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(there's a total of 85 photographs on this page!)

I still hate my computer! My five-and-a-bit year old hard drive has now bitten the dust, and was replaced by one a lot larger than I can use........ Aah well that's the last original part from the old one in the new one, so all should go well from here. Thanks to my work colleague who found my website and took the P166 chip (and a cable, and some jumpers!) off my hands, the cannabalised hulk then went into the skip! Five and a half years since it was new in 1998, but that's progress!

Saturday 31 May 2003
Dundee F.C. in the cup final - and as a result, quite a few odd workings could be seen around Dundee, to cover all the buses at the match. It was the first Saturday for 19 years that Tayside/Travel Dundee didn't have at least one Citybus in service AFAIK - only five low-floor double deckers were out on the 22/22C. Strathtay also sprung a few surprises, including 216 on Service 71 (not shown in these photos).

	Left Travel Dundee Volvo B10BLE 177 (V177 ESL) in PrimeLine 22/22C branding, on RedLine Services 1A/1B ! Seen in Union Street. Right Ford Transit L844 YOD came to Tayside from Vosper's (ford dealer in Portsmouth), and has spent many years at Froickheim before retuning to Dundee. Vehicle seen at the bus station on Citylink crew changes.
	In July/August, Strathtay recieved three ECW-bodied Leyland Olympians from Yorkshire Traction. SHE 611-3Y - which became 931-933. 931 and 933 had previously ran from Dundee as 611 and 613, on loan from April 2001 to April 2002. These vehicles entered service at Montrose, mainly as a result of the new tender requirement for Services 29A/29C for Mearns Academy. However, with the number of football hires (Montrose had two deckers out, 953 and one borrowed from Arbroath) - so 932 was given to Arbroath in exchange for one day, and made it all the way to Ninewells and back on Services 73/73A. Seen here Left at Seagate/Commercial Street, and Right at Ninewells Hospital.
	Left There was at least one coach left in Dundee! Mercedes/Plaxton Cheetah TC11 (T434 GSP) seen turning from Seagate into Commercial Street. Right Scania 65 was one of two bought by TWM for evaluation - and both were on "small bus" work today. 66 was on Service 2 earlier in the week, but 65 was on the route today! Back-bumper crunching at the Hawkhill Triangle was enough to get a motorist to move her car! Seen at Dryburgh Linton Road.
	Left Scania 64 has been photographed on Service 55 before - but today it carries a Craigowl Limited Stop board from the 1C or X22. Yes, the 55 does pass through Craigowl ! Seen entering Commercial Street. Right Strathtay Dennis Dart SLF 316 seen opposite the Police Station in East Marketgait.
	Travel Dundee Volvo B10BLE 156 on Service 1C at Left Craigowl View St Martin Avenue, and Right Clepington Road. Until the bus stop and access roads at the Kingsway West Retail Park are completed, the service will continue to use this as a timing point. As you can see, both old and new 1C boards are shown - and Craigowl Limited Stop is now a proper board, not a laminated card.

Saturday 24 May 2003
During the week, another ex-Travel London Optare Excel, 203 (R404 HWU) arrived in Dundee. It's got a "fixed" (translation: only local number to be added to the London blind strip) numeral blind on the front for the 51 - two strips cut and taped up - and as a result was out on the 9X/10X yesterday (morning peak). However, the bus was out on the 51 today as planned.

Left Formerly Travel London/Connex Bus 404, R404 HWU is seen here in Fowlis village - as far into Angus as Travel Dundee run from Dundee depot (excluding Services 140, 860 and school runs from the G&N Wishart unit in Froickheim). Right Speaking of low-floors, Dennis Dart 121 (P121 GSR) is shown here back on it's "old" route, Service 21.

Monday 19 May 2003
First weekday of the Travel Dundee service changes included the extension of the 1C to/from Craigowl View, introduction of new Service X22, plus revisions to works service 93.

