1983 Ford R series 111 bus

This Ford R series 111 bus with New Zealand Motor Body carrosserie was built in 1983 for Trinity Colleges of Masterton in the Wairarapa. It had a six-speed crash box splitter (two speed range) front mounted Ford diesel and could carry 53 seated students with an allowance for 18 standing. It was also fitted with a generous trunk and five side bins to accommodate all the students' luggage especially during exit weekends when quite a few boarding students would leave for the Hawkes Bay and return Monday morning.

Wallace Trickett was the contracted driver from Tranzit Group to all three colleges between 1992 and 1996. Rathkeale was for senior boys, St Matthews for senior girls and Hadlow Prep was for both junior boys and girls, all situated within Masterton town limits. The bus was kept busy 7 days a week from 6.15 am often through to midnight if any functions were on at any of the colleges. There were two regular runs to Featherston per school day plus Saturday sports and town runs allowing privileged students a few hours in Masterton. All clocked up over 300 km per day. Field days to other colleges were also on the calendar as where student exchanges whereby overseas visiting students would travel to places of interest.

Among many humorous incidents during the period Wallace was employed as their driver concerned one late evening just outside Featherston on State Highway 2 at twilight , when travelling south with headlights, two black figures appeared out of nowhere in front of him. At 80 km/h he had no time to either stop or avoid them and the bus hit both objects at speed causing a huge bang and shaking up both himself and the students. After stopping and placing hazard lights on, motorists began stopping to assist; no students were hurt and with heart in mouth, he wondered if he had just run over two fallen motorcyclists on the ground.  It soon became apparent the culprits were in fact a large sow and piglet which had escaped from a nearby animal farm earlier that afternoon and nobody had thought of reporting it. Wallace just had to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The 'porker shunt' had pushed most of the lower front of the bus in, but amazingly not damaged the radiator, cooling or fan. After reporting the matter to the police and setting down all students he proceeded back to Masterton with the headlights looking anywhere except the road. The next day the large sow was removed from the bank the bus had pushed her into. It was said that had the bus gone over her it would have tipped it and Wallace probably would not be here to tell the tale. The piglet was marinated instantly under the wheels.

In 1999 while a group from Rathkeale College were being driven over the Rimutakas, the bus caught fire  with no casualties, but was a smouldering wreck by the time the fire brigade arrived.  It was towed to Masterton and disposed of on site at Tranzit four months later. Trinity Colleges resumed a contract using a dedicated Tranzit coach and driver.

This oil painting was presented to Trinity Colleges by Wallace on his leaving Tranzit Group in 2002. It hangs in the main hall at Rathkeale College and shows the bus arriving at Rathkeale outside College House in 1992.