[{"content":"Naturally, if you poke around under the bonnet long enough, you’re bound to break a few things. But that’s half the fun! For me, computing isn\u0026rsquo;t about being perfect; it\u0026rsquo;s about the joy of tinkering, discovering fantastic open-source software, making mistakes, building/breaking websites and figuring out how to fix them again.\nMy journey with computers started way back in the early 1980s, when my wife bought me a Sinclair ZX81 computer, which had only 1K of memory. Over the years I upgraded to the BBC B Micro, the BBC Master and then my first PC, an Amstrad Mega PC. It was at that time I decided to tinker with the innards of computers - not a good omen for any hardware I got hold of.\nThen I started to take interest in the internet, I tinkered with Blogger, Wordpress, etc. I created a few websites, such as Scotchpotch Magazine and Glasgow Tales. So over the years I moved with the times, messing with PCs, laptops and printers and running a website. Due to family issues, I stopped going online for a while.\nHaving retired with nothing to do, I decided to pick the subject of vintage buses to photograph, since I live a few miles from the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust. My main camera to date is the Google Pixel 9a with a handle and a remote button. (fancy cameras are not needed for website photos). I\u0026rsquo;ve also visited other transport museums in the UK. These days, I\u0026rsquo;m not able to travel as much, so I have expanded this site to include rail and maritime and I collect transport postcards, which, provided they are out of copyright, I display on this site.\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/under-the-bonnet/tinkerer/","section":"Under the Bonnet","summary":"Jack of all Trades and Master of None - that\u0026rsquo;s me. I\u0026rsquo;m a retired man living in the west of Scotland who ignores the \u0026lsquo;If it ain\u0026rsquo;t broke, don\u0026rsquo;t fix it! rule.","title":"The Tinkerer"},{"content":" Image generated with AI Global Transport News Hub #Scroll for more news\nLoading latest feeds...\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/vbnews/","section":"Posts","summary":"RSS feeds to transport-related websites, including classic cars, bus fleets, tramcars, trolleybuses, trains and passenger ships.","title":"Transport News"},{"content":"When I first set out to build and publish Vintage Transport, my goal was straightforward: share my photographs of vintage buses and tell some of the stories about these classic vehicles. I already had the notes and the photographs. What I needed was a way to organize, format, and present it all cleanly without getting hopelessly bogged down in the finer technical weeds of modern web design. As I travel less now, I have introduced Transport Postcards, allowing me to .\nThat is where artificial intelligence came into the picture. Rather than treating AI as a shortcut to generate instant, soul-less articles, I used it as an interactive technical assistant, available at all hours. From helping me navigate static site structure and refining Hugo layouts, to sorting out CSS quirks, terminal commands, and automating site tweaks, having an AI partner saved me countless hours of frustration. It allowed me to skip past steep coding learning curves and focus entirely on the content itself.\nBut there are pitfalls: AI gets it wrong, very wrong. It\u0026rsquo;s the old saying, \u0026lsquo;garbish in, garbish out\u0026rsquo;, meaning when AI is searching for information, it may select a website that is wildly inaccurate. I\u0026rsquo;ve been stung in the early days when I posted details of vintage buses on Facebook. You get roasted if a retired bus mechanic or enthusiast spots errors on your bus specifications list.\nAs I am no longer able to travel, I have expanded this site to include rail and maritime and I collect transport postcards, which now feature in VintageTransport.org.\nAI is invaluable as a search engine, finding details about a vintage vehicle, train or vessel, collating it all from the internet. But experience has taught me to tell AI to provide me with the source links to its information and I publish those links under \u0026lsquo;Resources\u0026rsquo; in the posts.\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/under-the-bonnet/ai-as-a-tool/","section":"Under the Bonnet","summary":"The use of AI is controversial, but I believe it can be used as a very powerful tool for deep searches and checking coding errors. But it makes mistakes, many mistakes.","title":"Using AI as a Tool, not a Writer"},{"content":"Hugo: Fastest Framework for Building Websites # Written in Go, optimized for speed and designed for flexibility. With its advanced templating system and fast asset pipelines, Hugo renders a large site in seconds, often less. - website\nWhat could be easier? Create a blog or website post in Markdown and Hugo will convert it into HTML pages ready to upload to your server. I really enjoy creating posts this way. Ideal for simple websites with no complicated interactions, just an easy system to show off photographs and stories.\nStatic Websites vs Dynamic Websites #A static website delivers pre-built pages that are ready to read the moment a visitor arrives. Because the server doesn\u0026rsquo;t have to assemble anything on the fly, pages load instantly and there is virtually no behind-the-scenes machinery to maintain or hack.\nA dynamic website, by contrast, builds each page on demand every time someone clicks a link. It pulls live data out of a database to construct a customised view for that specific visitor, which is essential for online stores or social media networks. This type of website is more complex.\nMarkdown #Markdown was created in 2004 by John Gruber. it is a lightweight markup language that lets users add style elements such as bold, lists just by using keyboard symbols like ### and ***.\nMarkdown Quick Reference Guide. Click image to enlarge\nHugo and Visual Studio Code #VS Code is an excellent editor for all sorts of programming languages and works really well with Hugo. Here is an example below of a smaller post which Hugo will convert into HTML. Note that as with all websites, a custom.css file is used for background colours, text size, etc.\nExample Post # Visual Studio Code opened to show a Hugo Markdown post. Click image to enlarge\nThis is how the post above is rendered on a PC monitor.\nNOTE: This screenprint shows the page before the site changed to VintageTransport.org. Resources # Hugo Static homepage Visual Studio Code Markdown Guide ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/under-the-bonnet/hugo-static-websites/","section":"Under the Bonnet","summary":"Hugo is an open-source static site generator.  Building websites with Hugo is much easier than creating dynamic websites that are far more complex.","title":"Hugo Static Websites"},{"content":" My personal Linux Mint desktop screen What is Linux? #Linus Torvalds created Linux in 1991 and it is programmed using the C programming language alongside Assembly and Rust. Linux itself is not an operating system, but the kernel, the core engine that acts as the bridge between the computer\u0026rsquo;s hardware and software.\nTo make a usable operating system, developers pair the Linux kernel with system tools (mostly from the GNU project), a graphical desktop environment (like Cinnamon, GNOME, or KDE), and software applications. That complete packaged bundle is what is called a distribution, or distro.\nLinux Distributions #How many distros? #There are currently over 600 active Linux distributions in existence, with thousands more having been created and retired over the last three decades. Anyone with technical know-how can take the open-source kernel and build a custom operating system around it.\nThe Main Linux Distro Families #Despite the hundreds of options, almost the entire Linux ecosystem traces back to a handful of core parent families:\nThe Debian Family Debian: One of the oldest independent distros, known for rock-solid stability and strict commitment to free software. Ubuntu: Based on Debian. Launched in 2004, it became the distro that brought Linux to mainstream desktop users. Linux Mint: Based primarily on Ubuntu (with a Debian-based edition available). Focuses on desktop usability. The Red Hat / Fedora Family Fedora: Sponsored by Red Hat, Fedora serves as the testbed for cutting-edge desktop technologies. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL): The commercial heavy hitter used by corporations, banks, and data centres worldwide. Independent Mainstay Distros Arch Linux: A minimalist, \u0026ldquo;build-it-yourself\u0026rdquo; distro. It follows a rolling-release model, always updating continuously rather than major version jumps. openSUSE: A long-standing European staple, widely respected for its robust system configuration tools (YaST) and enterprise options. Slackware: The oldest surviving distribution (launched in 1993), maintained for purists who prefer Unix-like simplicity and manual setup. Linux Mint #Back in 2004 I noticed some Linux magazines on the shelves at my local newsagent. Titles like Linux Format and Linux Magazine started to appear. Curious, I decided to try out the free Linux LiveCDs that were on offer.\nGeneric Linux magazine created with AI It was round about 2005, I was using Windows XP and I was very happy with it. But curiosity got the better of me and I bought a linux magazine and started tinkering with the LiveCDs. I was very impressed with Ubuntu so I decided to dual-boot it with XP. After many errors, I finally got Ubuntu to run. I bought a book about the Ubuntu operating system - and things just took off from there. Over the years I tried many Linux distros, moving away from dual-booting and giving an old laptop new life by installing a Linux distro exclusively on it. Not for me running operating systems in the VirtualBox environment, may as well go the whole hog. This was a tinkerer\u0026rsquo;s dream: because the laptop was not my main working computer, it didn\u0026rsquo;t matter how many times I broke things (and break things I often did). Then one day I installed Linux Mint on the laptop and ran it for a few months. I was so impressed with it.\nI retired a few years ago, so I started writing and creating blogs. As the years went by, I noticed that Microsoft Windows was getting so bloated and I did not like Windows 10. I had a new laptop that was running Windows 10, so I decided to install Linux Mint on my main PC - and I\u0026rsquo;ve been running Linux Mint as my main driver for four years now.\nEvery program that I needed to run on Windows I can now run the alternatives on Linux Mint. The Windows 11 laptop has to be switched on once a week so that it can get the updates, that\u0026rsquo;s the only time it is powered up.\nLinux Mint Videos #Even if you don\u0026rsquo;t intend to install Linux Mint any time soon, have a look at these instructional videos. They will give you an idea of just how flexible and easy to use Linux Mint is. OK, it may not replace all the Windows apps that you must have, but there\u0026rsquo;s no harm in installing Linux Mint on an old laptop, or to try it out on the LiveUSB.\nHow to install Linux Mint\nVideo created by Byte Geek 12 Things to Do After Installing Linux Mint\nVideo created by Love Linux Mint 7 hidden Linux Mint features\nVideo created by Love Linux Mint 7 more hidden Linux Mint features\nVideo created by Love Linux Mint Sources # DistroWatch: see the top 100 Linux distros Linux Mint home page Wikipedia: About Linux ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/under-the-bonnet/linux-mint/","section":"Under the Bonnet","summary":"Linux Mint is a very popular distribution and it is considered to be the best distro to try for those used to Microsoft Windows, many features are the same.","title":"Linux Mint"},{"content":"WebP (Web Picture) files #WebP is a modern image format developed by Google specifically for the web. Think of it as combining the best features of JPEG and PNG into one lightweight package, offering high visual quality at significantly smaller file sizes. It has instant rendering (especially on mobile), lower bandwidth usage across every hosting platform, dynamic or static.\nPNG (13.9 MB): Best for preserving lossless detail, but completely unviable for web delivery if you have many files this size. JPG (2.3 MB): A standard web format for decades, bringing the size down considerably. WebP (1.5 MB): Shaves off another 35% of the file size compared to the JPG, while maintaining excellent visual sharpness. Convert PNG and JPG files to WebP files #This Python script below is useful if you intend to create a website or blog and you have a lot of PNG or JPG files. This script will convert every PNG and JPG in your folder to WebP, but will still keep the original files intact.\nNOTE: If you intend to change the image files already uploaded to your website, you will need to change the file extensions on all your posts or pages to WebP.\nNotice: This script is provided \u0026ldquo;as-is\u0026rdquo; for guidance purposes. Always back up your original image files before running bulk conversion scripts. Use at your own risk.\nSee full Disclaimer\nBefore you run the Python script an external library called Pillow is required:\nWindows command prompt or Powershell: pip install Pillow\nLinux and MacOS terminal: pip3 install Pillow Copy the script below and paste into your favourite text editor. Call it what you like, but I named the file convert_png_jpg_to_webp.py, just as long as you add the .py file extension. Save the script to either your Desktop or preferred folder. To use the script, just copy it into the folder that has the image files you want to convert and run the script from there. How to run the Python script:\nWindows command prompt or Powershell:\npython convert_png_jpg_to_webp.py\nLinux and MacOS terminal: python3 convert_png_jpg_to_webp.py import os from PIL import Image # Extensions to look for VALID_EXTENSIONS = (\u0026#39;.jpg\u0026#39;, \u0026#39;.jpeg\u0026#39;, \u0026#39;.png\u0026#39;, \u0026#39;.JPG\u0026#39;, \u0026#39;.JPEG\u0026#39;, \u0026#39;.PNG\u0026#39;) def convert_folder_to_webp(quality=80): # Loop through all files in the current directory for filename in os.listdir(\u0026#39;.\u0026#39;): if filename.endswith(VALID_EXTENSIONS): # Split filename and extension name_without_ext, ext = os.path.splitext(filename) output_filename = f\u0026#34;{name_without_ext}.webp\u0026#34; # Skip if the WebP version already exists if os.path.exists(output_filename): print(f\u0026#34;Skipping {filename} (WebP already exists)\u0026#34;) continue try: with Image.open(filename) as img: # Preserve transparency for PNGs if needed if img.mode in (\u0026#34;RGBA\u0026#34;, \u0026#34;P\u0026#34;): img = img.convert(\u0026#34;RGBA\u0026#34;) else: img = img.convert(\u0026#34;RGB\u0026#34;) # Save as WebP (original file remains untouched) img.save(output_filename, \u0026#34;WEBP\u0026#34;, quality=quality) print(f\u0026#34;Converted: {filename} -\u0026gt; {output_filename}\u0026#34;) except Exception as e: print(f\u0026#34;Error converting {filename}: {e}\u0026#34;) if __name__ == \u0026#34;__main__\u0026#34;: convert_folder_to_webp(quality=80) More Python scripts to follow\u0026hellip; #","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/under-the-bonnet/python-convert-to-webp/","section":"Under the Bonnet","summary":"WebP is a modern image format developed by Google specifically for the web. Think of it as combining the best features of JPEG and PNG into one lightweight package.","title":"Python: Convert image files to WebP"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/categories/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"Categories"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/categories/maritime--ships/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"Maritime \u0026 Ships"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/","section":"Posts","summary":"","title":"Posts"},{"content":"Postcards From The Past: The Royal Eagle Paddle Steamer (1932) # The PS Royal Eagle at sea: Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection.\nClick image to enlarge\nReverse of Postcard\nThe new luxury pleasure steamer Royal Eagle, built by Messrs Cammell Laird \u0026amp; Co for the General Steam Navigation Ltd in 1932, undergoing her trials in the Mersey. She is 1,538 tons gross, 290 ft long, 69 ft broad, 3,000 h.p. and attains a speed of 18½ knots (equal to about 21 miles per hour), oil fired and carries 1,987 passengers. From May till September she leaves Tower Pier for Southend, Margate and Ramsgate daily, except Fridays.\nThe Crested Eagle \u0026amp; the Royal Eagle: Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection.\nClick image to enlarge\nReverse of Postcard\nThe Crested Eagle and the Royal Eagle at Southend Pier: These two magnificent new vessels are the \u0026ldquo;Crack\u0026rdquo; ships of the General Steam Navigation Co. Ltd\u0026rsquo;s fleet of pleasure steamers that maintain the services from the Tower of London Pier Greenwich and N. Woolwich to Southend, Margate, Ramsgate, Clacton and Herne Bay during the Summer months.\nThe PS Royal Eagle upper decks: Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection.\nClick image to enlarge\nReverse of Postcard\nThe main and Sun Decks of the Royal Eagle, the new \u0026ldquo;Crack\u0026rdquo; pleasure steamer of the General Steam Navigation Co Ltd\u0026rsquo;s coastal services from London. She is 1,528 gross and has beautiful Saloons and Dining accommodation.\nThe PS Royal Eagle all weather lounge: Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection.\nClick image to enlarge\nReverse of Postcard\nThe Deck Lounge on the luxury Paddle Steamer Royal Eagle is a new feature that provides cool, shady accommodation in hot weather, and sheltered comfort should there be wind or rain. It is 150 ft long. The Continental Cafe atmosphere is most apparent.\nThe PS Royal Eagle cocktail bar: Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection.\nClick image to enlarge\nReverse of Postcard\nThe \u0026ldquo;Old Time\u0026rdquo; Smoking Room on the Royal Eagle: a popular retreat for gentlemen passengers.\nThe PS Royal Eagle main dining saloon: Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection.\nClick image to enlarge\nReverse of Postcard\nDining Saloon: 322 diners can be accommodated at the same time in the Saloon of the Royal Eagle, the new luxury steamer of the General Steam Navigation Co.\u0026rsquo;s Eagle Fleet of river pleasure steamers. Excellent breakfasts, luncheons and teas at very moderate prices are served, the steamers being fully licensed. The large windows provide a wonderful view of the points of interest during the voyage.\nHistory # 1932: Built by Cammell Laird \u0026amp; Co. at Birkenhead for the General Steam Navigation Company (GSN) at a gross tonnage of 1,538 tons. Measuring 290 ft with oil fired boilers and triple expansion diagonal engines capable of 18½ knots, she was the first Thames excursion paddler built with full deckhouses and carried nearly 2,000 passengers on the summer route from Tower Pier London to Southend, Margate, and Ramsgate.\nSeptember 1939: Requisitioned by the Admiralty at the outbreak of the Second World War, initially assisting with civilian evacuations from London before joining her fleet at Sheerness.\nMay 1940: Participated in Operation Dynamo, making three crossings to Dunkirk and successfully evacuating 2,657 Allied troops.\n1940 to 1945: Commissioned as HMS Royal Eagle and served for the remainder of the war as an anti-aircraft vessel stationed in the Thames Estuary.\n1946 Refitted after wartime duty and returned to GSN\u0026rsquo;s summer excursion service running between London and Margate.\n1950:: Operated for just a few weeks during the peak summer season between Southend and Clacton. Following the arrival of GSN\u0026rsquo;s newer, more economical twin-screw motor vessels, she was withdrawn and laid up in the mud at Whitewall Creek on the River Medway, near Upnor in Kent.\nNovember 1953:: Sold out of the GSN fleet for scrap in November 1953. After two unsuccessful attempts to pull her off the Medway mud,\n1954: She was finally refloated and broken up.\nSources # Paddlesteamers.info – Royal Eagle Technical \u0026amp; Service Profile Paddle Steamer Preservation Society – 2nd March 1932: Royal Eagle Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle Trust – February 2011: Paddle Steamer Royal Eagle Royal Museums Greenwich – PS Royal Eagle (1932) Builder\u0026rsquo;s Model Record ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/depot/ps-royal-eagle/","section":"Posts","summary":"Postcards From The Past: Read about the luxury Thames paddle steamer PS Royal Eagle, from her 1932 launch, her Dunkirk service and her muddy end.","title":"PS Royal Eagle"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/categories/transport-postcards/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"Transport Postcards"},{"content":"Postcard From The Past: The SS St. Paul leaving Southampton (Postmarked 1909) # RMS (SS) St Paul leaving Southampton. Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection.\nClick image to enlarge\nAlthough The St. Paul was an American built and owned steamship, giving her the standard SS (Steamship) prefix, she was frequently referred to as RMS (Royal Mail Ship) when operating out of Southampton. This title was temporarily granted to vessels holding an official contract with the British Post Office to carry transatlantic mail, allowing the ship to fly the Royal Mail pennant and ensuring priority handling in port while carrying the post.\nSS St. Louis \u0026amp; SS St. Paul: Video created by Ballins Dampfer Welt # History # 10 April 1895: Launched at the William Cramp \u0026amp; Sons shipyard in Philadelphia for the International Navigation Company\u0026rsquo;s American Line (sister ship to the SS St. Louis). 9 October 1895: Departed New York on her maiden transatlantic voyage to Southampton. 18 December 1895: Suffered a major engine room accident when a main steam pipe burst, killing nine crew members. 25 January 1896: Ran aground in dense fog off Long Branch, New Jersey, while approaching New York (allegedly after racing the Cunard liner RMS Campania). Refloated without loss of life. 20 April 1898: Commissioned into the U.S. Navy as the armed auxiliary cruiser USS Saint Paul for service in the Spanish–American War under Captain Charles D. Sigsbee (former captain of the USS Maine), taking part in operations off Cuba and Puerto Rico before returning to commercial service in September 1898. November 1900: Struck a submerged wreck in the North Atlantic, shearing off her starboard propeller and causing the unburdened starboard engine to race and tear itself apart. 1907: Underwent a major refit in which new boilers were installed and her two funnels were lengthened (as seen in the 1909 postcard). 25 April 1908: Outward bound from Southampton in a heavy spring snowstorm, collided with the British protected cruiser HMS Gladiator in the Needles Channel off the Isle of Wight; Gladiator sank with the loss of 27 lives, while St. Paul returned to Southampton for bow repairs. 1911: Reconfigured to carry second class and steerage passengers only as newer, larger liners took over the express luxury trade. 27 October 1917: Recommissioned by the U.S. Navy for World War I transport service. 28 April 1918: Capsized onto her port side at Pier 60 in New York\u0026rsquo;s North River while being towed from dry dock during conversion into a troopship. She was successfully righted on 11 September 1918, although the Armistice ended plans for her wartime refit. 