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Ailsa
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| www.scotbus.com more than just a bus spotter! |
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Ailsa
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Remember: click on the small photo, to view a much larger one! |
WHAT'S
NEW?
NEW FIFE FLEETLIST FROM 13
JANUARY 2003 - HTML VERSION or EXCEL 97 VERSIONS. A text version will be uploaded soon,
and placed on the usual Fleetlists page!
Information on bus services to & from Dundee Technology Park - click here
WARNING! This page WILL take longer than usual to download.
A few of these photos have been taken late afternoon - just before the light goes - so apologies for the quality. It will soon enough be summer, then I have to apologise for too much shade!
Saturday
22 February 2002
Further
to Friday 21 (below), 152 was on Service 1C again today, while
153 (1C branded) was on Service 1A/1B ! Anyway, a few other
photos from Dundee today...
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Left Just this week, the chassis for Strathtay's next delivery of four Volvo B7TL's have been completed by Volvo. East Lancs will start bodying them next week, meaning an April delivery is still expected. From the late 2002 delivery batch comes 706 (ST 52 NTN) seen at Dundee High Street, Littlewoods. Right A few Volvo B10BLE's from the 1997-8 delivery still have to recieve the extra dark blue lower panels, and advanced stripes. 160 is seen here in original Travel Dundee livery at the Stack Leisure Park, Lochee. |  |
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Cross-city for the next set of photos! Left Volvo B10L 140 seen providing half of the Service 12 element of the Travel Dundee 9/10/11/12 Outer Circle, at Sainsbury's Baldovie. Right As mentioned recently, Dennis Dart 121's usual haunt is Service 88 - the vehicle is seen here at Sainsbury's Baldovie on this service. |  |
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158 seen at Douglas terminus, ready for the
first of the evening Service 29 extended journeys to the
Technology Park. For details of all bus services to the Dundee Technology Park, visit "techpark.transport" at http://www.scotbus.com/techpark |
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Friday 21
February 2003
When
Travel Dundee 153 was repainted into white/red/blue in current
style, and given 1C branding, the vehicle has since been found on
fellow RedLine services 1A/1B many times, especially on Sundays.
However, what are the changes of seeing newly-branded 152 (with
1A/1B branding) on the 1C - well, look what I found today!
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Left Front shot this afternoon, at Union Street. Right The back shot, showing the 1A/1B in red circles, and the rear route number being masked over by the (external) repair shop, after accident damage. |
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Wednesday
19 February 2003
Following on from the photos I took on Monday (below), Strathtay
805 has now been withdrawn from service with chassis rot. This
decision was taken yesterday (Tuesday 18 February) in the morning
- so this photo depicted 805 on it's last day in service.
Monday 17
February 2003
A quick trip to the post office in Invergowrie at lunchtime,
proved worthwhile for bus photos!
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Left (top) MCW Metrobuses 805-808 are planned to leave the Strathtay fleet around Easter, when four Volvo B7TL's (709-712) are expected. 805 is seen here at the last bus stop in Invergowrie Main Street. Left (bottom) Similar 808 seen leaving the Technology Park, for the short trip to Invergowrie. Right Despite the bus stop being blocked by a Tayside Contracts van, a temporary bus stop was placed further along Invergowrie Main Street - but complete with a timetable case! Nicely done! |
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Saturday
15 February 2003
Trip today to Stirling, Kincardine, Cumbernauld and Glasgow.
