To replace the aging fleet of existing pay buses, six new pay buses were ordered from Commonwealth Engineering in 1967. These new pay buses had a longer and squarer body & were mounted on a 4 wheel chassis powered by an underfloor 6 cylinder Leyland model 0.400 horizontal diesel engine driving one axle via a Voith Diwabus model 501 fully automatic hydraulic/mechanical transmission & reversing gearbox. This then was coupled to a Voith E13 final drive on one of the axles. They had inward opening doors on both sides & a driving position at each end. The wheelbase of these pay buses was 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m), with a 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m) long body. These cars were also fitted with air conditioning. The front was taken from Commonwealth Engineering's standard bus model.
FP7 entered service on 9 April 1968, with the last on 23 July 1968.
In April 1970 FP7 was stripped internally and fitted with carpet on the walls and floor and movable chairs installed as well as being repainted externally. This so it could carry Queen Elizabeth II and her party between Coffs Harbour Jetty and Coffs Harbour station. After this use the FP7 was returned to its original condition, excepting that the carpet was kept on the floor.
Тип: traincar