Don’t you just hate when Auto correct kicks in (Dang iPhone), All fixed. All the RGB LED party lights are being hidden stealthily, So it looks standard and clean by day and party by night. I’m extremely happy for $3300 and that came included a full tank of Diesel, Which is 300 litres worth. As well as 2x brand new Bridgestone front tyres which are around $700 each. Drove it the 400km home had it running for 7 odd hours (normally a 4.5 hour run in the car but was stopping on a regular basis to do a walk around). All up it only used 170 litres of Diesel for highway and city driving, That worked out an an average of 33L/100km. Without the stops and idling it’d probably have been closer to 30L/100km, Giving roughly a 800 - 1000km range per tank pending on how it’s driven and conditions.

Yet here we are 8 years later I don’t talk at all in any of My Video’s, No one is forcing you to watch it so feel free to click off at any time.

It’s in surprisingly good nick, Currently has 955,000km showing on the odometer but not 100% sure if it’s a genuine 955,000km or 1.9 Million. But I’m leaning more towards 955,000km due to its condition, Compared to my 1989 B10M which has 1.7million km on it. It was last registered as MO9116 fleet number 9116, It’s fleet mates 9114 and 9117 were bought by followers of My business socials at the same time I bought 9116. While 9116 ended up 400km north of Sydney on the NSW Mid North Coast, 9114 and 9117 are safely back in Victoria and are going to be preserved by the guys who bought them. It sat for 10 months and drove 400km without issues, The only issue I’ve had so far is last Saturday started it aired it up after it sat for a week. It purged then the air inlet pipe to the door switches in the electrical cupboard popped off and it wouldn’t hold air, Fixed that and now the door controls in the drivers area and under the front bar don’t work. So I’m in the process of trouble shooting that. I did send Grenada / Ventura an email asking for any history on it, Just to get a basic idea of the maintenance and when it had it in Victoria. But no response as yet.

⁠@@TheAussieBusmanHaha wow, and I did hear the other two have come home back to Melbourne. Doors can be a bit of a pain with any old bus unfortunately, especially if they are SMC branded. I wouldn’t expect a reply from Ventura, and doubt they still have records on them considering they’ve been at Transdev for a while themselves. However I can tell you they definitely were looked after impeccably when they were with Grenda, as was everything and everyone in the company.

@@busesaroundmelbourne I'm definitely not holding My breath for a reply from Ventura, The doors in this one are definitely SMC units. After many hours and several swear jars filled I worked out the issue. As it's got the main feed valve at the bottom of the electrical cupboard, That then goes up into a T Piece which then feeds to the front and rear door switches and disperses from there. Turned out when the rear switch line popped off the T piece and I put it back in and seated it and locked it in place though it was happy days. But nope it went straight through and blocked the whole show, So what I did is since it's plastic pipe bottomed out the feed line and got a 4mm drill bit and ran it through the top of the T. That way the 2 bits that branch off to the switches butt up against it, I then just locked the clips in place and gave everything a good wrap in electrical tape to secure it all. Low and behold that was enough to get the doors working again. I think Transdev had them for about 10 years and they can be fussy about their buses at times, Like My 1989 B10M that's also an Ex Transdev unit. When they gave it a 5 year life extension to run from 25 to 30 years old, They just didn't do a frame inspection. It got a full respray, New flooring, An updated front end the works so You'd easily mistake it for a 1999 model rather then a 1989. It's condition is one of the reasons I went for it, Even though it sat for 10 months it did the 400km drive from Sydney to Port Macquarie without a single complaint. it only used 170 litres to do the 400km trip and I stopped every hour for 15 or so minutes for a break, So it was running for around 7 hours. Did a short 50km stint through Sydney the other 350km or so it was pegged on the speed limiter happily cruising at 100kph. There's a few little things I'm going to do on it to freshen it up, But it's 99% perfect. Simple things like the main engine hatch in the aisle has a bit of spring to it, What the 1989 model with PMC body has is down the centre hatch over the engine has is a removable 15x50mm RHS. It has 2 screws either end, So the hatch sits on the lip around the edge and the centre where you walk is supported by the bar to eliminate the bounce in the panel. The other thing is the Instrument panel surround is cracked in a few places on the top right and chunks are missing, So if I can find a replacement B10M dash surround I'll put that in. Worst case scenario in a bit of down time I'll get a fine fibreglass kit and give the main housing a bit of a freshen up, Then repaint it black just to make it look a bit fresher. That and put a new steering wheel on it, As it's top coats come off and it's a bit rough. Other then that it doesn't need anything doing to it to run it, The only major things it'll have is a stereo and the party lights put in it.