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Left Before departing from Dundee, Travel Dundee 85 snapped on the 0850 ex Albert Square - the one Service 4 that carries on to Camperown Leisure Park. Right Leyland Atlanteans may have finished with First in Aberdeen or Glasgow - but "Midland Bluebird" is still using them in main service (albeit down to a handful, and mostly on school related work). However, 711 made it to Stirling Bus Station on what should display Service 16, however it did require some attention from a mechanic before starting for the trip back to Falkirk. |
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Left As well as Atlanteans, MCW Metrobuses also appear in Barbie2. 843 is seen here arriving at Goosecroft Road beside the Bus Station. Right Following coach 52424 (although it carried 534 when it happened!) taking a trip off a car and arriving in someone's front porch in Kirkcaldy the day before, Volvo B10M/Alexander PS type 20338 (formerly known as 338) was pressed into service X24/X26 by Fife. The vehicle has just arrived back in Fife, and is seen at Kincardine Ilario's. |
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Left (top) No doubt breaking every rule in the photographic book, but to show off MA202 at Cumbernauld town centre (on Service 145) was probably worthwhile. Left (bottom) Dunn's Coahes operate a circular Service 34/35 in Cumbernauld. Route 35 was using the Marshall bodied Vario (t-registered) while Route 34 was using W42 BGB, a Plaxton Beaver 2 bodied Mercedes Vario. Right First "Midland Bluebird" operate a weekly Saturday-only Service 26. The route links B&Q at Middlefield, Grangemouth Road for Falkirk Market, Falkirk Town Centre, Bonnybridge, and the Abronhill area of Cumbernauld, before heading to Cumbernauld town centre. MCW Metrobus 810 is seen having dropped off at Town Centre South. |
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Left Strathtay 958, 960, and 402 were all lined up in Buchanan from private hires. The first two are seen in this picture, and 402 is shown in a couple of the others (in the background). Right Stagecoach in Glasgow Volvo B10M 52416 (formerly 116) seen leaving Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station for Service X25 Cumbernauld Abronhill. The vehicle carries "fast, direct service" as opposed to any local branding for any service. Coaches can turn up on Glasgow city routes, and Olympians can turn up on the X25 - and one did so later that evening. |
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Left Ex-London United Dennis Dart/Reeve Burgess K106 SAG (DR6 IIRC) is seen leaving Buchanan BS on McKindless Bus Co. Ltd. Service 80 to Kirkintilloch Harestanes - some miles away from the Rutherglen base, but runs every 10 minutes from BBS to Harestanes. The Wishaw operation is still known as McKindless, but is a seperate operation to the Rutherglen one under common management. Right SV496 (have I got that right?) leaving Buchanan on Service X27 of First Glasgow. This provides a similar service to that of McKindless Service 80, but only two buses an hour. Service 88 provides another 10 minute service, via Gallowhill. Despite the number, the X27 is not limited stop, nor does it use any substantial stretch of motorway. |
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Left Stuarts of Carluke operate a number of "mini" Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton Pointer MPD's in a white & blue livery. However, WA 02 NTM is in plain white, looking a little anonymous. Seen here arriving at Buchanan Bus Station. Right First in Glasgow Scania/Wright SS71 carries the "fuschia" branding for Service 45, seen here heading north at West Nile Street. |
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Left To contrast with the "fuschia" branded Service 45 Scania, here is one of the double deck workings. MB66 has been moved about a bit this week - at least judging by the postings to the Scottish Bus newsgroup - but it is seen here at Renfield Street heading southbound. Right Stagecoach Glasgow have now branded two services (162, 175) as MagicBus - however, the X25 to Cumbernauld (above) remains a Stagecoach Express service. The X19 uses the M8 motorway to link to/from Easterhouse. This Volvo Citybus 15247 (E864 RCS) is sister to those transferred to Fife a few years ago. Seen at West Regent Street. |
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Left Service 7 was converted to a mixture of Mercedes Varios, and ex-London MA class Mercedes/Alexander, about one year ago. Here, MA237 is seen in West Regent Street, heading eastwards to Cardowan, via Duke Street, Cartnyne Square and Craigend - but not Ritherglen, as that was close to the start point for the rotue at Halfway. (The MapMate October 2002 has the two terminals repeated for this route!) Right First in Glasgow Leyland Tiger/Alexander TS type ST353 is seen at West Regent Street on Route 213 heading east for Bargeddie via Cartnyne Square and Edinburgh Road. The route is the remnant of Service 13 which ran between Glasgow and Caldercruix for the last few years - and beyond... However, this useful deviation occured during last spring' recent service changes, when the 203/213 became un-hitched. Rather than run out of Buchanan and direct to Cathedral Street, this additional stop rings passengers back ore conviently, from the shops at Sauchiehall Street. |  |