24 March 1919: Returned to the American Line and refitted for post-war passenger service January 1920: Survived a serious shipyard fire during reconversion. July 1923: Laid up permanently after nearly 28 years of service and sold to German shipbreakers. 19 October 1923: Arrived under tow at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, where she was broken up for scrap. Sources # Naval History and Heritage Command: Saint Paul I (Auxiliary Cruiser) The Great Ocean Liners: St. Paul (1895–1923) Titanic Inquiry Project: SS St. Paul Norway-Heritage: SS St Paul, American Line ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/depot/ss-st-paul-southampton/","section":"Posts","summary":"Postcard From The Past: The eventful history of the transatlantic liner SS St. Paul, departing Southampton on a 1909 postcard in the Vintage Buses Collection.","title":"The SS St. Paul leaving Southampton"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/categories/road--bus/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"Road \u0026 Bus"},{"content":"Postcards From The Past: AEC Regents with AYV registrations # New: July 1934, AEC Regent, H30/26R\nLondon Transport, Fleet no. STL499\nChassis No. 6612819, Body No. LPTB 14394\nPostcard in the Vintage Transport Collection\nBUS ON LEFT:\nNew: August 1934, AEC Regent\nLondon Transport, Fleet no. STL501\nChassis No. 6612821, Body No. LPTB 14413 BUS ON RIGHT:\nNew: December 1936, AEC Regent\nLondon Transport, Fleet no. STL1715\nChassis No. 06614647, Body No. LPTB 17050 Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection New: August 1934, AEC Regent, H30/26R\nLondon Transport, Fleet no. STL510\nChassis No. 6612830, Body No. LPTB 14425\nPostcard in the Vintage Transport Collection New: August 1934, AEC Regent, H30/26R\nLondon Transport, Fleet no. STL516\nChassis No. 6612836, Body No. LPTB 14400\nPostcard in the Vintage Transport Collection\nNew: September 1934, AEC Regent, H30/26R\nLondon Transport, Fleet no. STL526\nChassis No. 6612846, Body No. LPTB 14436\nPostcard in the Vintage Transport Collection\nNew: September 1934, AEC Regent, H30/26R\nLondon Transport, Fleet no. STL536\nChassis No. 6612856, Body No. LPTB 14438\nPostcard in the Vintage Transport Collection\nNew: September 1934, AEC Regent, H30/26R\nLondon Transport, Fleet no. STL543\nChassis No. 6612863, Body No. LPTB 14434\nPostcard in the Vintage Transport Collection\nNew: October 1934, AEC Regent, H30/26R\nLondon Transport, Fleet no. STL548\nChassis No. 6612868, Body No. LPTB 14444\nPostcard in the Vintage Transport Collection\nNew: October 1934, AEC Regent, H30/26R\nLondon Transport, Fleet no. STL570\nChassis No. 6612985, Body No. LPTB 14457\nPostcard in the Vintage Transport Collection\nNew: October 1934, AEC Regent, H30/26R\nLondon Transport, Fleet no. STL574\nChassis No. 6612989, Body No. LPTB 14458\nPostcard in the Vintage Transport Collection\nSource #Bus Indentifcations: Bus Lists On The Web\nNOTE ON IMAGES: Photographs featured in this post are reproduced from period physical prints in my personal collection for non-commercial historical research and educational purposes. Where original photographers are uncredited, rights remain with the original creators or their estates. If you are a copyright holder and wish to request updated attribution or image removal, please get in touch.\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/depot/aec-rt-1934-batch/","section":"Posts","summary":"Postcards From The Past: Depicting 10 of London Transport’s 1934 AEC Regent AYV batch, alongside original chassis numbers and bodywork details.","title":"Ten AEC Regents new in 1934"},{"content":"Postcard From The Past: New York\u0026rsquo;s Elevated Railroads # New York’s Elevated Railroads: Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection.\nReverse of Postcard\nNew York City is famous for its elevated railroads and this is one of the most noted sections. At this point the elevation is higher than in any other part of the city, reaching a height equal to five storeys and requiring elevators at the station to take up and down the passengers.\nNew York’s Elevated Railroads: Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection.\nReverse of Postcard\nFour Elevated Railway Lines run from south to north in New York City and are operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Co. Highest point at 110th Street is 73 feet above street level.\nNew York’s Elevated Railroads: Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection.\nReverse of Postcard\nBroadway north of 33rd Street. Showing the McAlpin Hotel on the right, the Herald and Times Buildings in the distance. A great theatre and hotel district, brilliantly illuminated at night and usually known as the Great White Way.\nHistory #Video created by Forgotten Labor # Video created by NYC Nostalgia # Sources # Charles T. Harvey: Elevating Transit in 19th-Century New York City NYC Department of Records: Spotlight on Elevated and Street Railways ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/depot/nyc-elevated-railway/","section":"Posts","summary":"Postcards From The Past: New York City\u0026rsquo;s Elevated Railroads. The history of Manhattan’s 19th century railway system and its decline.","title":"New York City Elevated Railroad"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/categories/rail--track/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"Rail \u0026 Track"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/categories/memorabilia/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"Memorabilia"},{"content":" The Little Red Honesty Box: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nHistory #The box was designed for peak hour commuter rushes when a conductor simply couldn\u0026rsquo;t make it up and down the gangways or stairs before passengers reached their stops. Instead of letting passengers alight without paying, or risking passengers missing their stop while waiting for the conductor, management installed these small boxes on the bulkhead or near the platform. The notice on the front clearly instructed passengers: PLEASE PLACE UNCOLLECTED FARES IN THIS BOX.\nI\u0026rsquo;ve used many buses and trams over my many years and I have never seen a little red box. My theory is that the conductors were all super fit in those days and could race up and down the stairs collecting fares before any passenger could settle down to continue their journey.\nTo protect conductors from accusations of accounting discrepancies or fare skimming, the internal notices stated:\nThe boxes are emptied weekly, and the amount collected is not therefore related to a particular conductor.\nWhile the concept of an honesty box was tested by various transport operators across the UK from the 1920s through the post-war period, Glasgow Corporation Transport (GCT) was one of its most famous and long-standing proponents.\nAnother type of Honesty Box #Video created by Lee Loves Life # Sources # Revd Roger Farnworth Transport Blog: Glasgow Tramways Fare System Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/depot/honesty-box/","section":"Posts","summary":"The litter red metal box honesty box mounted near the entrance or exit platform of trams and buses and was in use until drivers started taking passenger fares.","title":"The Little Red Honesty Box"},{"content":"Postcard From The Past: A Day Out in Somerset on a Charabanc # 1920s charabanc excursion to Gough’s Caves, Cheddar. Real photo postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection. - Click image to enlarge\nI was looking through a rather disappointing batch of postcards I purchased recently, then I came across this little gem.\nAn early 1920s open top charabanc is packed with holidaymakers and they\u0026rsquo;re all dressed up in their Sunday best. At the rear, the heavy canvas hood sits neatly folded away, ready for the inevitable British downpour.\nSolid rubber tyres and wooden spoked artillery wheels carry the heavy chassis, making me wonder what the ride would be like. Can you imagine riding a vehicle these days that has solid tyres and wooden spokes running along our potholed roads?\nWhat makes this photograph particularly interesting is the detail captured right on the vehicle:\nThe Destination Sign: Hand-painted or chalked onto the running board is the inscription VISITING GOUGH\u0026rsquo;S CAVES CHEDDAR, pin pointing the party\u0026rsquo;s excursion through Somerset\u0026rsquo;s famous gorge. The Proprietor Markings: The shiny script on the bonnet reveals the operator Greene\u0026rsquo;s, with fleet number Number 243 neatly painted just below the scuttle. Local tour photographers frequently waited at popular tourist hubs like Cheddar Gorge to photograph arriving excursion coaches. By the time the passengers finished exploring the caves, finished their tea, or picked up souvenir rock, the postcard prints were already on display for the tourists to buy and take home.\nBack of Postcard # 1920s charabanc. Reverse side of postcard. Real photo postcard in the Vintage Buses Collection. - Click image to enlarge\nPublisher Stamp: The publisher logo in the stamp box shows W\u0026amp;K inside a shield/banner design. This is the logo of Wildt \u0026amp; Kray, a well known London based postcard publisher active in the early 20th century. Postcard Layout: The bilingual divider line Communication—Correspondance / Address—Adresse, confirms standard British production from the 1900s to 1920s. Sources # Stalbridge Archive Records Old Classic Car Charabanc Archive. Undivided Back Postcard Directory ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/depot/cheddar-charabanc/","section":"Posts","summary":"Postcard From The Past: A rare 1920s real photo postcard of an open top charabanc outing to Gough\u0026rsquo;s Caves in Cheddar, with running board destination sign.","title":"The Cheddar Charabanc"},{"content":"Postcard From The Past: R.M.S. Orcades (1949) # Orient Line official passenger postcard of R.M.S. Orcades (28,000 tons), posted at Port Said in September 1949. Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection. - Click image to enlarge\nVideo created by X-MarcosNavigator Music # History # 1945 to 1947: Ordered post WWII by the Orient Steam Navigation Company (Orient Line) as Yard No. 950 at the Vickers-Armstrongs shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness. 14 October 1947: The R.M.S. Orcade was launched. 14 November 1948: Completed and delivered to Orient Line as the company\u0026rsquo;s new 28,164 GRT flagship, costing £3,418,000 to build. 14 December 1948: Departed Tilbury on her maiden voyage to Australia and New Zealand via Gibraltar, Naples, Port Said, Aden, Colombo, Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. 7 May 1952: Ran aground in Port Phillip Bay off Rosebud Pier, Victoria, Australia, but was successfully refloated without structural damage. November 1956: Served as an accommodation ship moored in Melbourne during the 1956 Summer Olympics. 1959: Underwent a major refit at Harland \u0026amp; Wolff in Belfast. Air conditioning was extended throughout the ship, and a distinctive \u0026ldquo;stovepipe\u0026rdquo; (or \u0026ldquo;top hat\u0026rdquo;) soot dispersal top was fitted to her funnel. 1960: Transferred under full P\u0026amp;O ownership following P\u0026amp;O\u0026rsquo;s total takeover of the Orient Line shareholding. 1964: Converted into a single class tourist liner and repainted from her traditional \u0026ldquo;Orient corn\u0026rdquo; yellow hull to P\u0026amp;O standard white. 1960s to 1972: Operated on regular UK to Australia/New Zealand liner runs, transpacific liner services, and seasonal cruises. 13 October 1972: R.M.S. Orcade was officially taken out of active passenger service upon her return to the UK and laid up. 28 December 1972: The ship departed the UK under a skeleton crew bound for the Far East scrap yards at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The name \u0026lsquo;Orcades\u0026rsquo; # Classical Meaning: Orcades is the classical Latin name for the Orkney Islands off the northern coast of Scotland. Orient Line Naming Tradition: The Orient Line had a long-standing tradition of naming its vessels using words starting with the prefix \u0026ldquo;Or-\u0026rdquo;. This included ships like Orion, Orontes, Oronsay, and Orsova. Lineage: This vessel (launched in 1947) was actually the third Orient Line ship to bear the name. The second Orcades (built in 1937) was tragically torpedoed and sunk while serving as a troopship in World War II, leading the company to reuse the honoured name for their flagship post-war liner. Sources # Wikipedia: SS Orcades (1947) Orient Line RMS Orcades (III) - ssMaritime The Orient Liner Orcades of 1948 - P\u0026amp;O Heritage / P\u0026amp;O SN Co ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/depot/rms-orcades/","section":"Posts","summary":"Postcard From The Past: Orient Line\u0026rsquo;s 1948 liner RMS Orcades carried migrants to Australia and served as a 1956 Olympic hotel ship.","title":"R.M.S. Orcades (1949)"},{"content":"Postcard From The Past: The LNER 8783 Royal Train # LNER (ex GER) No. 8783, a 4-4-0 “Claud Hamilton” class D16/3 (rebuilt from D16/2) locomotive (July 1938). Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection. - Click image to enlarge\nHistory # 1923: Built at Stratford Works under the Great Eastern Railway (GER) design as Class H88 (\u0026ldquo;Super Claud\u0026rdquo; 4-4-0) and assigned LNER number 8783. 1930s: Selected along with No. 8787 as one of the dedicated \u0026ldquo;Royal Clauds\u0026rdquo; kept at Stratford Depot. Rebuilt around this period with a larger Gresley boiler and decorative copper capped chimney as Class D16/3, retaining immaculate LNER Apple Green livery for working Royal Trains to Wolferton. 1939: 1 June: Suffered a derailment when it collided with a lorry on an occupation crossing at Hilgay, Norfolk, while hauling a passenger train. It was subsequently repaired and returned to service. 1946: Renumbered to 2614 under the LNER 1946 renumbering scheme. 1948: 1 January: Passed into British Railways ownership following railway nationalisation. 1948 to 1950: Renumbered to 62614 under British Railways and eventually repainted from Apple Green into standard BR Lined Black. 1950s: Spent its final operating years allocated to King\u0026rsquo;s Lynn depot. 1958: 31 August: Formally withdrawn from service by British Railways. 1959: 31 January: Cut up for scrap at the Stratford Works. LNER Class D16 NO.8783: Moore, F, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Great Eastern Railway Society: S46/D56/H88 \u0026ldquo;Claud Hamilton\u0026rdquo; Class History LNER.info: The GER Holden D14, D15, D16 4-4-0 Class History Wikipedia: GER Classes S46, D56 and H88 (\u0026ldquo;Claud Hamiltons\u0026rdquo;) Preserved British Steam Locomotives: 8783 \u0026ldquo;Claud Hamilton\u0026rdquo; ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/depot/claud-monarch-train/","section":"Posts","summary":"Postcard From The Past: LNER \u0026lsquo;Claud Hamilton\u0026rsquo; 4-4-0 No. 8783 hauls the Royal Train to Wolferton near Sandringham in 1938.","title":"Royal Claud - the Monarch's Train"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/","section":"Posts","summary":"","title":"Snippets"},{"content":"Postcard From The Past: The No.6014 King Henry VII locomotive # GWR King Class 4-6-0 No. 6014 King Henry VII in experimental streamlined form (March 1935 Swindon Depot). From an original Real Photographs Co. (Liverpool). Postcard in the Vintage Transport Collection. - Click image to enlarge\nVideo created by British Pathé # History # 1928: Built at GWR Swindon Works (Lot 243) as part of the initial batch of twenty 6000 King Class 4-6-0 locomotives. Enters service allocated to Newton Abbot shed. 1935: Selected by GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer Charles Collett for experimental aerodynamic streamlining. Swindon fits a bullet nose over the smokebox door, cylinder fairings, buffer beam cowlings, safety valve shrouding, and a distinctive V-shaped front cab window. 1936 to 1937: Finding the bulbous nose casing and front cowlings restrictive for depot maintenance and cleaning, GWR staff progressively remove the front streamlined casing while retaining the V shaped cab. 1943: Final remnants of the front fairings are completely stripped during overhaul, leaving only the V-shaped cab front as a trace of the 1935 experiment. 1950: Reassigned to London\u0026rsquo;s Old Oak Common (81A) shed. 1954: Fitted with Alfloc water treatment equipment to reduce boiler scaling. 1957: Fitted with a double blast pipe and double chimney at Swindon to improve draughting, performance, and coal efficiency. 1959: Transferred to its final shed allocation at Wolverhampton Stafford Road. 1962: Officially withdrawn from service by British Railways after accumulating 1,830,386 operational miles. 1963: Sold to metal merchants Cox \u0026amp; Danks and broken up for scrap at their yard in Langley Green, Oldbury. Sources # Steam Locomotive Information – GWR No. 6014 Wikipedia: GWR 6000 Class The Great Western Archive Preserved British Steam Locomotives – GWR 6000 Class 6000–6029 History ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/bullet-nose-locomotive/","section":"Posts","summary":"Postcard From The Past: GWR King Class No. 6014 King Henry VII was fitted with a experimental bullet nose, one of Britain’s most unusual steam engines.","title":"The Bullet Nose Steam Locomotive"},{"content":" The Cradley Interchange Clock: Aldridge Transport Museum (December 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nText © Aldridge Transport Museum (December 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nCradley Interchange Clock at Cradley Heath: roger geach / Cradley Heath transport Interchange\nClick image to enlarge\nSource # Aldridge Transport Museum ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/cradley-interchange-clock/","section":"Posts","summary":"A historic clock from Cradley Heath Interchange, preserving a piece of local transport heritage and celebrating the area\u0026rsquo;s bus and rail history.","title":"The Cradley Interchange Clock"},{"content":" In the 1960s, Bluebird coaches lined up in Dundas Street on a Sunday morning:\nThomas Nugent / Dundas Street (2010)\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Sunday Mystery Tour #In the early part of the 1960s When I was a lad, we used to get up early and head for Glasgow city centre. We made our way to Queen Street railway station and turned into Dundas Street. Waiting for us there were three or four cream and blue coloured Bluebird coaches, run by W Alexander \u0026amp; Sons.\nSometimes we\u0026rsquo;d try the Mystery Tour, knowing full well we\u0026rsquo;d eventually end up in Callander anyway with the other coaches. There used to be very strict statutory controls regarding trading hours for retail shops in Scotland and most shops were closed on Sundays. Callander had a few hotels and were exempt from closing, holding special hotel exemption certificates.\nScotland is renowned for its unpredictable weather and although it may have been the middle of July, it did not stop the rain from spoiling your day - and it often did. I remember spending a lot of time sitting on the coach, not being able to venture out to visit the beauty spots.\nAs for the adults, if rain stopped them seeing the beauty of Callander and they were still in the hotel, then as bona fide travellers, they were legally entitled to purchase alcoholic drinks. Visitors to the hotels had to sign the hotel\u0026rsquo;s Traveler Register, stating that they had travelled at least a distance of three miles to reach the hotel.\nLeyland Tiger PSU1/15 (1952): Secret Coach Park, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nBluebird History # 1924: Walter Alexander, starting from humble beginnings with a cycle shop and carter business in Falkirk, rapidly expanded his motor bus service, adopting a distinctive blue livery that passengers quickly nicknamed Bluebird. 1929: The Scottish Motor Traction (SMT) group acquired a major financial interest in W. Alexander \u0026amp; Sons, tying the company into a massive network backed jointly by railway companies, while allowing the Bluebird identity to expand across central and northern Scotland. 1930s to the 1940s: Alexanders established a massive in-house body-building subsidiary (Alexander’s of Falkirk), ensuring that the fleet had a distinctively local Scottish style. 1950s to the 1960s: At their peak, the Bluebird fleets dominated routes ranging from local town services to long distance country runs. This era created the packed weekend and Sunday excursion runs. 1961: Due to massive post-war growth, W. Alexander \u0026amp; Sons was officially split into three separate regional operating companies: Alexander (Midland), Alexander (Northern), and Alexander (Fife). 1969: State takeover occurred when the Scottish Transport Group (STG) took ownership of the Alexander companies under government control, maintaining the blue heritage colors and regional service patterns. 1985 to 1991: In anticipation of bus deregulation, the state-owned Scottish Bus Group broke up its subsidiaries. The northern operations were repackaged as Northern Scottish, which was soon sold off to the Stagecoach Group in 1991 and officially rebranded back to Stagecoach Bluebird. Meanwhile, the central region became Midland Bluebird. Present Day: The Bluebird legacy survives through Stagecoach Bluebird operating extensively across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and Moray, alongside preserved vehicles lovingly kept alive by enthusiasts at groups like the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust and the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum in Lathalmond, Fife. AEC Regal Mk I 0662 (1946): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond Fife (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/2 (1960): GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (July 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/2 (1960): Pimlico Badger, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Leopard PSU3G/4R (1981): GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Reliance 2MU3RV (1960): bilbobagweed, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Reliance 2MU3RV (1962): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond Fife (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Our Stories: The Clippies \u0026amp; Walter Alexander The Bellman: Stonehaven and the Bluebrids Wikipedia: Stagecoach Bluebird ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/bluebird-alexander/","section":"Posts","summary":"This familiar bluebird logo on W Alexander coaches brings back fond memories of Sunday trips to visit lovely Scottish towns and go on the mystery tours.","title":"Alexander's Bluebird Coaches"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/categories/fleets/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"Fleets"},{"content":" Volvo B10M with Alexander Q body (1994): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025) History # 1994: Entered service new with Ulsterbus as fleet number 1516 (registration DAZ 1516), featuring a Volvo B10M-62 chassis fitted with Alexander Belfast Q-type bodywork. 2014: Withdrawn from active service with Ulsterbus/Translink and purchased by Marbill Coaches in Beith, Ayrshire. 2022: Purchased by private owners and entered preservation. 2025: April, restored to original Ulsterbus livery and displayed at the Irish Transport Heritage Rally in Belfast. 