	Firstly, the side of Victoria Road at India Buildings/Victoria Chambers is presently being used as a diversion route for 1A, 1B, 1C, 9, 11, 17, 18, 18A, 19 - from today for around three weeks. Victoria Road is closed, so buses are diverted via Arthurstone Terrace, King Street, and the tunnel under Victoria Road. Left Travel Dundee Volvo B10L 129, and Right Volvo Citybus 100, both seen opposite India Buildings, on the diversion route.
	Left Travel Dundee's orange-branded Fintry Shuttle Volvo B10L 126 seen on service 28/29 to Douglas. Right Volvo B10BLE 152 seen at the Craigowl View St Martin Avenue terminus of the 22C - and, from today, also for Service 1C and X22. A new Craigowl/Limited Stop board (card) has been made for the windscreen, but is lost behind the Daysaver branding on most vehicles!
	Left Volvo B10BLE 165, the only one with a real-time information chip (required for Outer Circle and FerryLink passenger information displays), seen at Asda Kirkton on the 11. Right Volvo Citybus 93 seen on what was originally called the Northern Circular service 36/37 - but this is the one afternoon journey that runs as a 36B via Harris Academy. Seen here in Kirkton, Derwent Avenue.
	Left Volvo B10BLE 157 on the newly introduced afternoon school duplicate from Kirkton to Ninewells Hospital of Service 10 - called a 10A as it is a part-route. Right Same bus at the Technology Park, Explorer Road. Following the withdrawal of Service 94, the afternoon 93 now starts at the Tech park, via Ninewells, then Gourdie, Dunsinane Avenue, then onto Douglas. Timetables from the Dundee Tech Park section of this site.
	Left Scania 111 on Service 17 - unsually, seen in Whitehall Street. Right Scania 66 started the day on Service 1C, was run off (see below), then was run on the first journey on "new" Service X22 to Downfield/Craigowl. An inspector was on hand to fan passengers between direct and stopping services as neccessary, and this resulted in a satisfied group of more than 20 passengers on the X22. Despite getting 23 minutes to Downfield, it was fairly easy to do it in 15 - the stopping service gets around 24/25 mins running time during the day. Seen at High Street Littlewoods.
	Left For all the new services and odd allocations late of Travel Dundee, Strathtay did well to allocate Dennis Dart 307 to services 137-139 to the Auchterhouse and Tealing areas. Seen here leaving Downfield for the last run of the evening to Auchterhouse, the normal fayre on this route is Mercedes 709D 166 or MCW Metrorider 172 - the only two buses with blind inserts. Right The second run on the X22 commences from Ninewells Hospital and runs non-stop to the High Street, before doing the same as the first run to Downfield/Craigowl. Volvo B10L 131 is seen here in Strathmartine Road about to cross Laird Street towards Brackens and Craigowl View.
	Left Scania 66 started the day on the 1C - as I mentioned above. Volvo B6 117 had been run off the 55 earlier in the day. So, when a replacement was requested for 66, 117 was allocated, and as far as I know this is the first non-low floor bus on the 1C. Right Second trip of the day to the Tech Park (despite it being my day off!) to record the evening Service 29. On weekdays and Saturdays, some double deckers can stay on into the evening, like Volvo Citybus 103 seen here at Apollo Way.

Sunday 18 May 2003
First Sunday of the Travel Dundee service changes included changes to the 18/19 Kirkton services, with new 18A, and changes to 4B serving Camperdown, with a Sunday service on the 4A introduced, and the 4B diverted to Perth Road & Hawkhill not Riverside.