@@TheAussieBusmanYep, bloody SMC Doors 🤦‍♂️ Sundancer Buses here in Melbourne have an ex Grenda B10M as a party bus too. 1987 model and goes like a brand new bus. Not sure if you require frame inspections in NSW, but the aluminium bodywork from Volgren passes every time here. Keep us updated!

No frame inspections here in NSW per se, Generally the Route buses have an age limit of 25 years old. To run them to 30 they then undergo a “Life extension” inspection which allows them to run for another 5 years until they are 30, Which is what happened with this unit it’s rego expired in July 2023 when it was 30. But Charter buses don’t have that 25 / 30 year age restriction on them, Which I’ve got it registered as. Here in NSW you can typically tell the Route from the Charter buses, A Route bus or Coach will have “MO” plates like “MO9116”. Where a Charter bus and some coaches have “TV” plates aka “Tourist Vehicle” which I’m running with my plates of “TV256A”. Just like Volgren the PMC body on My 1989 B10M MK2 is alloy, With the fibreglass front and rear caps.. The only thing I miss on the Volgren body that the PMC body has is the large rear luggage bay / Boot, I can make do without the parcel racks. But not having the rear luggage bay / boot is a bummer, As it was handy for the sports clubs and that all their gear could just get thrown in the boot. Both the PMC and Volgren bodies have their pro’s and con’s, But in saying that I love both of them to bits. If I get a 3rd bus I should get a Custom Coaches bodied MK4 unit just for the giggles. Wouldn’t mind at least one manual unit though so that can probably be the next one, Which may be a push finding a MK4 Manual Custom coaches unit.

Unfortunately not, As part of the purchase agreement Transdev requested all of their branding is to be removed but are happy for the fleet number to stay. Since they still have Transdev / John Holland branded buses on contract in Sydney, The 1993 model will eventually be stickered up like the 1989 model With my branding and the Transdev fleet number.

No advantage is being taken at all, I also suggest you do Your research into the “P&O pacific partnership”. Where east “Guest’ from each sailing pays a $1 (now $2) donation, Which P&O use to help distribute much needed aid to the South Pacific. For example a number of years back when a cyclone hit Vanuatu, P&O delivered several million dollars worth of medical supplies, fresh bottled water and non perishable foods. Personally I’d prefer getting to the South Pacific islands even if it’s into the main towns like port villa or noumea and actually learn about different cultures, Rather then going somewhere like the USA and decide on what sugary food to have next.

Vinnie's definately earned a relaxing retirement in preservation, For now We'll just get the engine sorted so it's properly running and driving again. Do any body work that needs doing, One livery I have been playing with in My head but not sure how or if it'll be possible to pull off. That'd be essentially giving Vinnie a fresh coat of plain solid white all over and keeping the NCC black logo's it has now but painted instead of Vinyl, Then essentially Ghosting in the South Trans coloured bars on the side and logo on the front. So from a distance it looks like it's plain white, But hit it at the right angle in the sun using Pearl paint or what ever and the stripes and south trans logo appear. That way in a way it shows who it finished commercial service with but also gives a nod to it's history. As I'm hoping to have everything done by 2029, That way I can comfortably take Vinnie on the 400km each way drive to Sydney for any events such as Bus Fest for it's 40th birthday.

