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Apologies for the lack of updates recently! But some good news involves an "upgrade" to my PC - which is now a P400 in a tower case. OK, it's not brand new, but the "old" PC - the one I have done almost all the scotbus/scottish bus site work on since 1998 - is now broken up, with RAM going to a friend, hard drive in the new one, modem also in the new one, and other removable bits came with me! If anyone is specifically looking for a P166 (first MMX!) processor and motherboard, email me fairly sharpish before it goes in the bin!

Saturday 19 April 2003
Happy religious holiday of choice! Trip to Glasgow, Braehead and Pollok this afternoon - here is some of what I saw.

	Left First's Clydeside Expressway services 204, 205, 216 are due for a revise in the May changes - including another bus to make 6 buses an hour. A long way from the first days of the X62, which you can find here.. Anyway, SV459 (N959 LSU) is seen at Howard Street Glasgow, about to do the run up to Balloch and Loch Lomond Shores. Right Local neds in Summerston have been on a window-smashing spree of late - so many 54 & 61 windows (inter-worked) have been smashed that a special operation was mounted last week with the "polis" on hand to catch the "neds". Here, SV620 (SF 51 YBR) is seen on route to the scene of the crime, also in Howard Street.
	Left First AH55 (G304 OGE) loading up in Howard Street for a run via Royston Road to Easterhouse, on Service 19. Right PD Travel provide a shuttle service over Service 40 between Argyle Street and Maryhill Shops. Here, H107 HDV, an ex-Docklands Minibus/Stagecoach Glasgow/Fife Scottish/Puma Coaches Mercedes 811D/Carlyle is seen in Howard Street.
	Left Arriva Scotland West Dennis Dart 818 (P818 GMS) in Jamaica Street, en-route to Paisley, Johnstone and Kilbarchan. Right First SV467 (N967 LSU) seen also in Jamica Street on "overground" 56/57 services. These two routes form a circle around the Pollok area, while the 56 extends north via the former 16 route to/from Auchnairn.
	The "Glasgow City Tour" is a new operation by Glasgow Corporation Transport Ltd. - ran by the founder of what was the Glasgow Bus Museum. Now, some of his vehicles will run a tour of the City, with a mix of vintage buses and open-top buses - the latter include two one-time Stagecoach Bristol VR's and Leyland Atlantean HRS 265V, which has previously done City tours of Stirling. Here are two shots of L163 (SGD 65) of a more modern Argyle Street/Union Street corner.
	Left Caledonian Buses have this week, purchased this Dennis Dart/Reeve Burgess K416 MGN, new to R&I Buses then MTL London,then Metroline. Note the drivers name beside the door - is FY1 a running number? Zoom in - I *did* get the bus all in! Right Also this week, Stagecoach in Glasgow extended Service 175 (Castlemilk) to/from Renfield Street, so it now "goes roond the toon". Some buses are route branded now - without the number - but some are "generic" MagicBuses. Both seen in Union Street.
	The sun is now starting to come out, so here goes! Left Gibson Direct Y483 TSU, a Dennis Dart SLF/Caetano first used by Slocoach, is seen at Braehead on Service 21. The bus is almost half-way between Govan and Paisley. Right Now to Pollok Centre, where ex-MK Metro/Merlin's Ark G212 YDL, Mercedes 811D/Phoenix, is seen running now for First Stop Travel, also almost halfway on Service 149 from South Nitshill to Govan Cross.
	Left MCW Metrobus MB64 (G402 OGD) is seen here at Pollok Centre, mingling with the Ailsas on Service 22 to/from Braehead. Right Ex-CentreWest MA155 (F687 XMS) is seen here also at Pollok Centre, on Service 49 - which also links South Nitshill, Pollok and Govan Cross.
	Left First A134 (B158 GSC) was de-roofed at Newcraighall around 1 year ago, while being used by First (Edinburgh) on a private hire. The bus then went to Larkfield - originally rumoured for spares, but then the bus was resurected, before being painted into RED (vs. Barbie2) before going in service from Larkfield alongside native Ailsas. Right First MB70 (G408 OGD) - similar to MB64 but in "Barbie2". Also seen at Pollok Centre.
	Left Now back to Central Glasgow - Stagecoach 14412 (C800 HCS) is seen at Renfield Street on recently-extended (see above) Service 175 to Castlemilk. Right Arriva Scotland West have one Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander ALX200 in Citylink livery - plus those Plaxton bodied examples. 869 (S869 OGB) is seen backing off the stance in Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station, en-route to the Airport.

Friday 18 April 2003

English bank holiday means Dundee Tech Park was a bit quieter today! Here, Strathtay 317 (V317 DSL) would normally be very busy, but due to the number of "english" companies, most of which were closed or reduced in service - the bus was a bit quieter than usual.

Monday 14 April 2003
Some photos taken this afternoon after work!

	Technology Park first of all! Sorry, but as I work here, it does provide a steady stream of picture opportunities - esp. as I am on all day shifts, and the mornings/early evenings are getting lighter! Left Arbroath-based buses do a few journeys to the Tech Park in the afternoon peak - from Carnoustie, while Dundee-based crews run to Ninewells from Monifeith. In any case, Volvo B7TL 702 (SP 51 AWW) is seen at Apollo Way. Right Strathtay MCW Metrobus 806 (BLS 424Y) is now the oldest Dundee-based vehicle on Tayway - however, the new Volvo B7TL's are expected within the month. Also seen at Apollo Way.
	Left Travel Dundee Volvo B6LE 164 (R164 TSR) seen not at the Tech Park, but in fact at Albert Square on Service 15 to Whitfield. Right Travel Dundee 111 seen at Union Street on the "regular" haunt of Service 7/8. A few months back I posted 110 with no lettering remaining - 111 is now in a similar state, although it kept the top row for a bit longer. Both are provisionally sold to Yorkshire Traction AFAIK, once more "new" buses arrive. Speaking of which...
	Travel Dundee are expecting six Optare Excel's ex-Travel London/Connex Bus. These are being part-refurbished by TWM and single doored - at Miller Street, Birmingham, before coming north. As you can see, this was a "lucky" reciptent of a full Connex Bus blind set - so the bus is actually displaying Liverpool St Station 42 (I am told!) - with nothing on the side, and C3 on the rear - however, "Shoppers Bus" and "88" have been cut from a shredded blind, and stuck on with the legendary gaffa tape! Only, this bus (regular for the 88 weekdays at least) was out on Asda Kirkton in the morning - had done one run on the 88, only for it to be bus changed off - and is now on Service 2 at Crichton Street - although, the driver had a job persuading the passengers of this! LATER: Bus change was granted one hour after this image was taken!

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