	Firstly, changes to Services 18/19 involved a diversion of some Service 18 journeys via Woodside as Service 18A. This is a replacement for Service 5/6 which ran for the last time last week. Left Dennis Dart SLF 85 (ex-TWM) seen at the Royal Exchange building. Right Volvo B6LE 162 seen at Asda Kirkton, both on new Service 18A. The choice of small buses seemed a bit odd, and indeed standing loads were seen throughout. Then....
	... we got to Union Street, Left and the 18A turns into a 4A! So, Service 4A inter-works with the 18/18A/19 on Sundays, requiring three buses - hence the short ones. However, the way it worked out, 85 was due to work the 4B all evening (plus the last 4A up to Camperdown) but just before going out Right it was replaced by Volvo B6 119.
	Technology Park again - but here are some shots of the 29 service! Extended to the Tech Park last October, it's been too dark until lately to try any photos. Left Volvo B10BLE 172, and Right similar 158 (recently repaired ex accident damage), both seen at Apollo Way. Timetables from the Dundee Tech Park section of this site.

Saturday 17 May 2003
Didn't go to St Andrews during my week off earlier in the month! So, to make up, toured today around St Andrews, Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn, Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Leven, Anstruther and St Andrews again...

	Left Stagecoach in Fife Volvo 52460 (R640 RSE) was showing everything BUT X24 and X26. During the day it was also spotted showing Express Service and one or two less explanables! Right Volvo 52255 (M955 TSX) is also seen in St Andrews Bus Station prior for a run down the coast through Leven, Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh.
	Left Mercedes Benz 709D 40091 (K491 FFS) is now transferred to Kirkcaldy depot, and is seen parked up at Kirkcaldy bus station "idle". Right Since July last, Service 37 (Glenrothes Peploe/Balfarg - Kirkcaldy) and K12 (Kirkcaldy - Overton Mains) have been inter-worked by depots at both ends. When electronic displayed buses are rostered, no problems. However, when Volvo Citybus 15258 turns up - or others like it - route number and destination information is lacking! Also seen at Kirkcaldy bus station.
	Ex-Stagecoach London Volvo Olympian VN36 (P536 HMP) is one of a min-batch of two purchased in the last half of 2002. Here, Left the bus, now 16036, is approaching Kirkcaldy bus station for a trip along the coast, and up to Dunfermline. Right The same bus seen at St Leonards Place, Kinghorn.
	Left Remember Coastliner Service X57? Dual-purpose Volvo Citybuses plied up and down the coast from Anstruther to Leven, Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn, Burntisland, Dalgety Bay, to Edinburgh. Volvo Citybus 15294 (C794 USG) has remained at Aberhill, and I think this was painted in the special red/grey livery - certainly all Aberhil deckers (and others!) made trips on the service. Anyway, getting such a vehicle at Kinghorn along the coast was good for reminders of such times! Right Into Dunfermline, and one more of the ex-London Volvo Olympians. The first two to enter service at Dunfermline - of the current twenty-odd due - were 16065 and 16165 (R165 VPU, R165 HHK), one each Alexander and Northern Counties bodied. Here is the latter, loading up for a run round the south side of town on the D3.
	Left It was interesting to see all Dunfermline's town services in the hands of double deckers today - apart from the D7. Minibuses, midibuses, but now more double deckers in use. Left Volvo Citybus 15292(C797 USG) seen at James Street for the circular around the east side of the town. Right Service D7 Townhill - Abbeyview is a 10-minute frequency shuttle with more buses on the route than for a long time - esp. at the Townhill end. Vehicle allocation is a mix of step entrance and low floor B6's and Darts - including Volvo B6 30672 (M672 SSX) seen heading south in James Street.