2025: August, relocated to Scotland to attend the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Open Weekend in Lathalmond, running shuttle services between the museum and Halbeath Park \u0026amp; Ride / Dunfermline. Volvo B10M with Alexander Q body (1994): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nVolvo B10M with Alexander Q body (1994): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nVideo by Bus\u0026amp;TrainChaser Sources # The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Classic Buses: Ulsterbus History Record Wikipedia: Volvo B10M ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/volvo-b10m/","section":"Posts","summary":"DAZ 1516 is a 1994 Volvo B10M-16 with an Alexander Q body. Entered service with Ulsterbus as fleet number 1516, preserved at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum.","title":"Volvo B10M/Alexander Q"},{"content":" Seddon Pennine 7 (1976): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025) History # 1976: Built as a Seddon Pennine 7 chassis equipped with a six cylinder Gardner 6HLXB horizontal engine and fitted with an Alexander M-Type motorway express coach body (C42Ft). Delivered new to Scottish Omnibuses Ltd (Eastern Scottish), allocated fleet number XS 750 (later XS 750 A). 1976 to 1980s: Operated primary long distance Anglo-Scottish express services, including the Edinburgh to London route via motorway, wearing the iconic Scottish Bus Group blue and white livery. Post-Service: Withdrawn from active service and subsequently purchased for preservation, becoming the only operational restored Alexander M-Type coach in existence. 2010s to Present: Maintained by the 750 Coach Group and regularly exhibited/operated on shuttle services at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum in Lathalmond. March 2023: Modeled by Oxford Diecast as a 1:76 scale diecast replica (Ref: 76AMT001) in its Eastern Scottish blue and white express livery. Seddon Pennine 7 (1976): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nSeddon Pennine 7 (1976): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Wikipedia: The Seddon Pennine 7 Die-cast Seddon Pennine 7 model ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/seddon-pennine7/","section":"Posts","summary":"MSF 750P is a 1976 Seddon Pennine 7 coach with a Gardner engine and Alexander body, built for Eastern Scottish express routes and now preserved at Lathalmond.","title":"Seddon Pennine 7 (1976)"},{"content":" Leyland Titan PD1/3 (1947): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nText: © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nHistory # 1880: Oldham Corporation built its first standard gauge horse tramway lines. However, the corporation did not operate them directly. Instead, they leased the lines to the Manchester Carriage and Tramways Company. 1899: The Oldham Corporation Act of 1899 granted the municipality the power to construct and directly operate its own electric tramway system. 1900: The first corporation operated electric tram route opened on 15 December, running from the Chadderton boundary to Rochdale Road. 1913: The Corporation experimented with its very first motorbuses, purchasing two petrol-electric vehicles to run a short route from the Town Hall to the Coppice. 1924: Permanent, regular motorbus services commenced to link Mumps and Hollinwood railway stations, expanding rapidly over the next decade to counter unregulated private competition. 1925: The corporation introduced a short-lived trolleybus system on 26 August to replace trams on the route to Ashton-under-Lyne. Due to severe vibration issues on cobbled streets, it was abandoned just over a year later in September 1926. 1933: In August, the department formally changed its name to Oldham Corporation Passenger Transport to reflect the massive growth of its bus network relative to the declining tramway system. 1946: Following delays caused by the Second World War, the very last municipal tram ran on 3 August, leaving Oldham as a purely bus-operated network. 1965: The corporation suffered a major operational blow when a Ministry of Transport inspection suddenly flagged mechanical defects in 97 of its buses, forcing the network to urgently borrow 45 vehicles from neighboring towns to keep services running. 1966: The long-standing traditional crimson and lake vehicle livery was modernized to a distinctive pommard (a deep claret/burgundy red) and cream colour scheme. 1969: At midnight on the 31 October, Oldham Corporation Passenger Transport officially ceased to exist. On the 1 November, its entire fleet, assets, and routes were absorbed into the newly created SELNEC PTE (South East Lancashire and North East Cheshire Passenger Transport Executive), which consolidated municipal transport across the Greater Manchester region. Leyland Titan PD2/20 (1957): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nText: © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Tramway systems of the British Isles Wikipedia: Trolleybuses in Oldham Museum of Transport Greater Manchester ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/oldham-corporation/","section":"Posts","summary":"Oldham Corporation Transport operated electric trams and Leyland buses in Lancashire from 1900 until joining SELNEC PTE on November 1, 1969.","title":"Oldham Corporation Passenger Transport"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/categories/oddities/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"Oddities"},{"content":" The Dalzell bicycle (1846): Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nText © Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nScotland\u0026rsquo;s oldest bicycle: Dalzell vs MacMillan # Gavin Dalzell\u0026rsquo;s Claim (1845/1846)\nExhibit: Gavin Dalzell, a draper from Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, built a rear-wheel treadle-operated bicycle. Recognition: His machine was prominently displayed at Glasgow\u0026rsquo;s 1888 International Exhibition and hailed as the \u0026ldquo;first bicycle\u0026rdquo;. Surviving Artifact: The original Dalzell vehicle remains in the collection of Glasgow\u0026rsquo;s Riverside Museum. Kirkpatrick MacMillan\u0026rsquo;s Counterclaim (1839/1840)\nCampaign: In the 1890s, James Johnston campaigned publicly (via articles in The Scottish Cyclist) asserting his relative, Dumfriesshire blacksmith Kirkpatrick MacMillan, created a treadle bicycle six years prior to Dalzell. Outcome: MacMillan was posthumously crowned the inventor of the pedal bicycle in popular British history. ◦ Resource: Details on the Kirkpatrick MacMillan Controversy. Lack of Contemporary Evidence\nJohnston\u0026rsquo;s campaign relied on 50-year-old personal memories and secondary accounts rather than contemporary 1839 patents, newspaper logs, or physical evidence. Neither MacMillan\u0026rsquo;s nor Dalzell\u0026rsquo;s treadle mechanisms were patented or mass-produced; thus, neither directly influenced the commercial evolution toward the modern safety bicycle. Conclusion\nWhile Dalzell\u0026rsquo;s machine in Glasgow is regarded by curators as one of the earliest surviving pedal-operated cycles, cycling historians consider the 1860s French designs (Michaux/Lallement) to be the verifiable origin of the pedal-operated bicycle. Video by Evolution Of Things\nSources # Riverside Museum Glasgow Kirkpatrick MacMillan Karl Drais (1817) ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/oldest-scottish-bicycle/","section":"Posts","summary":"Gavin Dalzell built a treadle bicycle in 1846, hailed in 1888 as the first until MacMillan’s earlier 1839 claim sparked a lasting debate.","title":"Oldest Scottish Bicycle"},{"content":" The Old Stage The heavy doors swing back with iron grace,\nA diesel heartbeat rumbles on the stone,\nShe takes her corner at the market place,\nAn elder stateswoman, retired and lone.\nThe destination blind still shows the coast,\nThrough scratched blue glass where rainy shadows fell,\nOf all the fleet, she was the people\u0026rsquo;s boast,\nWhen every passenger knew the driver well.\nThe ticket machine clicked out its paper prize,\nWhile conductor’s bell rang sharp above the din,\nNow silent under grease and heavy skies,\nWith ghosts of travellers still tucked within.\nWishart Frankfield (June 1962) ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/poem-the-old-stage/","section":"Posts","summary":"Poem: A bittersweet tribute to the golden age of public transport, capturing the quiet echo of wheels, bells, and memories left behind.","title":"Poem: The Old Stage"},{"content":" BMMO S.O.S. SON (1940): Aldridge Transport Museum The Trent Motor Traction Company #Formed in 1913, the Trent Motor Traction Company quickly became the backbone of public transport across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and the wider East Midlands. Operating out of its headquarters in Derby, Trent established a massive network connecting industrial towns and rural villages alike. Unlike many operators who relied strictly on standard chassis manufacturers,\nTrent had close corporate ties with the Birmingham \u0026amp; Midland Motor Omnibus Company (BMMO, better known as Midland Red). This unique partnership allowed Trent to acquire BMMO’s famous \u0026ldquo;S.O.S.\u0026rdquo; design buses during the 1920s and 1930s. These buses were lightweight highly reliable vehicles custom-built to handle demanding daily work.\nBMMO S.O.S. SON (1940): Text © Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nBMMO S.O.S. SON (1940): Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nBMMO S.O.S. SON (1940): Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nBMMO S.O.S. SON (1940): Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nBMMO S.O.S. SON (1940): Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Aldridge Transport Museum Wikipedia: Midland Red ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/bmmo-sos-son/","section":"Posts","summary":"This BMMO SON was in service with Trent Motor Traction until 1954 and was sold. The company then bought the vehicle back and refurbished it.","title":"BMMO S.O.S. SON (1940)"},{"content":" Manchester Corporation Transport admin staff\nText © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nHistory # 1899: Manchester Corporation obtains powers to build and operate an electric tramway network. Manchester Corporation Tramways is created. 1901: The corporation runs its first electric tram route on 6 June between Albert Square and Cheetham Hill. Takes over municipal transit from private horse-drawn operations. 1906: The department purchases its first motor buses. The buses serve as feeder routes to the primary electric tramway network. 1918: The entire tram network is temporarily shut down. The closure was ordered by Manchester\u0026rsquo;s Medical Officer of Health to curb the spread of the Spanish Flu epidemic. 1928: The tram network reaches its peak and operates nearly 1,000 trams over 292 miles of track, transporting over 320 million passengers annually. 1929: Renamed Manchester Corporation Transport Department (MCTD). Motor buses begin systematically replacing older tram lines under General Manager Stuart Pilcher. 1938: The department introduces its first electric trolleybus routes as part of the strategy to phase out traditional street trams. 1949: Final street tram route (to Stockport) closes on 10 January. MCTD becomes an operation run strictly with motor buses and trolleybuses. 1966: Renamed Manchester City Transport. The final trolleybus line (to Ashton-under-Lyne) in December is permanently converted to standard motor bus operation. 1969: Manchester City Transport ceases independent existence on 1 November and is bsorbed into the SELNEC Passenger Transport Executive under the Transport Act 1968. The Corporation\u0026rsquo;s Buses # Leyland Tiger TS2 (1930): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Tiger TS2 (1930): Text © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan TD3 chassis (1934): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan TD3 (1934): Text © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nCrossley DD42/8S (1949): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nCrossley DD42/8S (1949): Text © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan PD2/34 (1958): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan PD2/34 (1958): Text © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Museum of Transport Greater Manchester History of public transport authorities in Manchester Manchester Corporation Tramways Local Transport History: Manchester ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/manchester-corporation-transport/","section":"Posts","summary":"Manchester Corporation Transport operated trams, buses, and trolleybuses in Greater Manchester, defining civic transit from 1901 until 1969.","title":"Manchester Corporation Transport"},{"content":" Image generated with AI. Click image to enlarge\nVintageTransport.org #VintageTransport.org is a personal website which has no advertisements and has nothing to sell. The site does not use Google Analytics or invasive tracking scripts. Instead, it uses GoatCounter, a privacy-first tool that only records high-level, non-personal data such as referring websites, device type, browser, and general country of origin. No cookies are used, and no personal information is ever collected or tracked.\nA quick look \u0026lsquo;Under The Bonnet\u0026rsquo; # This website is built with the Hugo Static Site Generator, which converts Markdown files into HTML pages. Visual Studio Code is used to create posts and for general editing. Netlify hosts this website The operating system used is Linux Mint. Python is used for writing scripts to modify posts in bulk. Artwork: clipart is from the royalty-free GSP Collection. When AI images are used, they will be labelled as such. The Posts #You\u0026rsquo;ll find out more about me and some posts will be like a how-to with hints and tips that helped build this website. Those of you curious about Linux will see some examples of its command line in action along with some Python 3 scripts.\nUpdate #As of 14 November 2026 VintageBuses.org changed to VintageTransport.org, expanding to include rail and maritime and introducing Transport Postcards.\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/under-the-bonnet/","section":"Under the Bonnet","summary":"Have a look \u0026lsquo;Under The Bonnet\u0026rsquo; of Vintage Buses. Find out how this personal website is structrured, the tools it used and the lessons learned.","title":"Under the Bonnet"},{"content":"Early Origins: the Holt Bros #The business began in Rochdale around 1902 when Robert Holt established a parcel delivery service using a pony and cart, soon joining forces with his brother Ernest as Holt Bros. In 1910, they converted a Foden steam lorry into a weekend passenger charabanc—a maiden voyage to Hollingworth Lake.\nHolt Bros acquired its first purpose-built motor charabanc in May 1913. Its bright yellow bodywork prompted staff at the depot to announce, \u0026ldquo;The Yellow Car has arrived!\u0026rdquo;, coining the trading name Holts Yellow Cars. Incorporated as Holt Bros (Rochdale) Ltd in November 1915, the firm expanded through the 1920s.\nYelloway Services # 1926 to 1927: The company purchases its first luxury coaches on Reo chassis. The fleet name \u0026ldquo;Yelloway Services\u0026rdquo; appears on the sides of vehicles for the first time. 1929: A regular summer express service from Lancashire to Devon (Torquay) is formally introduced, cementing Yelloway\u0026rsquo;s famous North West-to-South Coast route network. 1932: Following financial restructuring during the Great Depression, the company officially re-incorporates under new leadership as Yelloway Motor Services Limited. 1935: After experimenting with various short-lived liveries (including chocolate brown, orange, and navy blue), Yelloway standardises its iconic burnt orange and cream livery, which remains its trademark look for the rest of its independent existence. 1944: To clear debts during wartime fuel and route restrictions, Yelloway sells its Rochdale–Manchester stage carriage route to Manchester, Rochdale, and Oldham Corporations. 1947 to 1955: Major post-war expansion under long-serving Managing Director Hubert Allen. Yelloway acquires several local competitors, including Brierley Brothers / Creams (Lancashire) Ltd in 1947 and Holts of Oldham Ltd in 1955. 1950s to 1970s: The AEC Reliance coach chassis becomes Yelloway\u0026rsquo;s standard vehicle choice for over 15 years, usually paired with distinctive, high-specification bodies built by Plaxton or Burlingham. 1976: Yelloway enters a major rationalisation agreement with state-owned National Travel. 1985: Following the retirement of Hubert Allen (after nearly 58 years with the business), Yelloway is sold to Carlton PSV Sales Ltd. 1986 to 1988: Following UK bus deregulation in October 1986, Yelloway branches briefly into local stage-carriage bus routes using second-hand double-deckers. The long-distance coach business is stripped and transferred to National Travel (East), leading to the final demise of the original company under Crosville Motor Services by late 1988. AEC Alliance 2MU3RA (1961): Transport Museum Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nText © Transport Museum Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Alliance 6U3ZR (1975): Transport Museum Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nText © Transport Museum Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nPreservation \u0026amp; Revival Legacy #Yelloway maintains an active preservation movement led by the Yelloway Mobile Museum (based at Bury Transport Museum). The trademark rights were acquired by Courtesy Coaches in 2008, keeping the iconic brand active on modern coaches.\nSources # Yelloway Mobile Museum Local Transport History PDF: Holt Bros Local Transport History: Yelloway Motor Services Yellow Coached Heritage \u0026amp; Archive ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/yelloway/","section":"Posts","summary":"Yelloway was one of the longest-surviving, highly respected independent express coach operators in the UK, remaining director-managed for over eight decades.","title":"Yelloway Motor Services"},{"content":" 1940s street view. Black Country Living Museum I visited the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley on 10 July 2026 when the temperature was 34°C. It was a similar temperature the day before when travelling from Scotland by train. It was too much for the overcrowded train\u0026rsquo;s air-conditioning.\nThe Black Country Living Museum is a remarkable open-air museum that spans 26 acres and brings the world\u0026rsquo;s first industrial landscape to life. Set inside a meticulously reconstructed period village, it tells the story of an area that became the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution thanks to its rich deposits of coal, ironstone, and limestone.\nThe museum captures the gritty, everyday reality of working-class life in the West Midlands. Visitors can venture down a recreated underground coal mine, watch traditional chain-making demonstrations in a fiery forge, or grab a portion of famous fish and chips cooked traditionally in beef dripping (absolutely delicious). It is a place where history isn\u0026rsquo;t locked behind glass, making it the perfect backdrop for a nostalgic look at times gone by.\nLyons Tea Van. Commer N1 (1938): Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nCaptain Mainwaring lookalike: Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\n1940s/1960s street: Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nFord E83W (1955): Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nA 1940s Co-Operative grocery store: Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nInterior of a 1940s Co-Operative grocery store: Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nFord Model AA (1932): Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nWorld War II posters: Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nSmall shops from the 1940s: Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nFord Model Y (1937): Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nA 1940s street: Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nLord Ward’s Canal Arm: Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nTrolleybuses: Blue Sunbeam F4A (1955), green/yellow Sunbeam W (1946)\nBlack Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nWesleyan Home Missions gospel car: Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nMorris 8 Slope Eye (1939): Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nWorld War II GMC CCKW 353 truck: Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nRetro-style Lincoln minibus (1985): Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nGuy Special reg. MXX 340: Black Country Living Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nOriginally built as GS40 for London Transport. The \u0026ldquo;Guy Special\u0026rdquo; phased out by 1961. In 1963 it joined the West Bromwich Corporation as fleet number 252. It was the last bus to wear the Corporation\u0026rsquo;s colours before the fleet was absorbed into the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) and ended service in 1973.\nSources # The Black Country Living Museum SCT61 ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/black-country-living-museum/","section":"Posts","summary":"The Black Country Living Museum is a remarkable open-air museum that covers 26 acres and tells the story of the world\u0026rsquo;s first industrial landscape.","title":"The Black Country Living Museum"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/categories/pdf/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"PDF"},{"content":" Leyland Tiger TS7T (1936): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond (August 2025) The extra \u0026ldquo;T\u0026rdquo; in the chassis designation stands for Trailing Axle, a three-axle (six-wheel) rigid chassis layout. In the 1930s, UK regulations permitted longer vehicle bodies if they utilised a third axle to distribute the weight safely. This meant that bus operators could could increase the amount of seats to carry more passengers.\nLeyland Tiger TS7T (1936) # Leyland Tiger TS7T (1936): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nRegistration: ATF 477 Built: 1936 Chassis: Leyland Tiger TS7T Body : Coachwork built by Fowler Configuration: It is configured as C39F, a luxury Coach with 39 seats and a Front entrance. Original Operator: Singleton, an operator based in Leyland, Lancashire Leyland Tiger TS7T (1936): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum SCT'61 ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/tiger_ts7t/","section":"Posts","summary":"Six wheels on my wagon – this 1936 Leyland Tiger with the special designation TS7T had an extra axle, which meant it was longer, hence more passengers.","title":"The Six-Wheeled Leyland Tiger TS7T"},{"content":"Saunders-Roe (Anglesey) #Best known for building advanced flying boats (like the massive Saunders-Roe Princess) and later the world’s first modern hovercraft (the SR.N1), Saunders-Roe found its marine and aviation orders drying up immediately after World War II. To keep their highly skilled metalworkers employed, they pivoted to commercial coachbuilding, utilising their specialised knowledge of lightweight, corrosion-resistant aircraft-grade aluminum alloy.\nThe result was the famous, ultra-lightweight \u0026ldquo;Rivaloy\u0026rdquo; bus body, which became a vital solution for bus operators starved of steel and timber in post-war Britain.