulburn Valley tomorrow, make sure to find time for Emerald Bank Train Rides too, literally next door!

Miniature trains operate on the first Sunday each month (excluding January) from 10am till 2pm, departing from nearby the large windmill.

This Sunday at the moment is looking like a fine (but cloudy) day so it would be a good chance to get out with the kids.

$3 per ride.

Two trains will be operating - The Jumbuck and The Boss. Driver Charlie and his team from Euroa Miniature Railway are looking forward to seeing you all.

All part of the Emerald Bank experience! 👌

MYKI Contactless 'TAP & GO' Payments coming to a train station near you! 📲💳FROM 15 MARCH: Craigieburn, Upfield, Ballarat...
05/06/2026

MYKI Contactless 'TAP & GO' Payments coming to a train station near you! 📲💳

FROM 15 MARCH: Craigieburn, Upfield, Ballarat and Seymour lines

FROM 7 JUNE: Sunbury, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Metro Tunnel, Werribee, Williamstown, Sandringham, Frankston, Stony Point, Bendigo, Gippsland and Geelong lines

FROM 14 JUNE: Mernda, Hurstbridge, Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein and Glen Waverley lines

LATER: Buses, Trams, paper/eTicket sections of the V/Line network, non-myki town buses

CONCESSION HOLDERS, seniors and those under 18 should continue using their concession or free Youth myki for now.

MORE: https://transport.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/campaigns/tap-and-go

Roaring into the long weekend like...🚍😍Enjoy this virtual ride onboard restored Dermpav ex MMTB #560 (AEC Regal Mk3, Ma...
05/06/2026

Roaring into the long weekend like...🚍😍

Enjoy this virtual ride onboard restored Dermpav ex MMTB #560 (AEC Regal Mk3, Martin & King) from 1953, back on the road after a 12-year restoration journey

Terrific video from Tyson Tran 👏

https://youtu.be/kv-yIwkkYfA?si=JYQd9AwC_FsfZE6L

HISTORY OF THE AEC MK3 BUS in MELBOURNE 🚍135 AEC Regal Mark 3 buses were delivered to the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tram...
04/06/2026


HISTORY OF THE AEC MK3 BUS in MELBOURNE 🚍
135 AEC Regal Mark 3 buses were delivered to the Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board over the 3 year period 1/1951 to 12/1953.

They were built a body design by the MMTB with the bus having a length of 33 feet 7½ inches (10.5m) and being 8 feet 2 inches (2.49m) wide seating 41 passengers. It has a 9.6 litre engine with pre-selective gearbox.

The first 65 were bodied by Commonwealth Engineering (Comeng) in Sydney (Buses #346 - #363; 432 - #449; & #501 - #529), one was bodied by Ansair (Bus #530) in 3/52 and the remaining 69 were bodied by Martin & King in Melbourne at their High Street Armadale premises (Buses #531 - #599).

Seventy were built with the front door half a window from the bulkhead (see first photo of Bus #351) while the other 65 were built with the door one and half windows away (see photo of Bus #439).

The MMTB designated the first type as either one-man (driver only) or two-man (driver and conductor) buses, and the second type as two-man buses.

The union objected to the first type being operated by a driver only and an Arbitration Commission decision in the mid-50s resulted in buses longer than 30 feet (9.1m) in length being required to have a conductor as well as a driver.

The MMTB eventually decided to reduce the length of their “one-man” buses to 30 feet and also removed the rear door. It reduced seating to 32.

Sixty such alterations were done in batches in the period 1961 to 1972. Some were undertaken at the MMTB Workshops, and others at Ansair, R V Piper (at Ventura’s Centre Road depot), Bailey Motors of Brunswick, Austral Repairs in Carlton, Cheetham & Borwick in Carlton and Melstub Bodyworks (location unknown):

SUNDAY'S TOUR BUSES 🚍
Bus #560 was new in August 1953 and was withdrawn from service in 1978. It was purchased by Colin Hirst and used by him until he passed away. The bus was transferred to Gary Davey who then sold it to Dee Decker Tours where it went into storage until purchased by DERMPAV and transferred to Newport on the 28th April 2012.

Bus #592 was new in November 1953 and, like #560, was delivered in the bus green with silver roof livery. It was purchased at auction after withdrawal by David Oaten in 1980 and then on sold to John Phillips later that year. John remains the current owner.
It had been shortened or “bobtailed” in 1961/62 by R V Piper and placed in a new MMTB livery for buses, being a lighter “tram” green with cream windows and roof and it remains in that livery.

Photos from Keith Kings (via State Library Victoria) and MMTB official photos

Notes prepared by BCSV Secretary & Archives Officer Paul Kennelly

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Caulfield East, VIC
3145

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