	Speaking of a mixed allocation on the D7, some low-floor buses can also be seen. Left 33415 (S615 CSC) is a Dennis Dart SLF/Alexander ALX200 seen at James Street heading north. Right Service D9 provides the original Parkneuk side of the D9 - plus what was Service D10 for around six months - in a cross-city format. I can understand why Carnegie Campus wouldn't be on the blinds, but Parkneuk must be on there somewhere? Anyway, Volvo Citybus 15290 (C790 USG) heading for the north-west quarter of town, on James Street.
	Left MAN saloon 22258 (V258 ESX) of Cowdenbeath is seen on James Street heading south for Rosyth. The black-on-yellow numbers indicate the vehicle goes to (or, on this case, has been to) the Odeon Cinema at Fife Leisure Park. Right The Leyland Titan fleet can be expected to reduce once more Volvo Olympians hit the road. Here, Cowdenbeath's Titan 10801 (OHV 801Y) is seen at the Queen Margaret Hospital on-route for Ballingry, Glenrothes and Pitteuchar/Fife College.
	Left Service D8 provides re-instatement of the south side of former Service D9 between James Street, Abbeyview, Tesco, more of Abbeyview, and Queen Margaret Hospital. Leyland Olympian 14723 (K723 ASC) is seen at the latter. Right Cowdenbeath-based 15275 (C805 USG) seen on Service 33 from Kirkcaldy to Dunfermline, also at the Queen Margaret Hospital. Services 30 (above) and 33 were changed in January to serve parts of Touch off the Halbeath Road, replacing what was the D7/D9, and before that, D1/D2/D7/D8.
	Left Volvo Olympian 16065 (R165 VPU) was mentioned above - and is running from Dunfemline depot. Seen here at the bus station before a run to Dalgety Bay (for the bus at least). Right Also ex-London, and forming part of the "mini" batch I referred to above. VN35 is now 16035, and is seen at Dunfermline Bus Station when about to head west to High Valleyfield. Services 74/75 and 78 are now inter-worked, on Saturdays at least.
	Left Leyland Titan 10626 (NUW 626Y) is also on Service 30, as mentioned above, but this time at Dunfermline bus station. As can be seen, these vehicles are getting on a bit. Right First don't usually send the ex-London Buslines Darts to Dunfermline on the 14/14A - but this looked at home with the other ex-London stuff. 284 (N621 XJM) was London Buslines 621 when new. Also at Dunfermline Bus Station,
	Left Volvo B10M 20337 (R337 HFS) has in the last few months, had yet more Kingdom FM lettering applied to it, with revised rear lettering. As a result, it can be expected to remain in purple for some time to come. Seen at Dunfermline bus station just before a run north-west to Blairhall. Right In the same location, and just back from Blairhall, is 16158 (R158 HHK). The bus was pressed into service in red, with etching, however time was found to fit a Hanover electronic destination display. The bus is still in the mostly-red London livery, which fitted in quite nicely in Fife (with old Fife Scottish colours).
	Following Dunfermline, then briefly stopping at Halbeath, then Glenrothes, I arrived at Leven for a trip up the coast before heading back to Dundee. Left Leyland Titan 10873 (A873 SUL) is seen at Leven Bus Station on Service L1 to Methilhill. Right At the "interchange" between X26 and 95A/95B services, Volvo B10M coach 52423 (R113 OPS) is seen at Anstruther library working the former.
	Left The 95B was provided by Mercedes minibus 40074 (M774 TFS), which provided the via Crail to St Andrews link. Right St Andrews bus station also doubles up as the depot - so evening services mingle with buses being cleaned for next day. Here, coach R639 RSE and Volvo Olympian N330 HGK (52459, 16430), based at Kirkcaldy and St Andrews, are seen here in the stances.

Friday 16 May 2003

A couple of photos from a trip through Perth this afternoon. Left Leyland Olympian 55 - as it was known - of Stagecoach Perth, seen in the High Street en-route to North Muirton. Now numbered 14455. Right Another vehicle still in old Stagecoach colours - but with no numbers - is Fife 22271, or 271 in old money. Seen at Perth Bus Station prior to the 1505 Service 56 which runs to Glenfarg only, not via Drummond Crescent or Kintillo. 56X anyone?

Sunday 11 May 2003
Last day of Travel Dundee sunday-only services 5/6 and 19A pending service changes a week today. Here are some of what I saw this weekend.