@@TheAussieBusman That would be beautiful to see! Keep up the great work

Australia, More specifically the area in the Video is on the New South Wales Mid North Coast. Around 400km north of Sydney and 600km south of Brisbane Queensland.

Thanks, We’ll need it. Once it’s back at the depot We’ll assess it and go from there, The mechanic my uncle and the neighbour who all have experience rebuilding diesels. They said worst case scenario a full rebuild might be on the table considering it’s a 35 year old bus with 1.7 million Kay’s (last rebuild was around 1 million km). Where best case scenario they all agree that it might of spun a bearing and blown a head gasket; As it fired up no issues after cooling down. But only did half a rotation to start after topping up the water, So there’s a chance there’s water in one of the cylinders and it hydrolocked. Definitely don’t want to give up on Vinnie the Volvo yet, But I am looking at purchasing another bus ASAP to keep the business going while the B10M gets sorted. Be it the finances for a rebuild or replacement healthy engine. So in the near future either a Mercedes 0405 or another Volvo B10M or B10BLE will appear on the channel, Plus the official diagnosis of the B10M.

I’d say it’s been carpet for far too long, Everything else in the room was great but the carpet was definitely letting it down.

They sleep 2 and seat 3. It’s the luck of the draw sometimes you share with a stranger other times it’s to yourself as a sleeper. But you can pay the additional fare for both beds to guarantee to have it to yourself as a solo occupant, Which is what I like doing to have the top bunk set up as a bed and bottom as seating. As a day sitter over the past 15 years and 100 odd trips, I’ve only shared with a stranger for around an hour. The rest of the time I’ve had it to my self.

It was a standard “Twin” room that could be set with a King size or 2x king single beds, I’ll have to double check with my sister as she paid for it (she was in another room on level 5) but I think she said she paid around $250 per room per night.

It’s definitely a tough gig. I would have loved to put the oroginal blue vinyl seats back in throughout, But the folks I bought Vinnie off only kept the 4 and the back seat. But thankfully a guy literally a short 15 minute drive from Me had just bought a Scania with PMC body and blown motor he was going to use as a Shed, I asked him about the seats and he’s like $100 for the lot delivered. I was like done gave him the $100 cash for the seats and a case of beer for the trouble of delivering them. As for the Bustech front bumper, Custom Coaches 510 headlights and the LED’s for the front end, I actually prefer it compared to the original PMC “Metro 90” front. When I’ve got the time and finances, I’ll get the drivers side hatches replaced and painted, Got a quote for $3500 for all new panels supplied fitted and painted. I’ll also get the destination board glass done which I was quoted around $500 for. As if the SBM Busfest is on again this year I’d love to take Vinnie down to his old stomping grounds and go to it. Before I take it on a super long trip though I’ll get the cooling system fully serviced and flushed, As well as try to source a new radiator. The one in it’s seen better days on the fins, Looks like it’s had a few fingers poke it.

113 viuuu

I thought it was hard as well, But it’s easier then thought. I couldn’t quite get a good grip or swing on the filter wrench from above. But if you lay on the left side of the bus with the B10M’s in line with the engine and slide your self under, The Fuel and oil filters are right there and easily accessible with ample room. I was able to do it with the bus fully aired down, The only thing I had to fight was not being able to fully roll over while under the bus. As my waist was pretty much under the Battery box and oil resivoir, Other then that it was a quick job. With a workshop it’d be done in 10 minutes if that.

It should be identical with the only difference being, It'll be a mirror image of it. I found one of 9636 on the Pacific Encounter which is the same as the Adventure, So should give you a rough idea. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/i5Z0m8tostWzZ2g.html

Awesome, You did an amazing job. It was my first time on board a Greyhound and it definitely won’t be My last. As I was heading back from Coffs Harbour to Port Macquarie, After doing a shuttle bus service in a Rental Mini bus for a Wedding the night before. I would have taken My 57 Volvo B10M but the customer requested a mini bus, So that’s what they got. The joys of owning and Operating your own Charter and party bus business, But it was definitely nice being a Passenger for a change instead of driving.