\nSaro (Saunders-Roe) Flying Boat (1937) # A Saro London flying boat of No. 204 Squadron Royal Air Force (1930s): Air Ministry Photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nDelivery Date: April 1937 Registration/Serial Number: K5911 Squadron: No. 204 Squadron RAF Base: RAF Mount Batten, Plymouth Rivaloy Bus (1953) # Daimler Freeline with Saunders-Roe aluminum body: 111 Emergency from New Zealand, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nThis bus is one of initial batch of 90 Daimler Freelines ordered by Auckland. While the very first vehicle of the order was exported fully built from the Welsh shipyard, bus 201 was shipped across the globe in a Unit Knocked-Down (CKD) wooden crate layout.\nYear Built: 1953 Fleet Number: 201 Registration: AFU950 (Originally registered as EZ2454) Chassis: Daimler Freeline D650HS (Chassis No. 25081) Bodywork: Saunders-Roe \u0026ldquo;Rivaloy\u0026rdquo; (B44D configuration: 44 seats, dual-door) AEC Regent III (1954) # A40 Saunders-Roe AEC Regent Liverpool City Transport Open Day Burscough June 2012: calflier001, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nYear Built: 1954 (Entered service November 1954) Fleet Number: A40 Registration: NKD 540 Chassis: AEC Regent III Bodywork: Saunders-Roe H32/26R (58 seats, rear entrance) Location: Merseyside Transport Trust (MTT) Saunders-Roe SRN 4 Mk 3 Hovercraft # The Princess Anne Saunders Roe SRN 4 Mk 3 ariving at Calais: Joost J. Bakker from IJmuiden, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nYear Built: 1968 (Stretched to Mark 3 configuration in 1978) Name / Fleet Number: The Princess Anne (GH-2007) Registration / ID: BHC Serial No. 04 / SR.N4 Mk 3 Type: Mountbatten-class Passenger/Vehicle Hovercraft (Amphibious ACV) Powerplant: 4 × Rolls-Royce Marine Proteus gas-turbine engines (15,200 shp total) Capacity: 427 passengers and 60 cars Location: Preserved as the premier display exhibit at The Hovercraft Museum, Lee-on-the-Solent. End Of An Era # The former Saunders Roe site at Beaumaris (6) by Mike Searle, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Saunders-Roe name finally vanished from Anglesey in 1968. The parent company had already sold its aviation and hovercraft interests to Westland Aircraft. The Beaumaris and Llangefni operations were merged with the engineering division of Birkenhead shipbuilders Cammell Laird to form a new entity: Laird (Anglesey) Ltd.\nIn 1996, Laird (Anglesey) was acquired by the German engineering firm FAUN (part of the KIRCHHOFF Group). FAUN officially ceased operations at the Beaumaris site, moving the entirety of the manufacturing business into a purpose-built, modern facility just up the road in Llangefni.\nThe Beaumaris site closed for good in 1997.\nSources # The view from the North Commercial Motor Archive New Zealand Bus Museum Imperial War Museum National Historic Ships UK ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/flying-boats-buses/","section":"Posts","summary":"From flying boats to 1950s buses. How post-war shortages forced a maritime aircraft builder to engineer the world’s lightest aluminum bus bodies.","title":"Flying Boats \u0026 Buses"},{"content":"Greater Manchester Bus Conductor Uniforms # Conductor uniform 1900s: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nConductor uniform 1940s: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nConductor uniform 1980s: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nGlasgow Corporation Bus Conductor Uniforms # Wartime clippie 1940-1945: Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nConductress uniform 1950s: Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nClippie uniform from the late 1950s, although the beret is from the 1940s.: Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nGCT Inspector uniform 1950s: Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nGCT inspector uniform, 1950s. Glasgow Corporation Transport depot inspector\u0026rsquo;s uniform. GCT cap badge with wreath was used to differentiate inspectors from regular conductors.\nSources # Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester GVVT: Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow Riverside Museum, Glasgow ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/transport-uniforms/","section":"Posts","summary":"When we had bus conductors, they were well turned out in their smart uniforms.  Manchester and Glasgow\u0026rsquo;s transport systems were fine examples of that.","title":"Bus Conductor Uniforms"},{"content":" \u0026lsquo;B\u0026rsquo; type bus from London converted into a pigeon loft for use in Northern France and Belgium during the Great War.: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons London\u0026rsquo;s Battle Buses: the \u0026lsquo;B\u0026rsquo; type #The very first \u0026lsquo;B\u0026rsquo; type bus began carrying fare-paying passengers on London streets in 1911 for the the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC). They were an instant hit for their mechanical reliability, and by 1914, over 2,500 of them had been built, effectively wiping out London\u0026rsquo;s horse-drawn buses.\nWithin days of Britain declaring war in August 1914, the War Department began actively requisitioning civilian motor transport, completely halting commercial bus production in the capital. By October of that year, the military had commandeered over 1,000 London General Omnibus Company double-deckers, 33% of London’s entire bus fleet.\nTroops embussing in Arras to go back for a rest having taken part in the Battle of Arras.: John Warwick Brooke, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nTroops embussing in Arras to go back for a rest having taken part in the Battle of Arras. The buses being used are London \u0026lsquo;B\u0026rsquo; type buses, some 1,300 of which were requisitioned by the army in October 1914 as troop-carriers on the Western Front. Taken in May 1917. John Warwick Brooke\nThe Royal Engineers Signals Service on the Western Front, 1914-1918: McLellan, David (Second Lieutenant) (Photographer), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nA former London double-decker bus (B.2125), camouflage painted, used as a travelling loft for carrier-pigeons. Pernes, 26 June 1918. Note the four-compartment wicker basket in which the pigeons were carried up the line. McLellan, David (Second Lieutenant) (Photographer)\nCarrier pigeons: A bus converted into a mobile pigeon loft on the Western Front (1916): John Warwick Brooke, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\n‘B’ type bus B340 London Transport Museum: Timitrius from Great Britain, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nVideo by: @CitytransportInfoplus A Heavy Toll #When the guns finally fell silent in 1918, the process of counting the cost began. Of the 1,300 London \u0026lsquo;B\u0026rsquo; type buses that had swapped the smooth streets of the capital for the cratered tracks of the Western Front, only about 25% made it back to Britain. Others had been cannibalised for parts, worn to iron filings, or left behind as skeletal remains in French fields.\nThe buses fared better than the animals; of the hundreds of thousands of horses sent to face the mud and shellfire, only 10% made it back to Britain. More importantly, roughly 88% of all British service personnel survived the conflict, some with severe wounds. The frontline infantrymen these buses carried left behind hundreds of thousands of comrades in the soil of Flanders and Arras.\nResources # London Buses during WW1 History of the LGOC B-type bus Battle Bus: going back to the Somme ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/battle-buses/","section":"Posts","summary":"In 1916, the British Army experimented with a completely different kind of camouflage using London\u0026rsquo;s civilian workhorses: the LGOC B-type double-decker.","title":"Battle Buses"},{"content":" Photograph of my personal copy of the book. Bus \u0026amp; Coach Recognition (Veteran \u0026amp; Vintage) 1989 by G B Wise #This is certainly a handy little book (5″ × 7¼″) to take with you when visiting vintage bus museums. It has 160 pages, 187 black \u0026amp; white photographs and in-depth information of each make and model from ADC (Associated Daimler Co. Ltd) to the Vulcan.\nThe layout of the book is uniform throughout. For each vehicle the build date, bodywork type, engine and wheelbase lengths are given. Typical bodywork makes are listed and in the very useful Recognition Features section, descriptions in great detail are given for the radiator types, the badges and the bodywork differences between each bodywork manufacturer, along with other differences between new and old versions of the buses.\nThe General Remarks section gives you the history of the manufacturers and the production start and end dates of each bus.\nIn the Appendix there are 25 photographs of radiator fronts, very handy for quick vintage bus recognition.\nThe long history of these fine vintage buses is laid out in a factual manner and a lot of work has gone into collating all the specifcations of each vehicle. This book is a very handy companion and in itself, makes an interesting read.\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/review_bus_coach_recognition/","section":"Posts","summary":"One of the most in-depth books I\u0026rsquo;ve come across about vintage buses and coaches. A very handy reference guide that is just the right size to carry.","title":"Book review: Bus \u0026 Coach Recognition (Veteran \u0026 Vintage)"},{"content":" Leyland Tiger Cub (1961): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/2 # Registration: RMS 714 Built: 1961 Chassis: Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/2 Body: Alexander C41F Engine: Leyland O.350 5.8-litre inline-four, around 91hp Gearbox: Leyland pneumocyclic 4-speed semi-automatic Original Operator: W Alexander \u0026amp; Sons: Fleet number FPD225 Scottish Vintage Bus Museum. Embedded historical image © unknown original photographer. Text © vehicle owner.\nLeyland Tiger Cub (1961): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Tiger Cub (1961): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Tiger Cub (1961): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Tiger Cub (1961): Geof Sheppard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Tiger Cub (1961): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nVideos # Video by: @ThingsWithEngines Video by: @Bus\u0026amp;TrainChaser Resources # Visit Gloucestershire Flickr Phototrans.eu ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/tiger-cub-1961/","section":"Posts","summary":"This Alexander-bodied (Fife) Leyland Tiger Cub is an uncommon survivor, particularly in its restored period livery. The Cub was reliable and economical.","title":"Leyland Tiger Cub 1961"},{"content":" Bristol Lodekka (1957): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025) Bristol Lodekka LD6G (1957) # Date New: July 1957 Registration No.: OWS 620 Original Operator: Scottish Omnibuses Fleet Number: AA620 Bodywork: by Eastern Coach Works (ECW) of Lowestoft, Suffolk. H33/27R seating configuration Highbridge layout . Engine \u0026amp; Mechanics: The \u0026ldquo;6G\u0026rdquo; in its LD6G chassis code indicates it is powered by a Gardner 6LW 6-cylinder diesel engine, paired with a 4-speed manual constant-mesh (commonly known as a \u0026ldquo;crash\u0026rdquo;) gearbox. Bristol Lodekka (1957): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nBristol Lodekka (1957): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nBristol Lodekka (1957): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # BCV Robsly The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/bristol_lodekka_1957/","section":"Posts","summary":"This is an exceptional example of a first-generation Bristol Lodekka LD6G, originally delivered new in July 1957 to Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. (Eastern Scottish).","title":"Bristol Lodekka 1957"},{"content":" Daimler CVD6 (1950): photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond Daimler CVD6 Tour Bus DCS 616 #Luxury Coach 1950 to 1957\nChassis: Daimler CVD6 Engine: Daimler 8.6-litre CD6 diesel engine Gearbox: 4-speed Wilson pre-selector epicyclic transmission with a Daimler Fluid Flywheel Bodywork: Irvine of Salsburgh. Original Operator: Delivered new in 1950 to Andrew Hunter of Dreghorn (Ayrshire), who operated it as part of the A1 Service. Converted to Double-Decker Bus 1957/1958\nConversion by: Massey Brothers of Wigan New Body: Highbridgye double-decker H33/28RD Seating: 33 seats upper deck, 28 seats lower deck Passenger entrance: Rear platform entrance with doors Daimler CVD6 Half cab bus (1948). This is how DCS616 may have looked before the transformation: Les Chatfield, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nLEFT: Daimler CVD6 Coach(1948): Les Chatfield, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nRIGHT: Daimler CVD6 (1950) Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nDCS 616 History\n1958: Continued operation for Hunter/A1 Services as a double-decker bus, working various routes in Ayrshire. 1972: Ceased frontline service with Hunter/A1 Service. 1973: Purchased for preservation. 1987: Acquired by preservationist R. Wallace of Edinburgh, who structurally altered the bus to an open-top layout. July 1987: Placed into operational service with Midland Scottish Omnibuses Limited, who managed and ran the Stirling Heritage Tours. 1992: DCS 616 concluded its open-top touring service for Midland Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. The vehicle is currently preserved at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum in Lathalmond, where you can ride on the bus on Open Days. Daimler CVD6 (1950): photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nDaimler CVD6 (1950): photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nDaimler CV6 (1950) lowerdeck: photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nDaimler CVD6 (1950) cab: photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nHere is a 1950 Daimler CVD6 operating as a single-deck bus: Geof Sheppard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # UK Classic Bus Photographs SCT61.org.uk Scottish Vintage Bus Museum ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/the_coach_that_got_bigger/","section":"Posts","summary":"A fascinating case of transformation. Built as a single-decker luxury coach in 1950, it was converted in 1958 into a double-decker bus.","title":"The Coach That Got Bigger"},{"content":"Please use the form below to get in touch with VintageTransport.org.\nYour Name Email Address Your Message Submit Message Message sent ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/contact/","section":"Home","summary":"\u003cp\u003ePlease use the form below to get in touch with VintageTransport.org.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"max-w-xl py-4\"\u003e\n  \u003cform id=\"contact-form\" action=\"https://api.web3forms.com/submit\" method=\"POST\" class=\"space-y-6\"\u003e\n    \u003cinput type=\"hidden\" name=\"access_key\" value=\"d5258d5b-2b3e-49a8-aefd-3333ebcd6f90\"\u003e\n\n    \n    \u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-col\"\u003e\n      \u003clabel for=\"name\" class=\"mb-1 font-semibold text-neutral-800 dark:text-neutral-200\"\u003eYour Name\u003c/label\u003e\n      \u003cinput type=\"text\" name=\"name\" id=\"name\" required class=\"w-full rounded border border-neutral-300 bg-transparent px-3 py-2 text-neutral-800 dark:border-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-200\"\u003e\n    \u003c/div\u003e\n\n    \n    \u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-col\"\u003e\n      \u003clabel for=\"email\" class=\"mb-1 font-semibold text-neutral-800 dark:text-neutral-200\"\u003eEmail Address\u003c/label\u003e\n      \u003cinput type=\"email\" name=\"email\" id=\"email\" required class=\"w-full rounded border border-neutral-300 bg-transparent px-3 py-2 text-neutral-800 dark:border-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-200\"\u003e\n    \u003c/div\u003e\n\n    \n    \u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-col\"\u003e\n      \u003clabel for=\"message\" class=\"mb-1 font-semibold text-neutral-800 dark:text-neutral-200\"\u003eYour Message\u003c/label\u003e\n      \u003ctextarea name=\"message\" id=\"message\" rows=\"5\" required class=\"w-full rounded border border-neutral-300 bg-transparent px-3 py-2 text-neutral-800 dark:border-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-200\"\u003e\u003c/textarea\u003e\n    \u003c/div\u003e\n\n    \n    \u003cdiv\u003e\n      \u003cbutton type=\"submit\" \n              id=\"submit-btn\"\n              style=\"background-color: #462814; color: #facc15;\" \n              class=\"cursor-pointer rounded px-6 py-2.5 font-bold transition hover:opacity-90 focus:outline-none\"\u003e\n        Submit Message\n      \u003c/button\u003e\n    \u003c/div\u003e\n\n    \n    \u003cdiv id=\"form-result\" \n         style=\"display: none; background-color: #dcfce7; color: #000000; border: 1px solid #86efac;\" \n         class=\"rounded px-4 py-3 font-bold\"\u003e\n      Message sent\n    \u003c/div\u003e\n  \u003c/form\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cscript\u003e\n  const form = document.getElementById('contact-form');\n  const resultBanner = document.getElementById('form-result');\n  const submitBtn = document.getElementById('submit-btn');\n\n  if (form) {\n    form.addEventListener('submit', async function(e) {\n      e.preventDefault();\n\n      \n      const originalBtnText = submitBtn.textContent;\n      submitBtn.textContent = 'Sending...';\n      submitBtn.disabled = true;\n\n      const formData = new FormData(form);\n      const object = Object.fromEntries(formData);\n      const json = JSON.stringify(object);\n\n      try {\n        const response = await fetch('https://api.web3forms.com/submit', {\n          method: 'POST',\n          headers: {\n            'Content-Type': 'application/json',\n            'Accept': 'application/json'\n          },\n          body: json\n        });\n\n        const data = await response.json();\n\n        if (response.status === 200) {\n          resultBanner.textContent = 'Message sent';\n          resultBanner.style.backgroundColor = '#dcfce7';\n          resultBanner.style.color = '#000000';\n          resultBanner.style.borderColor = '#86efac';\n          resultBanner.style.display = 'block';\n          form.reset();\n        } else {\n          resultBanner.textContent = data.message || 'Something went wrong. Please try again.';\n          resultBanner.style.backgroundColor = '#fee2e2';\n          resultBanner.style.color = '#000000';\n          resultBanner.style.borderColor = '#fca5a5';\n          resultBanner.style.display = 'block';\n        }\n      } catch (error) {\n        resultBanner.textContent = 'Network error. Please check your connection and try again.';\n        resultBanner.style.backgroundColor = '#fee2e2';\n        resultBanner.style.color = '#000000';\n        resultBanner.style.borderColor = '#fca5a5';\n        resultBanner.style.display = 'block';\n      } finally {\n        submitBtn.textContent = originalBtnText;\n        submitBtn.disabled = false;\n      }\n    });\n  }\n\u003c/script\u003e","title":"Contact"},{"content":" The RML2549 ex-London Transport Routemaster seen here at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow. RML2549 AEC Routemaster (1966) #\nImage: RML2549 in its original London Transport days (1993).\nPhoto by Mike McDermott (via Flickr).\nClick image to view in Flickr with full description. 1966: RML2549 was built with a Park Royal body and an AEC engine. 1966: Entered service with London Transport in September. Early operating routes included Route 6A, serving Queen Victoria Street, Waterloo, Fleet Street, and Aldwych. 1992: Refurbished with new engine and interior at South Yorkshire Transport in Rotherham. 2000s: Privatization of London Buses, RML2549 operated on Route 159 for Arriva London South in its final years, running from Marble Arch through Whitehall and Trafalgar Square down to Streatham Station. 2005: Withdrawn from service in December 2005. 2005-2014: The bus was converted into a mobile hospitality/promotional bar. 2014: Red Bus Bistro purchased RML2549. RML2549 in service for Arriva London South: Chris Sampson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nRML2549 hired for the Hard Rock Café in Edinburgh: Michael D J Lamb, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nRML2549 in Glasgow (2026) #Fancy tea and scones on board a Routemaster while sightseeing in Glasgow or Edinburgh? It\u0026rsquo;s good to see these fine old buses having a new lease of life.\nThe RML2549 ex-London Transport Routemaster seen here at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.\nClick image to enlarge\nThe RML2549 ex-London Transport Routemaster seen here at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.\nClick image to enlarge\nThe RML2549 ex-London Transport Routemaster seen here at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # London Transport Museum: JJD 549D Flikr: RML 2549 in Wilton Road, Victoria Red Bus Bistro Disclaimer: I have no official connection to Red Bus Bistro.\nI just love tracking down quirky pieces of transport history.\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/double-decker-diner/","section":"Posts","summary":"Fancy tea and scones on board a Routemaster while sightseeing in Glasgow or Edinburgh? It\u0026rsquo;s good to see these fine old buses having a new lease of life.","title":"Double-Decker Diner"},{"content":" Leyland Titan PD2/1 (1948): Photographed at the Beamish Museum, County Durham (May 2026) The Beamish Museum in County Durham # Beamish is a living, breathing museum, where history is experienced. Walk through historic streets, meet costumed engagers, and watch traditional skills in action.\nMap © Beamish Museum, County Durham (May 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nReplica 1913 Edwardian Daimler bus: Beamish Museum, County Durham (May 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nTram 264: Beamish Museum, County Durham\nClick image to enlarge\nVintage buses at Beamish Museum, County Durham (May 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nCrossville 716: Beamish Museum, County Durham (May 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan PD2/12 (1953): Beamish Museum, County Durham (May 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan PD2/1 (1948): Beamish Museum, County Durham (May 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Beamish Museum County Durham Wikipedia: Beamish Museum ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/beamish-museum/","section":"Posts","summary":"Travel back in time with the Beamish Museum. Walk down cobbled streets and mingle with folks dressed in period costumes. Take a ride on tram or vintage bus.","title":"Beamish Museum"},{"content":" Oporto Tram 196 (1935): Beamish Museum, Beamish County Durham (May 2026) Oporto Tram 196 at the Beamish Museum # Text © Beamish Museum, Beamish, County Durham (May 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nOporto Tram 196: Beamish Museum, Beamish, County Durham(May 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nInterior of Oporto Tram 196: Beamish Museum, Beamish, County Durham(May 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nOporto Tram 196: Beamish Museum, Beamish, County Durham (May 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nOporto Tram 196: Beamish Museum, Beamish, County Durham (May 2026)\nClick image to enlarge\nSource # The Beamish Museum ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/oporto-tram-196/","section":"Posts","summary":"This former Portuguese tramcar was built in 1935 and has been lovingly restored by the skilled mechanics and bodybuilders at the Beamish Museum.","title":"Oporto Tram 196 (1935)"},{"content":" Routemaster RML2646 in service: Chris Sampson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons A New Future for Classic Buses? #Spare parts for the famous Routemasters and other vintage buses are becoming scarce and the skills to service these fine vehicles is gradually being lost. Is the Electric Routemaster a possible solution to keep buses like these running for years to come?