	Left Preparing at the Museum in Albert Square prior to running onto the last ever 19A. The evening diversion of some 19's via Woodside as 19A in the early 90's was withdrawn in 1995, however the single journey at 1235 has remained up to today. In an interesting twist, the rest of the Sunday service to Woodside (5/6) is withdrawn, with replacement provided by diverting some 18's as 18A via Woodside! Right Moffat & Williamson's short wheelbase Volvo/Plaxton Paramount 121 ASV, new as E593 UHS, seen picking up a party beside the Dundee High School.
	Left Travel Dundee's two Optare Solos are getting out & about - one of the two can presently be found on Service 51 to Fowlis most days (see 24 May above!) 200 (T304 UOX), ex-TWM 304, is seen passing by the high school and Museum on route to Lochee, Liff and Fowlis. Right Stagecoach in Fife 40075, a Mercedes 709D/Alexander Sprint minibus (and a proper one - i.e. with raised blind boxes), seen on the Sunday combination of services 42 & 23 - but doing a 42 in Dundee High Street (see a few Sundays back during my One-Ticket week).
	Last ever journey on Services 5/6. Following their introduction in July 1993, Services 5/6 combined the Sunday service on 21 to Woodside with a new Sunday service via then rouet 13/14 to Magdlen Green and Tesco Riverside. From January 2001 this route became impossibile to do, when the bridge over the Glasgow/Perth branch of the train tracks was deemed too week. Instead, the service was extended the full length of the Perth Road to/from the Technology Park. Despite a recent (slight) increase in hours worked there, it seems this will be another area of Dundee (now there will be 4 after the service changes!) with more buses in the evening than during the day on a Sunday! Volvo B6 119 is seen at the Technology Park Apollo Way, after the last run almost didn't happen when the electronic blind winder stuck, and rolled from end to end and back again!
	Left Volvo B10L 146 on the evening diversion of Services 9/10 (Outer Circle) via Camperdown UGC Cinema & Ice Arena. Right Volvo B6 116 seen on the last Sunday of Service 4B to Riverside Drive. Despite having 24/7 opening, this evening/Sunday bus service has been deemed more viable to run it as a 4A during Sunday daytimes via Lochee, and every evening to loop via Perth Road, and a previously unserved (diversions excluded) part of Hawkhill. Seen at Tesco Riverside Drive - this part of the route commenced in January 2001 following changes to the 5/6 mentioned above. Blind just about to be straightend up btw, but that car was "coming right for us"!

Saturday 10 May 2003

	Dundee happenings! Strathtay Scottish have this week placed the first two of a batch of four Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vykings into service. 709 & 710 are for Arbroath, like the previous eight, however 711 & 712 are for Dundee. Left 710 is seen at the Commercial Street traffic lights in the Seagate, while Right 712 is crossing St Andrew's Street/Trades Lane into the far end of the Seagate. 709 & 711 are expected to follow soon once the registration paperwork is corrected!
	Volvo Citybus 104 of Travel Dundee, seen at the foot of the Hilltown heading into Victoria Road of the City Centre. Roadworks just to the right of this photograph are to close part of Victoria Road from 19 May for a few weeks.

Friday 9 May 2003

Strathtay Scottish are due to withdrawn Leyland Leopard 543 (XSS 43Y) from passenger service at the end of June. The vehicle was new as the final Y-type to be delivered to an SBG company, and is also now one of the last Leopards in passenger service. In addition to doing school and placing workings on the 54/54A, the bus also works the 1710 from the Technology Park on weekdays (Service 76). Bus seen at Apollo Way.

Wednesday 7 May 2003

Travel Dundee's sole remaining Optare MetroRider, 206, has been repainted into the blue-based version of the livery. The vehicle has been fitted with seatbelts for use b the G&N Wisharts (Froickheim) unit. However, the bus has been in full service in Dundee in the dark blue colours - and is seen here this afternoon about to work the 1555 ex Dundee High School 10A journey.

