1549

1549 entered service in 1986, purpose built for use on the Adelaide O-Bahn Busway. Originally with the State Transport Authority, it continued to service O-Bahn routes with TransAdelaide from 1994, and then Serco from 2000. Following Serco’s renumbering, it became bus 549.

In 2005, it saw another change of operator to Torrens Transit, before its final change in 2010 to Southlink. With Southlink it was used to replace trains on the Noarlunga Centre (now Seaford) line while it was being electrified. It was numbered R549 during this time.

In 2012, it was retired from metro service. Soon after, an enthusiast based in Perth, Western Australia purchased it for preservation. 1549 then made the song trek across the Nullabor Plain to its new home.

In 2019, its fortunes changed once more. An Adelaide enthusiast (living in Melbourne) purchased 1549, and once again it crossed the Nullabor Plain to Adelaide. Due to COVID-19 in 2020, and the subsequent state border restrictions, its owner didn’t get to spend much time with it. Despite this, its restoration began with its front bumper.

In the near future, the owner hopes to be able to finish the restoration, and spend more time in Adelaide.