\nRoutemaster RML2646 in service: Chris Sampson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nThe RML2646 as a Dualway Coaches tour bus, Dublin (2011): William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland (original file), cropped by User:Ultra7, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Electric Routemaster: Video by Pete And His Bus #The RML2646 can continue to be a London Tour Bus for a few more years.\n5 key points from this video\nThis bus has a range of 120 miles - guaranteed for 10 years It only takes 3 hours to charge - not fast charge it has 5 batteries, with a combined capacity of 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh). The bus is powered by one electric motor The chassis, prop, diff, brakes are all original The Pete And His Bus Channel\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/electric-routemaster/","section":"Posts","summary":"The famous Routemasters are becoming scarce and the skills to service these fine buses is gradually being lost. Is the Electric Routemaster the answer?","title":"The Electric Routemaster"},{"content":" The Galloway car (1924), built at the Galloway factory at Heathhall, near Dumfries\nCurrently on display at the Riverside Museum Glasgow “Built by ladies for others of their sex.” # The Galloway car (1924). Text © Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Galloway car (1924). Currently on display at the Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Galloway car (1924). Currently on display at the Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nResources # artdaily.com Wikipedia: The Galloway Car ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/galloway-car/","section":"Posts","summary":"Dorothée Pullinger and the Galloway Car marks the centenary of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), which Pullinger co-founded. (23 June 1919/2019)","title":"The Car Built By Ladies"},{"content":" Wrights Gemini with a Volvo B7TL underframe: Aldridge Transport Museum (December 2025) text: © Aldridge Transport Museum (December 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nWrights Gemini with a Volvo B7TL underframe: Aldridge Transport Museum (December 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nWrights Gemini with a Volvo B7TL underframe: Aldridge Transport Museum (December 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nWrights Gemini with a Volvo B7TL underframe: Aldridge Transport Museum (December 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/wrights-gemini/","section":"Posts","summary":"This quite modern Wrights Gemini double-decker with the Volvo B7TL underframe is currently being lovingly preserved at the Aldridge Transport Museum, Walsall.","title":"Wrights Gemini Double-Deck Bus"},{"content":" Text: © Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nAustin Wooden Car (1985): Aldridge Transport Museum (December 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nAustin Wooden Car (1985): Aldridge Transport Museum (December 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nAustin Wooden Car (1985): Aldridge Transport Museum (December 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nAustin Wooden Car (1985): Aldridge Transport Museum (December 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/wooden-car/","section":"Posts","summary":"Now here is an oddity - a wooden car. With parts taken from an Austin Maxi, an Austin Allegro and other bits. This eccentric vehicle has six wheels.","title":"The Wooden Car"},{"content":"Those red and cream buses became a familiar sight rolling through cobbled town centres, seaside promenades and winding country lanes. I only ever saw a Ribble bus in service once. When I was seven I traveled with my family from Glasgow to Morecambe in 1959 and stood gaping in amazement at my first ever view of a rear-engined double decker bus.\nLeyland Lion PLSC1 (1927). Replica body built by Leyland (1981): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nRibble Motor Services History # 1919: Founded in Preston, Lancs. The original livery was a dark red base with cream lining. 1920s to 1930s: Ribble grew rapidly via acquisition of many local operators across Lancashire and Cumbria. The red and cream livery became well established. 1940s to 1950s: Introduced express coach double-deckers known as the White Ladies. Coaches carried a cream/red livery. Local buses stayed red/cream. 1960: Focus on express routes, motorway services; larger coaches and double-decker express buses used. Types of buses included Leyland Atlanteans and Leopards. 1969: Ribble became part of NBC (National Bus Company). Fleet \u0026amp; branding moved toward standardisation. 1970s to early 1980s: Modernisation of fleet which included large numbers of Leyland Nationals, Atlanteans, Leopards, etc. The livery continued as red/cream but simplified in styling. 1986: Deregulation triggered major structural changes,depots transferred, Ribble brand identity reduced and the classic red/cream scheme gradually replaced. 1990s to present day: Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust preserves key vehicles and maintains the heritage. The historic liveries of red/cream and cream/red can still be seen at events. 1951 # Preserved Leyland Titan DCK219 has distinctive full-front lowbridge bodywork by East lancashire Coachbuilders. It was number 1248 in the Ribble fleet and is seen leaving the Norton Fitzwarren Steam Fayre in 2009.Geof Sheppard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\n1960 # Ribble coach 1072 (reg. NRN 169), a 1960 Leyland Leopard PSUC1/2 with Duple (Midland) Donnington bodywork: bilbobagweed, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\n1961 # A preserved Harrington Cavalier coach (regsitration PCK618; number 1036 in the Ribble fleet) at the Southdown centenary rally in Southsea. Geof Sheppard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\n1962 # Ribble bus 1805 (RRN 405), Bolton Victoria Square bus rally, 2 May 2009: Pimlico Badger, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\n1962 # Ribble Motor Services Leyland PD3 MTT Running Day Liverpool South Parkway Sep 2011: calflier001, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\n1981 # calflier001, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nRegistration: GFR 101W Year new: 1981 Fleet Number: 2101 Chassis: Leyland Olympian prototype Body: ECW (Eastern Coach Works) double-decker Operator: Ribble Motor Services Delivered new to Ribble Motor Services in 1981, this bus was one of the very first Leyland Olympians, a design born from the merger of Bristol Commercial Vehicles and Leyland. Officially registered as a Bristol for type-approval reasons, it carried the full Leyland badging and introduced the Olympian layout that went on to dominate double-decker production through the 1980s and 1990s.\nSources # Wikipedia: Ribble Motor Services Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust Made in Preston Commercial Motor Archive Fylde Transport Trust: Ribble ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/ribble/","section":"Posts","summary":"Fron its humble start in 1919, Ribble Motor Services was more than just a bus company, it was an integral part of everyday life across Lancashire.","title":"Ribble Motor Services"},{"content":" 532 Greenock to Devol Port Glasgow\nCick image to enlarge\nBrief history of McGill\u0026rsquo;s Buses # 1933: — McGill’s Bus Services first came into being. This operator is based in Greenock and has grown to cover Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, Glasgow and other areas. Early 2000s: In the 2000s the Easdale family (Sandy \u0026amp; James Easdale) became the majority owners; Alex Kean sold his shares to the Easdales in October 2004. 2005-2019: McGill’s expanded routes across Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, Glasgow and beyond, including acquisitions of local routes around Greenock and new depots. Late 2010s: McGill’s placed significant orders for new diesel single-deckers (notably Alexander Dennis Enviro200 and Enviro200 MMC models) as part of fleet renewal (examples: a 26-vehicle Enviro200 order announced in 2018). 2021: In February 2021 McGill’s announced a £17.5m investment in EV buses. (an initial package of 35 e-buses for Glasgow/Dundee services, later extended). 2021-2023: McGill’s became one of the UK’s largest operators of Yutong EV buses: initial deliveries of Yutong E12s arrived in late 2021 (55 E12s reported delivered before COP26), followed by further orders. 2021 onward: McGill’s purchased Xplore Dundee (effective 1 Jan 2021) and formed commercial partnerships such as operating FlixBus overnight coach services from Glasgow. 2023-2025: McGill’s significantly increased its zero-emission fleet. Reports in 2025 record further Yutong E12 deliveries. McGill’s 533 at the Tesco Greenock bus stop\nClick image to enlarge\nMcGill’s X7 leaving Buchanan Street Bus Station heading for Kilmacolm\nCick image to enlarge\nGreenock Bus Station\nCick image to enlarge\nSources # Wikipedia: McGill\u0026rsquo;s Bus Services Alexander-Dennis: McGill\u0026rsquo;s Electrive: McGill\u0026rsquo;s ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/mcgills-buses/","section":"Posts","summary":"McGill\u0026rsquo;s is based in Greenock Scotland. From its beginning at Barrhead in 1933, it is now become the largest independent bus operator in the UK.","title":"McGill's Bus Services"},{"content":" WSD 756K (1972) converted to tow truck in 1982: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage\nClick image to enlarge\nThis is WSD 756K in service before conversion. Photo by Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust\nClick image to enlarge\nText © Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust, Bridgeton Bus Garage\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Leopard: Single-decker Buses # Leyland Leopard PSU3/3R (1973): Bridgeton Bus Garage\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Leopard PSU3/3R (1974): Bridgeton Bus Garage\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Leopard PSU3E/4R (1980): Bridgeton Bus Garage\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Leopard PSU3F/4R (1980): Bridgeton Bus Garage\nClick image to enlarge\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/leopard-tow-truck/","section":"Posts","summary":"The Leyland Leopard was a mid-engined single-decker bus manufactured between 1959 and 1982. This example extended its life by becoming a tow truck.","title":"Leopard Tow Truck"},{"content":" Depiction of an old street: Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge From this website\u0026rsquo;s point of view, there\u0026rsquo;s more trams than buses, but I soon forgot my disappointment as I walked around the museum. There is so much is see with everything laid out neatly. You can board some of the exhibits and there is plenty of information for each item. What I like is the fact the most venues in Glasgow are not greedy, it\u0026rsquo;s free to get into most museums in Glasgow and I found that the little cafes are not too expensive.\nThe Riverside Museum is free, but a small donation as you leave certainly helps the museum to maintain its very high standards.\nGetting There # Take a ride on a shiny new subway train and alight at Govan.\nClick image to enlarge\nCross Govan Road at the pelican crossing to Water Row and the Govan-Partick footbridge is straight ahead.\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Govan-Partick footbridge spans the River Clyde and was opened on the 7th of September 2024.\nClick image to enlarge\nRiverside Museum Glasgow. The Glenlee, a historic tall ship, is moored next to the museum.\nClick image to enlarge\nWelcome to the Riverside Museum Glasgow.\nInside the Riverside Museum # Inside the Riverside Museum Glasgow.\nClick image to enlarge\nDepiction of an old street Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nDepiction of an old street Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nPart of the collection of vintage cars on display at the Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nMotorcycles on display at the Riverside Museum Glasgow.\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan PD2/12 (1950): Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nTramcars # Cunarder/Coronation Mk II tram (1952): Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nGlasgow Corporation Tram 672 (1898): Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nTram 779 (1900): Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nBailie Burt experimental tramcar no. 1089 (1926-61): Riverside Museum Glasgow.\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Wikipedia: Riverside Museum Zaha Hadid Architects GlasgowWorld: Final days of Kelvin Hall Transport Museum GlasgowLife: Riverside Museum ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/river-museum/","section":"Posts","summary":"The Riverside Museum Glasgow is a fantastic place to take the family for a day out. It is easy to get to: just take the subwway to Govan.","title":"Riverside Museum Glasgow"},{"content":"A Most Uncomfortable Coach Trip #My family decided that we\u0026rsquo;d all go down to see the Blackpool Illuminations, but to do that we\u0026rsquo;d take the bus to Morecambe, book into a Bed \u0026amp; Breakfast room, then take the local bus to view the Illuminations at night before going back to the Bed \u0026amp; Breakfast and leaving for home in the morning.\nSounded like a good (and cheap) plan, but for one small problem: we lived in Glasgow and Morecambe was about 160 miles away - and this was way back in 1959, no fancy motorways then. This is where the nightmare started. I was only seven, but I remember there were lots of stops, since there were no toilet facilities in our smelly old bus, which, if I look back now, may have been an old Leyland PS1 or PS2. I can tell you it was the most uncomfortable long journey in this smelly old bus and the other buses we transferred to, where everybody smoked.\nIt probably took well over seven hours before we alighted at Morecambe - at 5.30am in the morning! We had to hang around until 6.30am before we could go to our Bed \u0026amp; Breakfast room. It would have been difficult to keep control of a hyperactive seven year old like me, but luckily we found an all-night shelter that had coin operated machines. I vaguely remember winnng 4 plastic finger rings - what was I supposed to do with them? I was told they were real diamonds and to shut up.\nWhere Is It? #We finally settled in to our room and looked around Morecambe, went to a restaurant in the afternoon, had a look around again, but don\u0026rsquo;t ask a small boy what it was like, he\u0026rsquo;d be bored out of his head and would not have remembered anything - except for one thing\u0026hellip;\nWe got to the bus station to find the bus that would take us to Blackpool and apparently I had disappeared. They found me staring in disbelief at a giant dark red bus - with no engine! I looked underneath the front of the bus - nothing. I looked through the passenger door, there did not appear to be an engine next to the driver\u0026rsquo;s seat. I was really puzzled.\nJust then the driver and lady conductor came along and I blurted out, \u0026ldquo;Where\u0026rsquo;s the engine?\u0026rdquo;. The driver laughed.\n\u0026ldquo;It\u0026rsquo;s at the back.\u0026rdquo;, he said.\nI tried to run to the back of the bus but the conductor stopped me.\n\u0026ldquo;You\u0026rsquo;re not allowed in the operational area, son.\u0026rdquo;\n\u0026ldquo;I\u0026rsquo;ll tell you what\u0026rdquo;, said the driver, \u0026ldquo;I\u0026rsquo;ll start her up and I\u0026rsquo;ll escort you round to the back, as long as you take my hand.\u0026rdquo;\nWith that, he opened the passenger door, sat in the cab and started the bus up. He took my by the hand and escorted me round to the back of the bus, then opened the engine cover.\nI was confronted with this big noisy, smelly engine and I got a bit frightened and tried to move away.\n\u0026ldquo;It\u0026rsquo;s ok son, you\u0026rsquo;re safe as long as you don\u0026rsquo;t touch anything.\u0026rdquo;, said the driver.\nMy mother thanked the driver for his kindness and took me away. I was still in awe of the dirty big engine and I had so many questions I wanted to ask the driver. How can he steer it? Why can I see the road at the bottom of the engine - won\u0026rsquo;t it fall off?\nIt is now 66 years later and I still remember that incident. I\u0026rsquo;m so glad they found the engine.\nThe Blackpool Illuminations # Blackpool illuminations by Steve Fareham, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image cropped.\nOur evening finished off with a trip on the local bus through Blackpool and viewing the wonderful Illuminations display. Glasgow had their own lights at Christmas which used be magnificent until the frequent storms put paid to more elaborate displays. But nothing could compare to the Blackpool Illuminations that evening, the streets, the tramcars, even the tower itself brilliantly lit up in a myriad of gorgeous colours.\nThe it was back to our Bed \u0026amp; Breakfast room - and the dreadful journey back home in the morning.\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/no-engine/","section":"Posts","summary":"It is late September in 1959 and a small boy age seven is staring in disbelief at the front of a large red double-decker bus.\u0026lsquo;Where\u0026rsquo;s the engine?\u0026rsquo;","title":"No Engine"},{"content":" Mayne Coaches 12 (F112 HNC), a Scania N113/Northern Counties Palatine I (new: 1989), in Manchester on route 231\nKmb gu657 at the English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nFrom early seaside coach trips to regular bus services across east Manchester and Tameside, Mayne became part of everyday local life. Its red/cream coaches and maroon/duck egg buses were a familiar sight on the streets for generations, symbolising the pride and independence of a true family-run company.\nA Mayne \u0026amp; Son/Mayne Coaches # 1900s: Arthur Mayne establishes a family business (furniture delivery/garage roots) that later expands into passenger transport. 1920s: Company moves into coach excursions (coast trips, Buxton), gradually building a coach business. 1930s: Licensing agreement and local growth; concentrates on passenger transport services. 1950s to 1970s: Expanded coach and some local bus work. Liveries evolve; coaches in red/cream; buses later in maroon/duck egg trim. 1980s to 1990s: Continued growth by acquisition of small operators and vehicle renewals. Operated both coach hire and local bus services, notably Ashton-under-Lyne area services in Greater Manchester. 2008: In January 2008 the bus division of A Mayne \u0026amp; Son Ltd was sold to Stagecoach Manchester. The bus fleet and registrations moved into Stagecoach operation. This effectively ended Mayne’s independent local bus operations. 2010s: Mayne focused on coach hire and tours. The fleet was modernised with Scania, Volvo, Mercedes coaches and newer Plaxton / Irizar / Neoplan bodies for excursions and tours. 2022: Administrators were appointed to Mayne Coaches after financial difficulties were reported. 2024 to 2025: Mayne brand and operations transfer/ownership moves into Goodwins/Orion Travel. Maynes Buses bus 19, (reg. NDZ 3161), a 1993 Dennis Dart with Wright Handybus bodywork, pictured in January 2008\nMikey from Wythenshawe, Manchester, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nMaynes of Manchester LJA474P (1976).Former GM Buses. And LJX916W (1973) Former Halifax\nMwr-Cwm from Morecambe, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nMayne 47 A 47YWJ Dennis Falcon / Marshalll Camair 80 (1984) seen in Ashton Bus Station\nPimlico Badger, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Regent V SD3RA East Lancs body (1964): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Regent V SD3RA East Lancs body (1964): © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Bus\u0026amp;Coach Buyer Wikipedia: Mayne Coaches Flikr: A Mayne \u0026amp; Son ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/mayne/","section":"Posts","summary":"Founded in 1920 by Arthur Mayne, A Mayne \u0026amp; Son began as a small Manchester garage and haulage business before turning its focus to passenger transport","title":"A Mayne \u0026 Son"},{"content":"On the 26th of October 1986 Margaret Thatcher’s government deregulated the buses, a policy that changed the way Britain moved, quite literally. Before that, most local bus services outside London were run by publicly owned companies, their routes and fares set by local councils. Deregulation tore up that model. It meant that for the first time in decades, almost anyone could run a bus service, on any route, charging whatever fare they liked. It was argued that deregulation would drive down prices, improve efficiency, and give passengers more choice.\nDeregulation only applied to Great Britain, not the whole of the UK. Northern Ireland is outside the scope of the 1985 Act. Its bus services remains regulated and publicly run by Translink (Ulsterbus), a publicly owned company.\nThe Free For All # At first passengers were enjoying the cheaper fares, sometimes even free travel, while the established and newly formed bus companies fought over the lucrative routes.\nAnd there was a lot of fighting. I remember watching two drivers on the Paisley High Street punching lumps out of each other, because one bus had cut the other bus off to pick up the passengers.\nAlthough the newly recruited drivers must have a PSV (Public Service Vehicle) licence, some of them forgot that the safety of passengers came first and they drove their minibuses like madmen.\nManchester preparing for Deregulation # This poster was displayed in the Transport Museum of Greater Manchester.\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Aftermath #Once all the dust had settled, it is now apparent that the bus companies will generally only run routes that are profitable, although most companies do provide a limited service in some routes. The local authorities and the bus companies do communicate and sometimes funding is available to keep unprofitable routes running, particularly in rural areas.\nBut nearly four decades on, the legacy of deregulation is still visible. The Britain’s buses remain a patchwork of private operators, inconsistent fares, and variable service quality. The dream of a free market on wheels never quite matched the reality on the ground. For many, the story of bus deregulation is not just a tale of policy and economics, but a memory of confusion at the bus stop, of timetables that never quite worked and a public service that has grown worse in some rural areas.\nLondon on the other hand, has kept its regulated system and continues to run an integrated network, with the right to run the services contracted to private companies on a tendered basis.\nVideo by RMTransit #Note: Deregulation only applies to Great Britain, not the UK.\nSources # Wikipedia: Transport Act 1985 West: Unintended consequences of Deregulation Wikipedia: Bus deregulation in Great Britain Centre For Cities: Deregulation Wikipedia: Ulsterbus TribuneMag: Bus Privatisation ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/deregulation/","section":"Posts","summary":"British prime minister Margaret Thatcher took control of regulating the buses from the local councils to allow private bus companies to run their own routes","title":"Deregulating The Buses"},{"content":"These Photographs were taken at the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust\u0026rsquo;s Bridgeton Garage. The FirstBus and McGill\u0026rsquo;s buses were photographed at the Buchanan Street Bus Station, Glasgow.