Sunday 27 April to Saturday 3 May 2003
Was off work all this week, touring around East-Central Scotland on a OneTicket. From Dundee each day, covering Fife (Crossed tay bridge 14 times, Forth Bridge 10 times, Kincardine Bridge twice - but several days apart), Borders, Central, West Lothian, Edinburgh, and much more besides. Click here for the full page of photos. (THIS PAGE TO FOLLOW IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE - PRESENTLY SELECTING THE BEST FROM MORE THAN *200* IMAGES TAKEN THAT WEEK ! )

Saturday 26 April 2003
As a warm-up for the next week of travelling, had a trip around Perth, Alyth, Kirriemuir, Forfar, and then back to Perth for the evening, and back to Dundee via Alyth again!

	Left Mayne's Mercedes minicoach Y555 GSM seen at Perth railway station. Right Stagecoach in Fife 20147 (R647 LSO) is seen in Perth Bus Station. New as Bluebird 647, this is one of the batch that did not make it to Perth when Bluebird had some of this batch running in Perth. However, it's made up for it with a run from Glenrothes to Perth today.
	Left Leyland Tiger/Alexander P-type 504 (A115 ESA) is the only one of the type at Blairgowrie. I had this bus on this lunchtime journey from Perth to Alyth, then for an evening journey from Perth to Dundee via Blair & Alyth. Right Meffan's Coaches operate Service 128 between Alyth and Kirriemuir (Brechin Road) - I posted a photo of the Brechin Road extension last September, but this is the "original" section of the route. Here, TIL 7897 (ex F27 CWY) - originally intended to be scrapped but subsequently given seatbelts and used for the lunchtime Service 34/27 to/from Arbroath, is seen at Alyth Square, still with numbers from the last day!
	Left Meffan's Coaches had at least one fire at the premises last year - the fire damaged vehicle images were posted to the DundeeBus newsgroup, however now replacements are starting to be purchased. First up is EPM 137V, a new to London & Country AEC RELIANCE last with Halls of Kennoway/St Monan's. This is the second AEC Reliance to be owned by Meffan since Traction Group acqusition in 1995. Right Strathtay Leyland Tiger/Alexander 419 (HSK 765) seen passing by the cars at Forfar Cross en-route to Arbroath.
	Left Back to Dundee briefly, and Volvo B10L 127 (P127 KSL) of Travel Dundee, branded for the 32/33, could be seen on the 18/19. Seen at Albert Square. Right Strathtay 222 (R89 EOL) is seen pulling out of Dundee Bus Station on the 77, making use of a small blind in a big box.
	Several operators are presently evaluating orange LED destination displays. Left Stagecoach in Perth have fitted one to Dennis Dart SLF 33433 (X433 SSE), seen in Perth High Street. Right Strathtay introduced evening journeys on Service 58 (Perth - Blairgowrie via Guildtown) in August 2001 with support from Perth & Kinross Council. On one of these is Optare MetroRider 150 (N150 DSL), seen in New Row.
	Left Stagecoach in Perth Volvo B10M 52387 (P627 ESO) is now in allover white, presumably pending new National Express lettering. Right First (Midland Bluebird Ltd.) 516 (R446 ALS) is seen in Perth Bus Station, on their evening journeys on Service 19 (Perth - Blackford/Stirling). Both seen in Perth Bus Station.
	Left From the same time as the introduction of Strathtay's evening 58's was the introduction of a Friday & Saturday night Kelty - Perth bus, via Auchtermuchty as 56A. In-between times, this was rostered to do a 17 to/from Dunning. Since August 2002, this journey has run Monday to Saturday, but with Stagecoach in Perth running it the first four nights of the week. Anyway, 22274 (X274 MTS) seen in Perth Bus Station. Right Travel Dundee recently acquired two new coaches for Citylink work. ST 52 GZE is seen in Perth Bus Station.

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