Last Leyland bus to make final journey

The Leyland will leave Wagga early tomorrow morning to be at the Sydney Bus and Truck Museum at Tempe for a gala hand-over ceremony in the early afternoon.The bus is being presented in memory of Garry Fearne, who pioneered many interesting ideas in the bus industry.The old bus was formerly registered as 4420. It was in excellent condition when it retired, but it has been lovingly restored to its 1982 appearance by an army of Fearnes’ employees past and present, and with the help of local companies.The bus has new paint in the Fearnes traditional style and 1982 signwriting. Modern additions like flashing school lights have been removed.The Sydney Bus and Truck Museum is a working museum, so the extensive mechanical refurbishment carried out by the volunteers should ensure that the Wagga Leyland will become a regular feature at museum events around Sydney.Under floor engine Leylands were once the backbone of the Fearnes operation.In the 1989-1991 period, Fearnes operated 46 Leylands.Garry Fearne believed in standardisation, and as the bodies on older Leyland buses became dated, he had the vehicles rebodied and modernised.The bus that is going to the Museum is a 1958 Leyland Royal Tiger, fitted with a new body in 1982 to become one of the prestige vehicles in the Fearnes fleet at the time.An upcoming article in the Riverina Weekender will tell of the old Leyland’s journey to Sydney, and the presentation at the museum.