\nGlasgow Corporation Transport (GCT) 1924 #Livery: Glasgow buses from 1924 were intitially dark red/cream, then changed in the 1930s to a pale cream on the main body with medium-green trim/upper panels and narrow green/cream striping. This image was AI generated, so I am unable to confirm from sources that this was how the livery looked in that period.\nLivery: 1949 (although there were variations before that year), orange/ochre lower panels, cream upper/deck areas, with green used on the higher panels and roof.\n1924: 8th of December, the start of Glasgow Corporation motorbus services. Motorbuses were introduced as feeders to the tram network. Buses were initially based at Parkhead tram depot. 1924 to 1939: Early single-decker and small double-decker vehicles formed the first fleet, including the Leyland Titan TD1s, Leyland Titans, AEC, Thornycroft and Dennis. 1930s to 1940s: AEC Regent (early Regents), Leyland Titan (PD/TD series), Daimler and other UK double-decker chassis. Local bodybuilders such as Cowieson and Alexander provided bodies. 1949: Trolleybuses were introduced alongside motorbuses. Glasgow ran a large municipal trolleybus network from 1949 to 27 May 1967 and were replaced by motorbuses on the trolleybus routes. 1949 to 1967: Glasgow operated Leyland Titan PD2/PD3 types, AEC Regents and other post-war double-deckers. 1958: Rear-engined buses were introduced. Large numbers of Leyland Atlanteans which were bodied by Alexander and many badged Albion Leylands ontinued to be used as well as Leyland Titan PD types and AEC types, until withdrawal. Municipal single-deckers and some Daimler types were retained. Leyland Titan PD1 (1928): GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan PD3/2 (1960): GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (October 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Regent V (1961): GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (October 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nGreater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive (GGPTE) #Livery: A reworking of the \u0026lsquo;Corpy\u0026rsquo; colours, commonly described as verona green on lower panels, yellow between decks, white for window surrounds and roof. A stylised “GG” logo was applied to the forward yellow panels.\n1973: As UK/local transport legislation changed (PTEs), Glasgow’s municipal transport functions were transferred to a regional body: the Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive (GGPTE) was formed in the early 1970s to take over the municipal public transport functions (including the bus fleet) from Glasgow Corporation. GGPTE operated and coordinated bus services across the Greater Glasgow area. It retained and repainted much of the existing municipal fleet and introduced PTE-style branding and livery changes. GGPTE also coordinated suburban rail and underground services in the area. Leyland Atlanteans left: PDR1/1 (1966), right: AN68/1R (1975): GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nGlasgow Corporation buses alongside Greater Glasgow buses: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nTrans-Clyde Buses #Livery: The \u0026lsquo;Corpy\u0026rsquo; colours were used again, verona green on lower panels, yellow between decks, white for window surrounds and roof. \u0026lsquo;Trans-Clyde\u0026rsquo; logo was applied to the forward yellow panels.\n1974 to 1975:\tTrans-Clyde brand launched to integrate bus, rail, and subway under one name. 1977:\tGlasgow Subway closed for total modernisation; Trans-Clyde oversees project. 1979 to 1980: Subway reopens with new orange trains, station interiors, and corporate signage, but still under Trans-Clyde. 1983:\tStrathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE) replaces GGPTE; Trans-Clyde brand retired. Greater Glasgow buses and a Trans-Clyde bus: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nStrathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE) #Livery: Main colour: Bright orange/red, officially known as \u0026lsquo;Strathclyde Red\u0026rsquo;. Lower panels: Black, covering the skirt and lower body. Upper panels \u0026amp; roof: Cream, with a narrow orange relief band between the black and cream areas.\n1973 to 1986: The Greater Glasgow/Strathclyde PTE (SPTE) era. GGPTE was integrated under the wider Strathclyde Passenger Transport arrangements as local government boundaries changed; the PTE/Authority coordinated services across the region. Fleet were renewed and new types of buses introduced. Strathclyde Buses # October 1986: The Transport Act deregulation came into force in October 1986. To comply with deregulation, the PTE’s bus operations were formed into a separate commercial company called Strathclyde Buses. At creation the company inherited 740 buses and the depots. Strathclyde Buses’ fleet was heavily Atlantean/Ailsa-based and later received new Volvos/MCW Metrobuses and MCW Metrider minibuses. 1993: Strathclyde Buses was privatised via a employee/management buyout in 1993 and the Scottish bus market saw consolidation \u0026amp; competition. Fleet modernisation continued as the company adapted to a competitive marketplace. The orange Greater Glasgow/Strathclyde ‘Red’ buses, with one actual red bus: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nFirst Glasgow (FirstBus) #Livery: The dominant colour of the livery is purple, used across most of the bus body, particularly the lower half and sides. White is used for the upper part of the bus, including the roof and often around the windows.\nMay 1996: FirstBus purchased SB Holdings (Strathclyde Buses), forming First Glasgow. The takeover was referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) for competition review and later cleared. FirstGroup then modernised and standardised fleets under First branding and they inherited Leyland Atlanteans and Volvos which were gradually replaced by modern low-floor and low-emission double-deckers and single deckers through the 2000s, e.g. the Volvo B7TL / B9TL with Wright bodies, Wright/Eclipse Gemini, Scania/Wright single-deckers.\n2000s to present: First Glasgow era; modern low-floor fleets and mixed operators. First Glasgow (FirstGroup) became the major operator; SPT (Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) became a subsidy infrastructure authority looking after sites like the Buchanan Bus Station. Fleet modernisation introduced low-floor accessibility, new diesel/Euro emissions standards and later hybrid/electric trials across UK operators.\nBYD D8UR-DD/Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV electric bus (2021): Buchanan Bus Station Glasgow (October 2025)\nClick image to enlarge)\nMcGill\u0026rsquo;s Buses in Glasgow #Livery: Dark blue with white and silver relief (previously navy and light blue). Logo: Bold sans-serif “McGill’s” in white, underline stripe; tagline “Proud to serve the West of Scotland.”\nMcGill\u0026rsquo;s Buses has become a major player in Glasgow, second only to FirstBus and holds 30% of Glasgow\u0026rsquo;s local services. McGill\u0026rsquo;s is the largest independent private operator in Scotland and is one of the top 5 in the UK.\nMarch 2012: McGill’s acquires Arriva Scotland West, gaining depots at Johnstone, Inchinnan \u0026amp; Barrhead and expanding into Glasgow’s western suburbs. 2013: Consolidates new routes into Glasgow city centre, focusing on Paisley Road West and Govan routes. 2015: Introduces full low-floor accessible fleet and launches contactless ticketing and app payments. 2018: Upgrades core Renfrewshire/Glasgow routes and begins competing directly with First Glasgow on overlapping services. September 2021: Purchases First Scotland East Ltd and First Glasgow (Clyde) operations, adding Dumbarton, Larbert \u0026amp; Livingston depots (+ 360 buses). 2021: – McGill’s re-enters central \u0026amp; eastern Glasgow, launching city-only routes 38, 38A/B/C/E, 23, 26 and 90. June 2022: Deploys first Yutong E12 electric buses in Glasgow, marking start of zero-emission fleet transition. 2023: Rolls out refreshed blue-white-silver livery and “McGill’s Glasgow” branding; continues major depot electrification. 2024: Expands electric fleet to more than 250 vehicles, securing SPT Clyde Zero funding for clean-air routes. McGill’s X23 service leaving Buchanan Street Bus Station, Glasgow. (October 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Glasgow Life GVVT: 100 Years of Glasgow Corporation Motorbuses Wikipedia: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport Glasgow searches for transport integration FirstGroup plc Independent: FirstBus bid for Scottish firm goes to MMC Scott\u0026rsquo;s Transport Site: First Glasgow (fleet list) Acquisition by McGill’s Bus Services of Arriva Scotland West ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/glasgow-buses/","section":"Posts","summary":"For more than a century, Glasgow’s buses have been part of the city’s heartbeat, from \u0026lsquo;Corpy\u0026rsquo; days, to the multi-coloured buses serving the city today.","title":"Glasgow Buses"},{"content":" Libraries Taskforce, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons These buses swapped passengers for paperbacks and were a lifeline for those who did not live near a library. Councils converted single and double decker buses into mobile libraries, bringing books to rural areas that did not have easy access to a library. Inside, shelves lined the walls where seats once were. Children and adults alike climbed aboard to borrow their next read.\nDaniel Mietchen, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nSanteri Viinamäki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nKritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarges\nUK Home Library Services #This service is run mostly by volunteers in some areas. If a resident is unable to visit a library either through disability or distance, books of their choice can be delivered to their door, including large print books and audiobooks, depending on the various councils\u0026rsquo; resources.\nYou should check in your own area for which services are available to you.\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/bus_mobile_libraries/","section":"Posts","summary":"When older buses are withdrawn from public service, they are either sold, scrapped, preserved, or one or two were repurposed as mobile libraries.","title":"Bus Mobile Libraries"},{"content":" A dilapidated village bus station in the Czech Republic: Photo by: https://martinvorel.com/ Some bus stop shelters do offer some shelter from the rain, although some of them are no more than a canopy with three sides open. There are some interesting shelters from around the world, some cosier than others.\nBus Stop Shelters # Overview of bus stops adjacent to Hundige Station in Denmark: Søren Peo Pedersen/User:Peo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nTwo Bus Stops, a Bus Shelter and a Phonebox, Nasareth, Gwynedd, Wales Two bus stops, a bus shelter and a phonebox, Nasareth by Jaggery, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nBus Stops and Bus Shelter. Estcourt Road Darlington: Bus stops and bus shelter, Estcourt Road, Darrington by Christine Johnstone, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nThe southern-most bus stops along Fairham Way: Aethonatic, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nBus Station: Greenock Scotland #I know that technically this is not a simple bus stop shelter, but it is perfect for our Scottish weather. Completely enclosed on all sides and the doors only slide open when a bus stops adjacent to them.\nGreenock Bus Station\nClick image to enlarge\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/bus_stop/","section":"Posts","summary":"Standing at a bus stop in the UK can be a chilly and wet experience, especially in Scotland. It certainly helps if  bus shelter is provided.","title":"Bus Stop"},{"content":" Crossley Empire TDD 42/2 trolleybus: photographed at the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester Imagine a noisy busy city, heavy traffic pounding the worn out potholed roads, people darting in and out between parked cars to get across the road. Then WHOOSH! - it seems that from out of nowhere, this silent lump of metal is suddenly upon you! As in most cases the trolleybus driver is alert and has managed to toot his squeaky horn a split second before your blood would have messed up the trolleybus\u0026rsquo;s shiny new paintwork. In Glasgow we called them The Silent Killers .\nCrossley Dominion TDD 64/1 trolleybus.photographed at the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nGlasgow Corporation Burlingham bodied B.U.T. RETB1 trolleybus: photographed at the Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nphotographed at the Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nGlasgow Corporation Burlingham bodied B.U.T. RETB1 trolleybus: photographed at the Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nGlasgow Corporation Burlingham bodied B.U.T. RETB1 trolleybus: photographed at the Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/trolleybuses/","section":"Posts","summary":"When the trundling of the tramcar makes way for the almost inaudible swoosh of the trolleybus, pedestrians had to be extra vigilant when crossing a busy road.","title":"Trolleybuses"},{"content":"In 1962, at ten years old, I was totally unaffected by my friends and family\u0026rsquo;s sadness to say goodbye to the tramcars in Glasgow (we called them caurs). Even at that young age I recognised that tramcars and trolleybuses were limited to following overhead power lines and for tramcars, also having to use rails.\nEven so, there is no doubt that tramcars were extremely popular for their time and there are signs that the new Edinburgh Tramway is settling in and that passengers like the service.\nSo here is a selection of tramcars from around the UK.\nFeltham Tram Number 331 # London Metropolitan Tramways Felham Tram No. 331: Nathan1472, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nPrototype build 1930:\tMetropolitan Electric Tramways (MET) No. 331 (“Cissie”)\tCentre‑entrance, air doors, 64 seats, 4 motors London service 1930–1936:\tMET / LPTB No. 2168\tUsed peak‑hour; unsuitable for conduit lines Sunderland service 1937–1951:\tSunderland No. 100\tPantograph fitted; regular passenger operations Preservation acquisition 1953: Light Rail Transport League (LRTL) Saved from scrapping Museum debut 1961: Crich Tramway Village Festival livery 1989–1990: MET‑style blue/ivory Gateshead Garden Festival appearance Full restoration 1991 onward:\tMET No. 331\tOperational museum tram at Crich Sources # flickr.com/photos/45777493%40N06/5820868735 Wikipedia: Feltham Tram topstastic.blogspot.com/feltham Balloon Tram No.7 # Balloon Tram \u0026quot;Walter Luff\u0026quot; on Blackpool Promenade by David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nBuilt: December 1934. Delivered in 1935 by English Electric, Preston, as one of 14 enclosed streamline “Balloon” double‑decker trams commissioned under Walter Luff’s 1930s modernisation plan. Originally numbered: 254, later renumbered to 717 in the 1968 fleet-wide re‑numbering scheme. Design \u0026amp; capacity: Central doors and stairs; seating for 84 to 94 passengers; half‑drop windows, Art Deco curved lights, sliding roof vents and thermostatically controlled radiators; powered by two EE 305 motors (57hp each). Operational service: Served summer and winter routes along the Promenade and Lytham Road routes until 2012 modernization to Flexity 2 trams. Wikipedia+4Flickr+4Wikipedia+4 Restoration: In 2004, a bequest by Philip R. Thorpe funded restoration of one Balloon car; 717 was chosen. Rebuilt to its original 1934 condition and relaunched in 2008 as “Philip R. Thorpe” Renaming: On 19 April 2014, officially renamed Walter Luff at a ceremony at Pleasure Beach, unveiled by Daphne Luff (his daughter) to honour the general manager who introduced the streamlined fleet. Current status: Operates as part of the heritage fleet and is one of the few Balloon cars still running in original livery; in December 2024, all heritage tram operations, including Balloon trams, were temporarily suspended due to operational and safety concerns, but 717 remains part of the heritage collection. Sources # blackpoolheritage.com flickr.com/photos/tags/balloontram/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Electric_Balloon geograph.org.uk/photo/7192705 Liverpool Tram 869 # Alan Murray-Rust / Liverpool 869 passing through the Bowes Lyon bridge, 1994\nClick image to enlarge\nBuilt: June 1936 at Liverpool Corporation’s Edge Lane Works as a streamlined double‑decker bogie tram (one of 163 similar vehicles). Design: Fully enclosed, olive green and cream livery, seating for 78 (34 downstairs, 44 upstairs), equipped with G.E.C. motors and Metropolitan‑Vickers electro-pneumatic controls. Liverpool Service: Operated on the extensive 1930s tram network until 1954; nicknamed the Green Goddess. Glasgow Period: Sold along with 45 others to Glasgow Corporation in 1954, renumbered to 1055; struggled with the longer routes due to construction weaknesses; withdrawn in 1960. Preservation Efforts: Acquired in 1960 by Liverpool University Public Transport Society (later MTPS) for £50; moved via Leeds and Liverpool, ultimately sent to Crich in 1961. Restoration Timeline: 1967–1979: Rebuilding at Liverpool’s Green Lane Depot 1979–1990: Display at Crich Tramway Village 1993: Returned to operational service after major restoration Current Status: Fully restored and in regular operation at the National Tramway Museum at Crich, covering over 18,000 miles, most recently active in 2024 season. Sources # tramway.co.uk/trams/liverpool-869 Reddit: Liverpool Green Goddess 869 and Glasgow Standard Wikipedia: Glasgow Corporation Tramways Car 4 Hill of Howth Tramway # Car 4 of the Hill of Howth Tramway at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum: Reading Tom,CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia\nClick image to enlarge\nBuilt: 1901 by Brush Electrical Engineering Company, Loughborough, England. Design: Double-decker, open-top electric tramcar, featuring longitudinal bench seating on the upper deck. Constructed with a timber body on a Brush bogie (truck). Gauge \u0026amp; Power System: Track gauge: 5ft 3in (1600 mm) the Irish broad gauge used on this line. Powered by 550 V DC overhead using trolley poles Equipped with two electric motors (circa 25 hp each) that propelled the tram up steep climbs around Howth Head Size \u0026amp; Capacity: Approximate length: 9.75 m (32 ft). Seating for 67 passengers: upper \u0026amp; lower decks combined (41 upstairs, 32 downstairs). Braking System: Likely used manual handbrakes and rheostatic braking, later augmented with air brakes (common upgrades of the era, as reflected in fleet refinements). Entered service: June 1901, running until the line\u0026rsquo;s closure on 31 May 1959, almost 58 years of service. Roger Farnworth Livery Evolution: Began in crimson lake with ivory trim, later varnished teak, then repainted in the blue \u0026amp; cream scheme standardized by CIÉ in the 1930s, reflected in the museum\u0026rsquo;s restoration. Sources # rogerfarnworth.com/2023/05/14/the-hill-of-howth-tramway Irelandmade: remembering the second to last tram Wikipedia: Hill of Howth Tramway Water Cleaner Tram # Cardiff Corporation 131 Water Cleaning Tramcar: THTRail2013, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nBuilt: 1902 Role: Water cleaner/rail grinder Modifications: Enclosed (1913), brakes upgraded (1919–20), snow ploughs \u0026amp; new motors (1947) Service Period: 1902–1950 in Cardiff Preserved at Crich: Arrived 1959; restored 2007–09; operational from 2010 Use at Crich: Operational water car, track scrubbing, driver training Mileage since restoration: 788 miles through 2024 Sources # tramway.co.uk/trams/cardiff-corporation-131/ Wikipedia: Cardiff Corporation Tramways tramwaymuseumsociety.co.uk/our-story/ Glasgow Corporation Coronation Tram # Glasgow Corporation Coronation Tram: Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nClass:\tCunarder / Coronation Mk II Fleet No.: 1392 Batch: 1293 – 1392 (100 trams total) Built: Completed in 1952 Last Service Date: Circa 1962 (network closure) Preservation:\tRiverside Museum, Glasgow Sources # Glasgowmuseums.com Glasgow Corporation Car 672 # Glasgow Corporation Tram 672: Riverside Museum Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nBuilt in October 1898 by Glasgow Corporation at Coplawhill Depot as one of the first purpose‑built electric single‑decker “Room \u0026amp; Kitchen” trams Designed with two compartments resembling a “room and kitchen,” entered service on the experimental Springburn–city centre line in October 1898 One of a batch of approximately 20 trams; not commercially successful and withdrawn from passenger service by 1907 Converted into a mains‑testing vehicle (“Works Car 3”), fitted with four 30 hp Westinghouse motors—unusual for tramcars—to test heavy electrical load Withdrawn permanently in 1953, recognised as the last surviving Room \u0026amp; Kitchen type Restored to its original 1898 livery and configuration, including its original four‑motor setup Sources # Flikr: photos/peteredin/9065918205 Scottish Trains Website Wikipedia: Glasgow Corporation Tramways The Modern Edinburgh Tram System # Edinburgh Tramcar 256: Alf van Beem, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\n1999–2001: Council-led proposals developed for a modern light-rail system, initially envisioning three lines across the city. In 2006, Scottish Parliament formally approved Lines 1 and 2, while Line 3 (south route) was dropped after a congestion-charge referendum failure. 2007–2008: Contracts awarded in 2007 to CAF (vehicles) and a Siemens/Bilfinger Berger consortium (infrastructure). Construction officially began in June 2008. 2008–2011: Project beset by delays, cost overruns, and cancelled route segments (synthetic segments like Phase 1b). Management transferred from TIE to Turner \u0026amp; Townsend in mid‑2011. Final plan scaled back to 18.5 km Phase 1a from airport to York Place. 31 May 2014: Official opening of the first trams between Edinburgh Airport and York Place, with initial fares and services established. Fleet of 27 CAF Urbos 3 introduced. December 2016: New Edinburgh Gateway stop opened, providing interchange with the national rail network (Fife Circle Line). Public Inquiry (2014–2023): Commissioned shortly after opening, led by Lord Hardie. Inquiry found mismanagement by TIE and Edinburgh Council, with final estimated Phase 1a cost at around £835.7 million and 24 recommendations issued. November 2019–June 2023: Construction of the Trams to Newhaven extension began in late 2019, paused for the COVID-19 pandemic, and opened for service on 7 June 2023, adding eight new stops and connecting Leith and Newhaven to the network. May 2025: Launch of integrated Tap On, Tap Off (ToTo) contactless fare system with daily and weekly caps (£5/day or £24.50/week), fully integrated with Lothian Buses — aligning with major smart payment systems like London’s Oyster. Sources # Wikipedia: Edinburgh trams BBC: \u0026lsquo;Litany of avoidable failures\u0026rsquo; in Edinburgh tram project ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/tramcars/","section":"Posts","summary":"Tramcars have been an important form of public transport throughout the world, from the 19th century until the present day. Modern trams are more comfortable.","title":"Tramcars"},{"content":" Leyland Titan TD1 from 1928: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024) This magnificent vintage bus is owned by Sir Brian Souter and is part of his Collection. Sir Brian had loaned the Leyland Titan to the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust at the Bridgeton bus garage in 2024 to help the Trust celebrate 100 years of Glasgow Corporation motorbuses.