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Left A pigeon. But what you really wanted to see - "purple" branded MD105 on Service 38 heading to Garthamlock. This route is now seeing competition at both ends - south from City Sprinter, for the last five years - and now on the north side from Canavan Travel. Seen at West Regent Street. Right Taken in the same location was ex-Capital Citybus/First in London Dennis Dominator DD10. Zoom in a bit closer, and see the back-to-front "every 10 minutes" sticker on the behind-the-cab window! The route is "light blue" branded for Service 41. |
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Left McKindless J629 KCU on Renfield Street, looks as if it says "Sorry Not In Service"... however, the laminated card in the window provides details of Service 67 ! Anyway, the windscreen shows off the West Midlands - style depot allocation circle in the windscreen - RG for the Rutherglen operation (see the Service 80 photo above). Right As a result of a "peace march", a football game, and much more, many buses had been delayed and were turned short - or were some of them duplicates? Anyway, Ailsa A122 is seen turning from West Regent Street into Renfield Street, getting ready for a 38 back to Eastwood Toll via Shawlands. |  |
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Left Two for one - SS124 and VT4. On the left, an "orange" branded Scania, as used by Larkfield on Service 12 from Auchniarn to Rutherglen. VT4 has been turned back at Larkfield - presumably due to disruptions mentioned above. Both seen heading south on Renfield Street. Right City Sprinter have been running on the Pollokshaws Road between Glasgow City Centre and Eastwood Toll, for almost five years now. Having migrated from Mercedes L608D's, to 609D's and 709D's, the operator now has some Dennis Dart SLF/Marshall Capitals - both new to Coakley Bus, then being used by Dart Buses, then back to Blythswood, before heading for City Sprinter. Were these buses used by Gibson Direct at one time? Anyway, S400 CBC is seen heading down Renfield Street. |  |
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Left Following the early 2002 split of Service 75 (Milton - Castlemilk) into "pink" 75 (Holland Street - Castlemilk) and "beige" 75A (Milton - Bridge Street), the 75A has once again been extended to run through to Castlemilk. However, this, as you see here, means a pink and beige "battenburg" style effect... Unusually, Glasgow haven't given routes colour "line" names, but this photo shows as the "Beige Line" 75 - when the 75A was the beige one - and despite the timetable for both being decidedly pink! Scania SS100 is seen heading down Renfield Street. Right Arriva Scotland West Volvo B10M/East Lancs 878 seen about to cross from Renfield Street into Union Street. |  |
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Left Many of the First "Mainline" Volvo B10M/Alexander PS types are heading northwards to Glasgow. Here, SV353 is devoid of a destination - although at the time of taking the photo, some of these are recieving new Hanover electronic destinations, like many of the others in the fleet. Seen in Union Street on Serice 260, subbing for a defective Volvo B7L/Wright Solar. Right One of the ex-Manchester tri-axle Leyland Olympians, LT7, seen from the back in Argyle Street to show off the third axle. These people movers are being used alongside the new B7TL's to provide extra capacity where it is required. In front are "old" and "new" style Wright bodies, and behind is a PS type bodied Volvo B10M. |  |
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Left Volvo Ailsa A11 (have I got this number right?) is seen on Howard Street on Service 75. This vehicle not only carries white destination blinds, but SPTE-style (with the distinctive 5) white numbers also. Or is this panel just faded? Right A few weeks ago I showed ex-Glasgow Volvo B10BLE/Alexander ALX300's that were transferred to Aberdeen to allow for contract maintenance. Here SS160 was originally Aberdeen 557 before the swap. Seen with "turquoise" Service 62 branding. |  |
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Left One of the Wright Solar-bodied Volvo B7L's seen at Howard Street. SV661 was right in front of another the same, which had been turned at Canniesburn Toll (see above!) Right Services 54 & 61 are both worked from Parkhead depot, and are inter-worked. Service 54 goes no-where near Parkhead (Summerston to Penilee) but is tied with a service that does. This means that neither of these routes will see route branding - for now? Anyway, SV668 is also seen at Howard Street. |  |
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Left As I mentioned above, Canavan Travel have commenced operation on Service 38, between Central Station/Argyle Street and Garthamlock. The fleet is mostly in a white and lilac livery now - however, the only photo that i got of a bus to sit stil long enough, is W811 BGB seen in Union Street, still in the previous livery of allover white. the route is a mix of low0fkloor Darts, and step-entrance Darts, and comes following first's introduction of 143, 144, and step-up of Service 145, in competition with Canavan routes around Cumbernauld. However, now these have been withdrawn, Caavan have kept the route, which has been getting good loadings in my sightigns today. Right SV403 (I think I've got this right) did have a number blind at one point - but like some others, this one too has lost it, and mirrors some other local operators with a hand-written route number and no destination. I can see why a destination blind gets removed on transfer between depots, but the numbers too? |  |
Thursday
13 February 2003
Also away early today, in enough time to catch up with some
Dundee vehicles.