@@TheAussieBusman awww thanks! 😁 Oh wow that sounds pretty exciting and exhausting I suppose you'd meet lots of people that way too.

@@caram6011Sorry for the extremely slow reply. It's Exciting and Rewarding, As well as Exhausting with a lot of long hours put in. The only group I new tend to steer clear of are the Sports Clubs, As once they get some Alcohol into them they turn into an nasty bunch. Not only Verbally abusive but physical, That combined with them wanting a "Pee Stop" every couple of kilometres. One run I did for them they wanted no less then 7 "Pee Stops" between South West Rocks and Port Macquarie, That's only an 80km run So We were stopping every 5 - 10km. But On the 7th of April 2024 I'll actually be back on the 3.10pm Greyhound from Coffs Harbour to Port Macquarie again, So hopefully Our paths cross again. I'm Doing another Wedding run, As 2 of the passengers that were on board for the last Coffs run. They are now getting Married in Coffs harbour and getting Me to drive the Mini bus for them. I'm getting dropped up in Coffs and Greyhound back, As for $18 on the early bird fare to go from Coffs to Port is good going. Last Uber I took in Coffs it cost Me $15 just to go the 5km from the Station to the Ibis budget opposite the Coach terminal.

From the info I’ve found and read Telegraph Point Station closed in 1983, But I can’t find a year when it was demolished or other finer details. Which is a shame it’s now relegated to the history books as from photos I’ve seen of it, It looked like a beautiful old station with its gardens and that. I’ll keep having a dig around and if I find more info I’ll add another comment.

Sorry for a slow reply, If Your successful in a bid it depends on availability of Suites Where you may end up. 9737, 9736, 8732, 8733, 10751, 10750 are all “SV” category at the rear of the ship on decks 8 9 and 10. “PA” category is on decks 10 and 11 being 10748 10749 11749. SP category up on deck 15 (side view around mid ship), With the Cream of the crop GS category being the Grand Suite / Penthouse being on deck 11 rear. I won’t include the 5 berth family suites locations as at a guess you’ll be travelling with 2 - 4 people. Sure Suites are more expensive but they are so worth it for the space alone, I did a 10 night cruise in a triple share interior cabin and never again. Now I personally will only go Balcony or above Twin share.

Out in the coastlines is where it’s at its greenest, The Beaches are only about 10km east as the crow flies from where I filmed this. Further up north in Queensland around the Cairns area sort of the same distance inland, There’s some stunning Rainforests. It’s mainly west past the Blue Mountains (great dividing range) around 50km west inland from the eastern seaboard is where it starts to dry out to the more commonly known Aussie Outback.

@@TheAussieBusman thanks for the info

I try My best to look after it, As off today it had 1,681,535km (1,044,851 miles) on it. Once I’ve finished with it on a Commercial basis, I’ll keep it and have it on Historical Vehicle Registration. As Pressed Metal Corporation who built the body in August 1989 stopped building bus bodies in January 1991, Then the company was entirely defunct in 1999. JRA Limited who owned PMC at the time also owned Denning, It was 2 Denning Coaches involved in the Clybucca Bis Disaster which happened about 60km up the road from where I live in December 1989 when my bus was just 4 months old. To this day the Clybucca Disaster remains Australia’s worst Bus accident. PMC also bodied the Mercedes 0305 and 0405’s for Sydney buses at the time, If You Google “Sydney Buses MKV” You’ll see the similarities to My bus. Overall they are the same body with the exception of mine has 6 side windows single door and mid engined on a Volvo Chassis known as the “Metro 90”. Where the Sydney buses (government spec) on the Mercedes 0405 and MAN SL202 Chassis had the 7 side windows, Dual doors and rear engined and were known as the “Galvatross” body. Also a clip of it with it’s previous operator Veolia / Transdev is here kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nL6ZnaenkqnQnJc.html

