Albert the Albion Bus: Rescue Restore and Repatriate 2012: Albert Takes to the Road Under his own Power

Albert the Sydney Albion Bus no. 2004

In 1947 an Albion double decker, fleet number 2004, started work for the New South Wales Department of Government Transport. No. 2004 was amongst a shipment to Australia, of 143 Albion buses, in 1947. It went to Manly Depot to begin work on the tough routes along Sydney's Northern Beaches. There were lots of very steep hills but the Albions, built in Scotland to withstand any abuse, coped well.
In 1968 no. 2004 was rammed by a car from behind. Because the Albions had by then given 21 years' service, they were withdrawn when serious repairs became needed, so the bus was sold off. Andy Stewart was looking for a way to return home after a working holiday, and being a bit of an Albion fan, it seemed a good idea to buy a bus and drive home: in May that year, The NSW Department of Government Transport had a dozen buses to dispose of including AECs, Leylands and two Albions. No mention was made that one of the Albions had a dent in the rear and a maximum speed of 32 mph, only that it would be the cheapest to buy. The “suggested tender price” was $1,000; the first offer was $200; then $800 was suggested, with a counteroffer of $400... which was accepted. No. 2004,
Albert, as he had now been named, was driven off to be converted to a mobile home, with extra fuel tanks, water tanks, a galley, double bunks and room for 14 intrepid travellers.
By putting the word about, Albert soon had a crew together, paying a mere $120, plus food and connections across the ocean to Asia, for a trip halfway around the world via Perth, Singapore, India, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and Europe.
132 days later on Monday 17th February 1969 after some pretty hair-raising adventures with low bridges, fuel frozen in -27 degree cold, Albert arrived at Victoria Coach station, to a rousing welcome from the London busmen there.
This trip had worked out OK so why not do it again?
So Albert was turned around, and with a second crew of eager young adventurers, Aussies returning home and Poms looking for a new way to see the world, Albert set off. The "fare" was £145 plus travel from India to Australia while Albert underwent the ship voyage to Perth.
Where to now? Back to England of course.
By now the difficulties and cost of shipping across the Indian Ocean were increasing, so trips from London to Bombay were promoted. Albert did this 15 times, to an advertised timetable: the world's longest bus route!
But the Ayatollah intervened: Iran went into revolution in 1976 and the route was blocked. Albert was stuck in Britain, sold, and Andy returned to Australia to start a very successful travel agency in Adelaide.
Thirty years later, after a series of hapless owners had messed around, Albert was in a sad state. He had been parked near Chepstow, South Wales for the years 1984 to 2001, under the care of some well-meaning hippies.
Andy undertook the Rescue part: the historical value of the Albion vehicle combined with its unique Australian heritage and extraordinary overland exploits . . . caused huge interest in the Scottish bus preservation world, as a result of which the bus was withheld from Andy. After some frustrating negotiations with individuals apparently determined to stop Albert returning to safe hands, Andy struck a deal , to buy the bus back in installments; the bus got back to Scotland.
And a plan crystallised: Restore the bus and Repatriate Albert to his home town of Sydney in time to Retire aged 65.
RRR and R (Rescue, Restore, Repatriate and Retire) was underway.
With China now opening its doors more readily to foreigners, a route avoiding Afghanistan could be taken, via Kazakhstan, to Shanghai, for shipping to Perth.

Albert the Albion Bus: Rescue Restore and Repatriate 2012

The Bridge at Dozan, Bolan Pass, near Quetta, Pakistan

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Albert Takes to the Road Under his own Power

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