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Left A personal favourite vehicle is Dennis Dart SLF 121 - new to Taybus Holdings before Tayside PTC was sold to NatEx/Travel WM. Until the recent influx of Dart SLF's this vehicle had been used mainly for Service 88 in the east - however, more lately, use on "mainstream" services has become more common. Here, the vehicle is seen on Nethergate, about to leave town on the RedLine to St Marys.. Right Travel Dundee's coaching fleet, Travel Greyhound, has a contract run from the Dovetail Enterprises factory at Dunsinane Avenue, to Dundee City Centre Monday to Thursday afternoons, around 1615. The vehicle is usually TC11 (Mercedes/Plaxton Cheetah), which if booked for something else, can often mean a full-size coach is used. As a result, TC16 is seen here dropping off for the second time in Union Street (the bus also drops near the railway bridge, which is for those with guide dogs heading for the railway station). |
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Little and large again... Left Volvo Citybus 96 is seen at Union Street working Service 2. Although a popular route in its own right, the phrases "sledgehammers" and "nuts" spring to mind! Right The source? Optare Solo 201 seen on the 18/19 Kirkton service - the one normally a double decker for college purposes. Both of these seen in Union Street. |
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Left Scania MaxCi 114 - the other low floor single deck vehicle remaining from Taybus Holdings. Seen in Whitehall Street Right In the same location is Strathtay MCW Metrobus/Alexander 809, heading for Ninewells Hospital. |
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Left Volvo B10L 149 seen on Service 10X, deputising for a yellow vehicle! (One of which had been placed on the 88 !). A few moments later, 149 was leap-frogged by a yellow bus, supposed to be 10 minutes behind! Right On 30 September, additional afternoon departures on Service 39 were introduced, with funding from Angus Council. Leyland Tiger 434 of Arbroath depot, is preparing to run the 1641 Dundee High Street to Arbroath departure. |  |
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Scania 110 has had its lettering for Wellgate Window Design removed, and unusually remains in plain powder blue - presumably pending sale. More advertising has been splattered in availbile orifices. The vehicle - one of two step entrance single deckers left - is seen in the High Street at Littlewoods. |  |
Wednesday
12 February 2003
Got out of work in enough time today to see Travel Dundee Service
94 at the Technology Park. This "works" service is no
longer conveying Levi's staff, following their closure last year
- but, Gourdie industrial estate does generate some use, and the
1998 Tech Park extension is proving useful. If you'd like details
on times/route, click here.
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Left Travel Dundee Volvo Citybus 100 seen at Technology Park Apollo Way. Right Fintry Shuttle branded Volvo B10L 127 was on Services 28/29 to/from Douglas. This rear shot was taken from the top of 100, on Balunie Avenue in Douglas. |
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Friday 7
February 2003
Quick trip to Edinburgh today - brought home a few photos for
you!
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Left Before departing from Dundee, saw Travel Dundee Volvo Citybus 98 doing driver training work - unusually. Right Fife 588, one of the last few remaining in "old" Express livery, has now been repainted. The vehicle is seen making one of its last arrivals at the temporary Edinburgh bus stances in St Andrew Square. The new bus station in the background opens on Monday 17 February. |
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Left 875 was until lately a Lothian Buses vehicle, but damage meant the vehicle was considered suitable for use by Edinburgh Tours Ltd. - the Lothian subsidary created to take over Guide Friday operations in Edinburgh. 875 leads a line up of assorted tour vehicles, all owned by the operator better known as Lothian - directly or not. The tour brands are Guide Friday Edinburgh Tour, City Sightseeing Edinburgh, Mac Tours, and the Britannia Tour. Right Lothian Buses 346 arriving on The Mound on cross-city Service 27. When this vehicle was new in 1989, it went to the UITP expo in Budapest, to mark the 200th Leyland Olympian to be delievered to Lothian Regional Transport plc - as it was then. |
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