\nVisitors were allowed full access to the Leyland TD1. It is unusual and very generous of the Sir Brian and the GVVT to allow access to the lower and upper decks. In my travels to museums, it is very rare to be able to go inside a vintage vehicle. These vehicles have been lovingly restored and you can understand why the private owners are reluctant to allow unsupervised access.\nLeyland Titan TD1 from 1928: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nSpecifications # Chassis: Leyland Titan TD1 Year of Manufacture: 1928 Registration Number: GE 2446 Fleet Number: 111 (Glasgow Corporation) Coachbuilder: Leyland Motors Body Type: Lowbridge double-decker with side gangway design Seating Capacity: 51 passengers Engine: Originally equipped with a 6.8-litre, six-cylinder overhead-camshaft petrol engine producing between 90–98 bhp at up to 2,200 rpm . It has since been retrofitted with a diesel engine during preservation Transmission: Four-speed sliding-mesh gearbox Brakes: Vacuum-servo brakes on all four wheels Dimensions: Approximately 25 feet in length; height: just over 13 feet Weight: Unladen weight of less than 5 tonnes, allowing for the use of pneumatic tyres The ceiling is slightly lower on the right of the lower deck - and on the upper deck, the passageway is lowered.\nThis was to keep the vehicle height at about 13 feet to be able to pass under low bridges.\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan 1928: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan 1928: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan 1928: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan 1928: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nGlasgow Corporation Livery #The Leyland Titan registration number GE 3446 was withdrawn from service in 1940. Glasgow Corporation\u0026rsquo;s livery in that period would have been cream with hints of green. Although our bus is painted in the familiar cream, yellow and orange colours, these were not adopted until the 1950s.\nI instructed AI to repaint our bus to show how it would have looked in 1940:\nAn AI rendition of how this bus might have looked like in 1940.\nClick image to enlarge\nI will update this post if it is possible to check the authenticity of this livery from 1940.\nAt first glance you\u0026rsquo;d think AI has done a good job, but there is no longer an open staircase and a vertical rail has appeared. The buses in the background have gone slightly askew. Looking at it again, it appears that AI has created a completely different bus with the wrong registration, which is not on record. so I removed all the markings and asked AI to identify it.\nThe result:\nThe bus in the image you\u0026rsquo;ve uploaded appears to be a Leyland Titan, a classic double-decker bus manufactured by Leyland Motors in the United Kingdom. Specifically, it looks like a Leyland Titan PD2 or PD3 variant, which were common from the late 1940s through the 1960s.\nWell off the mark, 0ur bus is a Leyland Titan PD1, from 1928.\nAI is fine for general imaging, but not for detailed work, but I suppose it all depends on how precise you can make the script (the instsructions) that you give it.\nPhoto Montage #Script provided by the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust\u0026rsquo;s information sheet\nThere are other Leyland Titan TD1\u0026rsquo;s out there # Bolton 54 WH1553 1929 Leyland Titan TD1 Brush Body UF4813 Preserved 813 Southdown Motor Services Livery 1929 Leyland Titan TD1 - Science Museum Group Be a passenger on our Leyland Titan TD1 ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/titan1928/","section":"Posts","summary":"The Leyland Titan TD1 (1928). This magnificent Glasgow Corporation vintage bus is owned by Sir Brian Souter and is part of his Collection.","title":"Leyland Titan TD1 from 1928"},{"content":" Bristol FLF6G Tow Truck (1965, converted 1979): photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond I was really impressed by the build of this tow truck, it looked so smart inside, handy for parking up and sleeping overnight when on a long journey.\nBristol FLF6G Tow Truck (1965, converted 1979): photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nBristol FLF6G Tow Truck (1965, converted 1979): photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nBristol FLF6G Tow Truck (1965, converted 1979): photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nBristol FLF6G Tow Truck (1965, converted 1979): photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Bristol FLF6G as a Passenger Bus #Unfortunately I was unable to source photographs of CSG 29C as a passenger bus, but I\u0026rsquo;ve found a very similar vehicle for comparison.\nLEFT: Bristol FLF6G Tow Truck (1965, converted 1979): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond\nRIGHT: Bristol Lodekka (1965) Arriva436, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nCan the Bristol FLF6G truck tow an AEC Routemaster? # Bristol FLF6G Tow Truck (1965, converted 1979): photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond\nClick image to enlarge\nApparently not. The orange towing eye is not correct for lifting a Routemaster because it does not appear to have a wheel-lift cradle. Even if this tow truck had the correct attachment, towing a Routemaster would be pushing the limits of this vehicle\u0026rsquo;s safe towing capacity, since it would primarily have been used to tow single-deck buses.\nRoutemaster being towed (1998) #Video by Soi Buakhao\nSources # railsroadsrunways.blogspot.com bcv.robsly.com Flikr: 8490475256 Wikipedia: Bristol Lodekka Isle of Wight Bus Museum Wikipedia: AEC-Routemaster ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/tow-truck/","section":"Posts","summary":"This tough-looking tow truck was on show at the recent Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Open Day. It looks like it could tow anything.","title":"Bristol FLF6G Tow Truck"},{"content":" Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Open Day August 2025 The museum is one of the largest vintage bus collections in the UK. The site in Lathalmond includes exhibition halls, restoration workshops, and additional vehicles like classic cars and a small railway collection. It is run primarily by volunteers and managed as a charity. The museum hosts events such as the Festival of Historic Transport, combining vintage buses and classic vehicles. The 44th Festival was held in June 2025.\nMuseum History # 1968: A local enthusiast, Jasper Pettie buys a Guy Arab bus and stores it in temporary accommodation in North Berwick. This marks an early origin of what later becomes a formal organisation. 1972: A shed is purchased in Pathhead, near Dalkeith as a base for bus preservation and storing vehicles; effectively the first Scottish base for organised bus preservation. 1985: The group forms a registered charity to run a bus museum and coordinate preservation activities. 1986: The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum is formally established at Whitburn, West Lothian. 1995: The museum relocates to its current site at Lathalmond (a former Royal Navy Stores Depot), north of Dunfermline in Fife, on a 45 acre site. 1990s to 2000s: Over time the collection grows substantially, with buses dating from the 1920s to later decades. 2025: The museum marks 30 years at the Lathalmond site and celebrates its 40th anniversary with special events and expanded visitor engagement. Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Open Day August 2025.\nScottish Vintage Bus Museum Open Day August 2025\nClick image to enlarge\nScottish Vintage Bus Museum Open Day August 2025\nClick image to enlarge\nScottish Vintage Bus Museum Open Day August 2025\nClick image to enlarge\nScottish Vintage Bus Museum Open Day August 2025\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Wikipedia: The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum\u0026rsquo;s website The Scottish Gazetteer of Scotland ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/scottish-vintage-bus/","section":"Posts","summary":"The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum has over 150 vehicles on display and the Open Days are a great day out for the family with many buses on display.","title":"Scottish Vintage Bus Museum"},{"content":"Quite a number of fleet operators used Routemasters, not just London, even more so when they reached the end of their service life for London Transport. Other fleet operators used the retired Routemasters for their routes as a stop-gap until they modernised their fleets.\nLondon Routemasters: Clive Warneford, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nHistory \u0026amp; Development # The Routemaster was designed for London Transport by AEC in partnership with London Transport, with the first prototype completed in September 1954. The first Routemasters entered passenger service in February 1956. Production of Routemasters ran from 1954 until the last vehicles were delivered in 1968. A total of 2,876 Routemasters were built. Routemaster design combined an aluminium stressed-skin body, two steel subframes (front and rear), and an integral layout to reduce weight and simplify maintenance. Operators (companies that used the Routemaster besides London Transport) # Small batches of Routemasters were delivered to the Northern General Transport Company. British European Airways (BEA) also took a small number of coach-specification Routemasters. Construction \u0026amp; Coachbuilders # The Routemaster was built as an AEC (Associated Equipment Company) product with bodywork primarily by Park Royal Vehicles. Other coachbuilders involved in building Routemaster bodies included Metro Cammell Weymann and Eastern Coach Works for certain batches and coach variants. The Routemaster’s body structure used an aluminium stressed-skin construction to save weight combined with separate steel front and rear subframes. Production \u0026amp; Numbering Details # Routemasters were assembled in the UK (notably Southall) with chassis/body integration under AEC and Park Royal arrangements. Fleet numbering used the RM (and RML/RM-class) series for London Transport allocations (for example RM1737 delivered in 1963). In-Service History, Withdrawal \u0026amp; Heritage # Routemasters remained in daily service in London from 1956 until the main fleet withdrawals were completed in December 2005. TfL (Transport for London) later ran two central London heritage Routemaster routes until 2019, after which Routemasters were removed from TfL contract services. Many Routemasters survive in preservation, with heritage operators, private companies and event services using restored examples. Preservation State # There are roughly 1,230 surviving examples (figure cited by preservation groups and registries as of recent counts). The \u0026lsquo;might-have-been\u0026rsquo; Manchester Routemaster #This is a section from a post I recently published when I visited the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester in March 2025. Among the many well preserved buses was this Routemaster, seemingly a long way from home.\nThis text was taken directly from the fact sheet in front of the bus, but due to all the myriad reflections in the garage that sunny day, I could not edit the fact sheet photograph to a readable form.\nFrom time to time, bus operators have always tried out new types either loaned from elsewhere or using demonstrators provided by a manufacturer looking for sales. The London Routemaster was developed specifically for London but a batch was sold to Northern General of County Durham where they were successful. Manchester Corporation decided to try the Routemaster out and borrow RM1414 for two weeks in February 1963, working with Parrs Wood Garage in Didsbury. None were bought by Manchester, but when RM1414 was taken out of service in September 1982, it was presented to the Museum in the November as an interesting \u0026lsquo;might-have-been\u0026rsquo;.\nManchester’s Routemaster: Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester (October 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nThe reason why Manchester rejected the Routemaster # Manchester’s Routemaster - text: © the Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nRoutemasters in Scotland (post London Transport) #When London finally withdrew most of its iconic RM Routemasters in December 2005, several Scottish operators eagerly stepped in, giving the classic red buses a second life far from their original home. In places like Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Highlands, Routemasters found new roles ranging from sightseeing fleets to heritage services and private hires. For many operators, the appeal was a mix of nostalgia, rugged engineering, and the instant charm the buses brought to tourist routes. Some companies even kept the traditional conductors, adding to the old school atmosphere that visitors loved.\nSome Scottish operators that added Routemasters to their fleets # Clydeside Scottish Kelvin Scottish / Kelvin Central, including Magicbus/Kelvin Central Strathtay Scottish Stagecoach in Glasgow under the Magicbus brand The Red Bus: Edinburgh vintage hire/privately run Routemasters Routemaster RM910 EDS 2881 (1961) # Routemaster RM910 (1961): GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nRoutemaster RM910 (1961): GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nOld Registration Number: WLT 910 Chassis Type: AEC Routemaster Chassis Number: RM910 Body Type \u0026amp; Seating: Park Royal H36/28R Body Number: L5352 Original Operator: London Transport (RM910) Scottish Operator: Kelvin Scottish Fleet Number: 1929 Location: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust\u0026rsquo;s Bridgeton Bus Garage Routemaster WLT 835 RM835 (1961) # Routemaster RM835: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nRegistration Number: WLT 835 (fleet no. RM835) Original Operator: London Transport Date New: July 1961 Chassis Type: AEC Routemaster Body Type: Park Royal 28/36 Last Operator: Clydeside Scottish (withdrawn from service in 1990) Preserved By: The Clydemaster Preservation Group Location: Can sometimes be seen at GVVT\u0026rsquo;s Bridgeton Bus Garage in Glasgow Routemaster RM2121 (1965) # Routemaster RM2121: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow (November 2024)\nClick image to enlarge\nRegistration Number: CUV 121C Chassis Type: AEC Routemaster Chassis Number: RM2121 Body Type \u0026amp; Seating: Park Royal H36/28R Body Number: L5352 Original Operator: London Transport Fleet Number: RM2121 Location: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust\u0026rsquo;s Bridgeton Bus Garage When this Routemaster was new, it operated from the Bow Garage in East London for 14 years. In 1987 it was sold to the Glasgow-based Magicbus fleet. The bus was repainted into the colourful Magicbus livery. Magicbus operations were then sold to Kelvin Central Buses in 1992.\nThe vehicle was later acquired for preservation and was loaned to the Clydeside company and painted in the red/yellow Clydeside livery. The vehicle bus only spent a short time with Clydeside and was changed back into its original London Transport livery.\nSources # Flikr: Clydemaster Preservation Group Wiki: AEC Routemaster Routemaster Association Park Royal Vehicles London Transport Museum: Routemaster Wiki: Scottish Clydeside Routemasters Video: Strathtay Routemasters in Perth Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Stock List ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/routemaster-history/","section":"Posts","summary":"The iconic red AEC Routemasters were in service for London Transport from 1956 to 2005. Some Routemasters are still around, repurposed or on display.","title":"AEC Routemaster History"},{"content":" Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025) The Museum of Transport Greater Manchester has a fabulous collection of vintage buses and trolleybuses, as well as memorabilia.\nMuseum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nMuseum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nMuseum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nRestoration work in progress: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nThe \u0026lsquo;might-have-been\u0026rsquo; Manchester Routemaster #This text was taken directly from the fact sheet in front of the bus, but due to all the myriad reflections in the garage that sunny day, I could not edit the fact sheet photograph to a readable form.\nFrom time to time, bus operators have always tried out new types either loaned from elsewhere or using demonstrators provided by a manufacturer looking for sales. The London Routemaster was developed specifically for London but a batch was sold to Northern General of County Durham where they were successful. Manchester Corporation decided to try the Routemaster out and borrow RM1414 for two weeks in February 1963, working with Parrs Wood Garage in Didsbury. None were bought by Manchester, but when RM1414 was taken out of service in September 1982, it was presented to the Museum in the November as an interesting \u0026lsquo;might-have-been\u0026rsquo;. Text © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nManchester’s Routemaster: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nThe reason why Manchester rejected the Routemaster # Manchester’s Routemaster - text: © The Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarger\nConductors Uniforms # Conductor uniform 1900s: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nConductor uniform 1940s: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nConductor uniform 1980s: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nOperation Pied Piper #Like most towns and cities in the line of fire from the German bombers during World War II, the citizens had the heartbreak of seeing their children taken away by strangers for their own safety. Their parents did not know if they would see them again, if ever. The very real threat of German bombs finding their targets, or a rogue bomb being dropped at the end of the bombing run, could quickly make the children orphans and they would only find out much later.\nManchester played its part in organising the children, grouping them all together and making sure they left the city in safety. The same evacuation process was being carried out in vulnerable towns and cities across the UK.\nOperation Pied Piper: Text © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nLiveries and Coats of Arms # Various districts had their own liveries.\nGreater Manchester various districts coats-of-arms.\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Museum of Transport Greater Manchester ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/manchester-museum/","section":"Posts","summary":"The Museum of Transport Greater Manchester has a fabulous collection of vintage buses and trolleybuses, as well as memorabilia.","title":"Transport Museum Greater Manchester"},{"content":"London buses are familiar throughout the world, but in recent years changes were made to comply with various environmental and safety laws, so now the buses that you see on the London streets are more efficient, cost-effective and safer. They just lack the charisma of the old RT amd RM London buses.\n1829 – The First Horse-Drawn Omnibus # The first horse-drawn ominbus: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nOperated by George Shillibeer. Service ran from Paddington to the Bank of England. Used horse-drawn coaches modelled after Parisian omnibuses. 1904 – LGOC’s First Motor Bus (Steam-Driven) # LGOC’s First Motor Bus (Steam-Driven): Charles E Lee, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nLondon General Omnibus Company\nA 14‑seat steam-powered omnibus built by Clarkson of Chelmsford Operated by the London General Omnibus Company From 10 October 1904, LGOC began operating petrol-driven buses. Replaced many horse-drawn buses by 1911. 1909–1912 – Development of the B-Type Bus # LGOC B-Type BusTimitrius from Great Britain, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nFirst mass-produced motor bus. 34-seater, wooden body, open top deck. Capable of 16 mph. Over 2,500 built by LGOC. 1919 – AEC K-Type London Bus # AEC K-Type bus: tony_duell, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nFirst modern-style double-decker in London Capacity: Around 46 passengers Wider than previous models (increased from 6 ft to 7 ft 6 in) Chassis: Designed specifically as a bus — not a converted lorry like earlier buses The K-type marked a shift from horse-drawn carriage style buses to more practical, motorized double-deckers. 1920 - AEC S-Type London Bus # AEC S-Type bus: Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nLarger successor to the K-type Capacity: Up to 54 passengers Longer chassis — extended wheelbase Appearance: Very similar to K-type but longer and slightly higher open-top versions common Better load distribution and increased passenger comfort than the K-type The S-type was essentially a scaled-up K-type, designed to carry more people as London\u0026rsquo;s demand for buses grew. 1930s – STL-type Buses and Double-Deck Innovations # STL-type London bus: Hugh Llewelyn from Keynsham, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\n1940s – AEC Regent (RT-type) Bus # London RT Buses: Chris Sampson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\n1938 - The prototype RT1 is built by London Transport and AEC (Associated Equipment Company). Designed as a modern, streamlined replacement for the STL class. RT1 (the original prototype) is preserved at the London Bus Museum. Video: The Aldenham Bus Overhaul Works #Here is an excellent video posted by 8inklespup on YouTube.\n1956 – AEC Routemaster (RM-type) # London Routemasters: Clive Warneford, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\n1954 – First prototype Routemaster RM1 completed by AEC and London Transport. Designed to replace the RT-type and modernize London\u0026rsquo;s bus fleet. RM1 is preserved at the London Transport Museum. The Boris Bus - The New Routemaster (2012-2017) #The last bus that retains the familiarity of the red London Bus. A very expensive bus that is being phased out. But it still has a lot of character and style which I like. I never got the opportunity to be a passenger on one of these buses and I hope I\u0026rsquo;m able to board one of them when I visit London. The Boris Bus: R Sones, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nTimeline \u0026amp; Development\n2008 – Mayor Boris Johnson promises to replace bendy buses and reintroduce a new-style Routemaster. 2009 – Design competition held by TfL; final concept developed by Heatherwick Studio (design) and Wrightbus (manufacturer). Modern London Buses #Here are two examples:\nThe Alexander Dennis Enviro400 # Alexander Dennis Enviro400: Koex73, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\n2005 – The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 (E400) was launched as a fully integrated double-decker bus: chassis and bodywork by ADL. The Wright Cadet # Wright Cadet bus: Oxyman, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nLaunched in 2000 by Wrightbus (Northern Ireland), built on the DAF SB120 chassis. Designed as a midibus – longer than a minibus but shorter than a full-size single-decker. The Electric London Bus - Alexander Dennis Enviro200EV # Alexander Dennis Enviro200EV London busHugh Llewelyn from Keynsham, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nManufacturer: BYD (a Chinese electric vehicle company) in partnership with Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), a UK-based bus manufacturer. Capacity: Carry around 70 passengers, including both seated and standing spaces. The Future of Public Transport in London #There are various reports regarding the future of transport in London and the one that stands out with a detailed outline of where transport is heading, is the London Transport Museum\u0026rsquo;s report, Making Transport Fit for the Future.