That's one of the reasons why i jumped at this one rather then another bus I was looking at, Because the B10M although nearing 34 years old and 1.7 million kilometres. It's Chassis and running gear are remarkably clean, Apart from a tiny bit of surface rust on the bare metal exhaust and turbo housing there's absolutely no rust. If you also pay close attention at the 4:26 mark you'll hear like a little puff of air, Then pay attention to the gear box area and you'll see how much it raises when aired up it's probably a good 5 - 10cm.

It sure is a beast and hasn’t got that usual ZF scream or whine, As it’s not long had the Intarder rebuilt and a mild overhaul but still going strong with 1.68 million kilometres on it. Had to shut it off while Putting some diesel in it

It was an Australian built and delivered 2000 Mitsubishi “KJ” Verada V6Xi, Also known as a “Diamanté” in other countries like the US.

Thanks Mate, It all sort of fell into My lap one day as someone paid for Me to Upgrade My license and I thought I wouldn't use it. Then a family Member asked if I could drive the mini bus for the Rugby club they were affiliated with and it just grew from there, Since 2019 I've driven probably 25 plus different buses and 6 or so various small and medium rigid trucks. One thing I left out of this Video is the details about My Accreditation and Driver Authority through Transport for NSW in order to operate a Public Passenger Bus service, Which is required for Vehicles seating 13 or more and used for Reward or Hire within New South Wales. I'll put together a separate video on how I obtained that and it's cost, But in short overall to start the business as it sits now cost Me less then $20,000 inclusive of the bus purchase. At the moment within the first 12 months of operations it looks like I'll be able to recover that initial investment, Going slow and steady with 1 bus for the first 12 18 months then will build it up with additional buses as demand see's fit. Then along the way I'll film any adventures I have be it in the Bus, Truck, Holidays or anything of general interest relating to Buses or My Business. Such as in March I'm doing a run with a group doing a weekend of Glamping (Glamour camping), So I'll be sure to get some footage of that. As I also try not to film when doing Wedding Runs or when I have kids on board for obvious reasons.

They sure are, This one was averaging 20.4L/100km over the trip with a full load of 25. Pending on how I go with future runs and their length, If I’m running empty like this to go pick up passengers I’ll try to grab a full drive. If not I’ll try to get snippets to show the various awesome scenery I’m lucky enough to get to experience on a daily basis for work with My Custom Charter and Party Bus business simply known as “North Coast Charters”. While also getting clips of each different bus I get to drive be it my own or a rental pending on the job I’m doing for the day.

Absolutely none that I noticed.

I’ll be back in it for the Australia Day 2024 Cruise which will be awesome.

Awesome, Glad you enjoyed it I was on it with My Disabled Mum (the one hobbling with the walking stick around the 50 second mark, Thanks to a work related accident she’s now got a spinal and ankle fusion). As it was our first cruise back since the dirty C hit, We were on the Explorer in January / February 2020 for the Australia Day and Sydney to Singapore cruises and the return cruise following that was the first to be cancelled unfortunately.

It was the 11.41am Sydney to Grafton Service We got off at Wauchope at 6.30pm, On the 27th December 2022. Unsure of the power car numbers but the consist was made up of 1x Economy seated up front (our carriage as the Day sitter / sleeper was swapped due to mechanical issues). 1x First class seated 1x First class / buffet car and 2x seated economy cars pulling up the rear. There’s 3x Northbound XPT’s a day from Sydney to Grafton, Casino and Brisbane. With 3x Southbound XPT’s a day from the mentioned destinations back to Sydney, All range from between 12.24am to 9.30pm or so pretty much every few hours through Wauchope. Fun fact both Sydney and Wauchope stations where We started and ended our trip are over 100 years old.