\nTransport plays a pivotal role in addressing the challenges posed by the cost-of-living crisis and the climate emergency. It also holds the key to shaping a low carbon, equitable and economically prosperous future. This potential makes the focus of this report timely and highlights the need for urgent action. Annette Smith, Head of Future Mobility, Mott MacDonald You\u0026rsquo;ll find the links to the article and the report below.\nSources # Making Transport Fit for the Future - The Report The London Transport Museum List of transport museums in the UK ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/london-buses/","section":"Posts","summary":"London buses are familiar throughout the world, but now the buses that you see on the London streets are more efficient, cost-effective and safer.","title":"London Buses"},{"content":" Leyland Titan PD3/14: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025) Leyland Titan PD3/14: Information sheet © The Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan PD3/14: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan PD3/14: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan PD3/14: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan PD3/14: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland Titan PD3/14: Museum of Transport Greater Manchester (March 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Transport Museum Greater Manchester Flikr: Preserved ex Stockport Corporation Transport Wikimedia Commons: Greater Manchester Transport bus 5871 ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/leyland_titan_pd3/","section":"Posts","summary":"Have a look at this 1968 Leyland Titan PD3 in perfect condition, as if it was still in public service, ready to welcome passengers aboard.","title":"Leyland Titan PD3/14"},{"content":"Here is a table containing photographs of Leyland buses manufactured from 1922 onwards, with a brief history of this iconic bus manufacturer.\nLeyland Buses in production date order #Click on an image to enlarge\nSpecifications Leyland Buses in Museums 1922 Registration Number: CD 7045\nChassis: 1922 Leyland 'N' type Special\nChassis Number: 12347\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Re-bodied 1929, Short Bros open top 51 seater\nBody Number: 8639\nOriginal Operator: Southdown Motor Services Ltd.\nLocation: The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Dunfermline 1928 Registration Number: GE 2446\nChassis: Leyland Titan TD1 (diesel)\nChassis Number: 70293\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Leyland L27/24RO\nOriginal Operator: Glasgow Corporation\nFleet Number: 111\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow 1929 Registration Number: SO 3740\nChassis: Leyland Tiger TS2\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Alexander B32F\nOriginal Operator: W Alexander \u0026 Sons Ltd.\nFleet Number: P63\nLocation: Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Dunfermline 1934 Registration Number: WG 2373\nChassis: Leyland Lion LT5B\nChassis Number: 4126\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Re-bodied in 1947, Burlingham B35F\nBody Number: 2363\nOriginal Operator: W. Alexander \u0026 Sons Ltd.\nFleet Number: P169\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow 1935 Registration Number: WG 3260\nChassis: Leyland Lion LT5A\nBody Type: Alexander B-F\nOriginal Operator: W Alexander \u0026 Sons Ltd.\nFleet Number: P705\nLocation: The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Dunfermline 1936 Registration Number: ATF 477\nChassis: Leyland Tiger TS7T\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Fowler C39F\nOriginal Operator: Singleton, Leyland\nLocation: The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Dunfermline 1947 Registration Number: XG 9304\nChassis: Leyland Titan PD1\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Northern Counties L27/26R\nOriginal Operator: Middlesborough Corporation\nFleet Number: 52\nLocation: The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Dunfermline 1951 Registration Number: DGS 536\nChassis: Leyland Tiger PS1/1\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: McLennan C39F\nOriginal Operator: McLennan, Spitalfield\nLocation: The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Dunfermline 1960 Registration Number: SGD 407\nChassis: Leyland Titan PD3/2\nChassis Number: 600405\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Alexander H41/31F\nBody Number: 6248\nOriginal Operator: Glasgow Corporation\nFleet Number: L405\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow 1961 Registration Number: RMS 714\nChassis: Leyland Tiger Cub PSCU1/2\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Alexander C41F\nOriginal Operator: W Alexander (Fife)\nFleet Number: FPD25\nLocation: The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Dunfermline 1968 Registration Number: KJA 871F\nChassis: Leyland Titan PD3/14\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: East Lancashire Coachbuilders 70/5\nOriginal Operator: Stockport Corporation\nFleet Number: 5871\nLocation: Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester 1973 Registration Number: ESG 537L\nChassis: Leyland Leopard PSU3/3R\nChassis Number: 7301390\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Alexander AY C49F\nBody Number: 40AY/1072/11\nOriginal Operator: Eastern Scottish\nFleet Number: ZH537\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow 1974 Registration Number: SCS 335M\nChassis: Leyland Leopard PSU3/3R\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Alexander AY C49F\nBody Number: 65AY/3873/9\nOriginal Operator: Western SMT\nFleet Number: L2466\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow 1975 Registration Number: JGA 189N\nChassis: Leyland Atlantean AN68/1R\nChassis Number: 7500623\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Alexander AL H45/31F\nBody Number: AL38/1134/7\nOriginal Operator: Greater Glasgow PTE\nFleet Number: LA907\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow 1980 Registration Number: GCS 50V\nChassis: Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R\nChassis Number: 7903534\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Alexander AY B53F\nBody Number: 137AY/2078/21\nOriginal Operator: Western SMT\nOriginal Fleet Number: L50\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow 1982 Registration Number: SHH 389X\nChassis: Leyland National 2 (NL116AL11/1R)\nBody Type: Leyland National\nOriginal Operator: Cumberland Motor Services\nFleet Number: 389\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow Brief History of Leyland Bus # 1896:\tLancashire Steam Motor Company founded 1907:\tRenamed Leyland Motors 1919:\tFirst buses built under Leyland Motors 1950/60s:\tIntroduced many notable models (Atlantean, Leopard, National etc.) 1968:\tMerger to form British Leyland Motor Corporation 1981:\tBus division given autonomy as “Leyland Bus” under earlier structure 1987:\tManagement buy-out from Rover Group / British Leyland / BLMC 1988:\tSold to Volvo Buses; renamed VL Bus and Coach (UK) Ltd. 1991:\tLeyland factory stops producing chassis; brand’s decline underway 1993:\tLast Leyland bus chassis (Olympian) delivered; brand discontinued Last of the Leylands: The Leyland Olympian (1980-1993) #Registration L201 UNS is widely believed to be one of the last Leyland buses to be made for the UK market.\nThe very last batch of Leyland Olympians were completed in 1993 for the Singapore Bus Service.\nThe last leyland Olympian in the UK? megabus13601, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nRegistration Number: L201 UNS Chassis: Leyland Olympian ON2R50C13V3 Chassis Number: ON20846 Body Type \u0026amp; Seating: Alexander RL H47/31F Body Number: RL67/4692/52 Date New:\t7 October 1993 Original Operator:\tStrathclyde\u0026rsquo;s Buses Fleet Number: LO101 Location: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow Sources # Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Museum of Transport Greater Manchester The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Wikipedia: Leyland Bus Made in Preston: History of Leyland Motors Local Transport History: Leyland ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/leyland-buses/","section":"Posts","summary":"Photographs of Leyland buses manufactured from 1922 onwards in the UK, with a brief history of this iconic bus manufacturer.","title":"Leyland Bus"},{"content":" Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Bridgeton Bus Garage #The Bridgeton Bus Garage is a large depot, housing over 150 vintage vehicles. Most of these vehicles are privately owned and they are stored and maintained there for a modest monthly fee.\nSome of the vintage buses that are utilised for tranporting passengers from the city to the bus garage may have up to date MOT\u0026rsquo;s, although because of their vintage status (over 40 years old), MOTs are not a requirement. However These buses are maintained to a very high standard and you can be assured as a passenger that you will be transported safely in one of these magnificent buses with a fully qualified PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) licenced driver.\nBuses in various stages of restoration: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nThe familiar livery of Glasgow Corporation. GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nSome interesting facts about this garage # The garage was opened in 1965 for Glasgow Corporation Transport it was closed in 1976 by the Greater Glasgow PTE From 1976 the garage was used as an internal transport depot From 2003 the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust started operating from this garage Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust purchased the garage in 2020 GVVT #The Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust (GVVT) is a registered charity based in Glasgow, Scotland, dedicated to the preservation and restoration of historic passenger-carrying and commercial vehicles.\nA fine collection of vintage buses. GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nGlasgow Corporation buses: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nText © GVVT: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nGlasgow buses: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nGVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nGVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nGVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nPit area: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nOutdoor display: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nChildrens’ play bus on Open Days: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nWorkshop: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nVideo created by mollsmyre Video created by GVVT Resources # Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Website ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/gvvt/","section":"Posts","summary":"In the south east of Glasgow, stored within a large ex-Glasgow Corporation bus garage, are a collection of vintage vehicles, mostly public transport buses.","title":"Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust"},{"content":" Guy Arab mkIII (1948): Photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum (2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nRegistration: AWG 393. Fleet number: RO607 (W. Alexander \u0026amp; Sons, Fife). Preserved at: Scottish Vintage Bus Museum (SVBM), Lathalmond, Fife. Owner: I Allan, Dunfermline. Factsheet by the owner I Allan and SVBM\nClick image to enlarge\nGuy Arab mkIII (1948): Photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nGuy Arab mkIII (1948): Photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nGuy Arab mkIII (1948): Photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nGuy Arab mkIII (1948): Photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nGuy Arab mkIII (1948): Photographed at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nVideo by VintageBuses.org\nSources # Flickr: Photo and information YouTube video by Bus\u0026amp;TrainChaser PDF: mdsbooks.co.uk ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/guy_arab_1948/","section":"Posts","summary":"This Guy Arab mkIII (1948) in Alexander and Sons blue livery is a well preserved example of how these handsome buses looked when they were in service.","title":"Guy Arab Double-Decker (1948)"},{"content":" Graham's Bus Services 85 at Hawkhead Station – 1970 by Alan Murray-Rust, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons What was unique about Graham\u0026rsquo;s buses was that they were flexible. A bus would turn off down a quiet road to factory where the workers had just finished their shift. This was not the normal timetable, but Graham\u0026rsquo;s had instructed their drivers to turn down that road at that particular time of night. On another occasion when the M8 motorway was closed, Graham\u0026rsquo;s took their passengers to their destination via non-motorway roads, rather than cancel the service.\nHistory of Graham\u0026rsquo;s Bus Service # 1920s: Founded as J \u0026amp; W Graham, operating red single-decker buses on the Johnstone–Glasgow route from Linwood Toll as part of the South Western Bus Owners’ Association.\n1932: Sold its original fleet to Western SMT due to intense competition from Glasgow trams and buses; pivoted to a shorter Linwood–Hawkhead service using single-deckers.\n1940: Began operating ex-Glasgow Leyland Titan TD1 double-deckers (7 in total) to meet rising passenger demand.\n1953: Incorporated as Graham’s Bus Service Ltd.; adopted distinctive orange-and-cream livery inspired by Young of Paisley.\n1944–1963: Standardised on Guy Arab double-decker buses, reputed for their reliability.\n1963–1970s: With the opening of the Rootes/Linwood car plant, expanded services; extended routes to Penilee, Govan (connecting via subway), and Bridge of Weir (acquired in 1973).\nLate 1960s–1970s: Modernised fleet with Daimler Fleetlines and Leyland Atlanteans; trialled single-decker Ford R1114 demonstrator in 1972 before adding Leyland Leopards.\n1977: Partnered with Greater Glasgow PTE and Western SMT to launch the Linwood Clipper express via M8 motorway between Linwood and Glasgow.\n1980s: Maintained around 30 vehicles by the 1980s, including a mix of double and single-decker buses.\n1983: Briefly operated replacement Link Line buses after closure of Kilmacolm railway line, before later withdrawal.\n1986: Deregulation era – Faced increasing competition due to deregulation, putting pressure on smaller independents.\nMarch 1990: Business was listed for sale (with 30 buses and 69 jobs at stake) but failed to find a buyer.\n29 April 1990: Ceased operations after about 60 years; Western Scottish and Strathclyde Buses absorbed most routes.\nGraham\u0026rsquo;s Bus Service garage, Hawkhead, Paisley – 1970 by Alan Murray-Rust, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nGraham\u0026rsquo;s bus passing Hawkhead Cemetery, Paisley – 1970 by Alan Murray-Rust, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nGraham\u0026rsquo;s bus on Seedhill Road, Paisley – 1970 by Alan Murray-Rust, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Wikipedia: Graham\u0026rsquo;s Bus Service Flikr: Graham\u0026rsquo;s Buses Paisley Fleet ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/grahams_of_paisley/","section":"Posts","summary":"Graham\u0026rsquo;s of Paisley was a highly regarded independent local bus company in Scotland. It ceased operations in 1990 and is sorely missed.","title":"Graham's of Paisley"},{"content":" Official LNER poster (1929): See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons George Bennie began the railplane concept in 1921 and the experimental car was built between 1929 and 1930, designed with the assistance of engineer Hugh Fraser. The car was built by William Beardmore \u0026amp; Company.\nLocation: Milngavie, Glasgow, Scotland #The 426ft (130 m) elevated test track stood immediately east of Main Street, Milngavie, above a London \u0026amp; North Eastern Railway (LNER) siding to Burnbrae Dyeworks. Today it’s just east of the Kelvin Timber premises.\nLocation in 1930 # Aerial view of the test track. © Copyright: HES (Aerofilms Collection)\nClick image to enlarge\nGeorge Bennie (on left) is demonstrating a model of the railplane to dignitaries. University of Glasgow Archives \u0026amp; Special Collections, GB248 DC 85/3/9\nClick image to enlarge\nUniversity of Glasgow Archives \u0026amp; Special Collections, GB248 DC 85/3/20\nClick image to enlarge\nUniversity of Glasgow Archives \u0026amp; Special Collections, GB248 DC 85/3/29\nClick image to enlarge\nBibliothèque nationale de France, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nBibliothèque nationale de France, Public domain, via Wikimedia Common\nClick image to enlarges\nBennie\u0026rsquo;s vision of transport for the future - and the harsh reality #Between 1929 and 1930 George Bennie built a trial stretch of track with one railplane car at Milngavie near Glasgow as a demonstrator. He invited potential clients to sit in the comfortable carriage and take a ride along the short track. The railplane ran along an overhead monorail, with guide rails below. The power was supplied by propellers attached to on-board motors, front and rear.\nBennie\u0026rsquo;s plan was to build the overhead gantries above existing railway lines. A speed of 120 miles per hour (193 km/h) was claimed, although it could never be tested and confirmed. His railplane would offer fast passenger and mails and perishable goods service. Each car on the railplane could carry a maximum of forty-eight passengers.\nGeorge Bennie could not obtain the financial backing he required to develop his transport system. Sadly, the derelict prototype railplane and supports were sold for scrap in 1956.\nVideo by British Pathé\nFootage courtesy of YouTube (British Pathé archival footage of the George Bennie Railplane, 1930)\nVideo by Plainly Difficult\nThis plaque is located near 123 Main St Milngavie postcode: G62 6JA, on the shed where his Railplane car was built and survives as part of Kelvin Timber. By Richard Sutcliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65986223\nClick image to enlarge\nGeorge Bennie (1891-1957) # Born: 29 August 1891 at Auldhousefield, Harriet Street, Pollokshaws Glasgow. Family: Second of four children of John Bennie (co-owner of an engineering firm Star Engine Works and general/hydraulic engineer) and Elizabeth Gillespie (his second wife). Raised: At the family’s mansion, Auldhousefield. Marital Status: Never married. records suggest that he lived in a shared household in SW1 London around 1939. Military Service: Enlisted in the Army Service Corps in October 1914 as a shoesmith during WWI; served in France. Awarded the 1914 Star as a result of early service. Royal Flying Corps: Transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in March 1916 as an Air Mechanic; with formation of the RAF in 1918, continued as a Fitter (Aero Engines). Recreation: He was a keen golfer and donated the Bennie Trophy for the Bute Amateur Open Championship. He also liked sailing and owned a 25ft motor launch named Devonia. Patents: Applied for UK patent for the Railplane in 1921. Granted in 1923. Inter-Counties Ltd: The company that was backing the Railplane ousted George Bennie in May 1936. Bankruptcy: Declared bankrupt in 1937, with debts of around £5,061 and contingent liabilities over £22,000. Death: George Bennie died on 19 November 1957 (or 20 November, in some records). The records are not clear, he either died in a nursing home or St Elba\u0026rsquo;s Hospital in Epsom, Surrey. Sources #The Railplane\nWikipedia: Bennie Railplane Atlas Obscura University of Glasgow Old Machine Press TheGlasgowStory Biography: George Bennie\nEpsom \u0026amp; Ewell History Explorer StudyLib Grace\u0026rsquo;s Guide ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/george-bennie-railplane/","section":"Posts","summary":"The Railplane was an experimental, propeller-driven suspended monorail invented by George Bennie from Glasgow, with a claimed speed of 120mph.","title":"George Bennie Railplane"},{"content":" Aerial view of L. Gardner \u0026amp; Sons\u0026rsquo; Barton Hall Engine Works, Patricroft, Eccles, Manchester: Stevedt7, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons The Gardner diesel and petrol engines have powered many UK public transport buses throughout the years. L Gardner \u0026amp; Sons was founded by Lawrence Gardner in Hulme (Manchester) as a small engineering / sewing-machine business in 1868.\nL Gardner \u0026amp; Sons (Gardner Engines) #Gardner Petrol Engines #In the early 20th century, Gardner produced a limited range of petrol engines, primarily for industrial machinery, marine vessels, and specialised vehicles. Petrol engines were never widely adopted for UK buses. From the 1930s, Gardner focused on diesel engines, which became the standard for buses and trucks thanks to their reliability and fuel efficiency.\nThe sound of a Gardner engine #Ask any bus enthusiast and they’ll tell you: Gardner engines had a sound all of their own. Unlike the harsher roar of many Leyland or AEC units, a Gardner was slow-revving and deliberate, with a steady, almost musical beat. At idle there was a soft mechanical “tick,” while under load the engine produced a throaty, smooth thrum that carried through city streets. The 6LX and 6LXB in particular became legendary — you could often identify a Gardner-powered bus by ear long before you saw it. This distinctive note is one reason Gardner engines remain so fondly remembered today. Gardner 1908 Type 4CR Marine Petrol Engine: Photograph by Clem Rutter, Rochester, Kent. (www.clemrutter.net)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nWest Midlands Travel Mk2 MCW Metrobus DR102/64 3053 (F53 XOF) paulburr73, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nA Sectioned Gardner 6LW engine built in 1961 for use in a Bristol Commercials Bus BulldozerD11, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nGardner 6LXB engine: km30192002, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Wikipedia: L Gardner \u0026amp; Sons Gardner Marine Diesels ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/gardner-engines/","section":"Posts","summary":"Gardner engines have powered many UK vintage passenger buses throughout the years and been renowned for their reliability.","title":"Gardner Engines"},{"content":" AEC Routemaster (1961): Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow Photographs taken on my visits to the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust at Bridgeton Garage in Glasgow, The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum in Dunfermline and the Transport Museum Greater Manchester. My thanks to these museums for allowing me to photograph the vehicles.\nBrief History of AEC (Associated Equipment Company) Buses # 1909: London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) begins building its own buses. 1912: AEC (Associated Equipment Company) founded as LGOC’s manufacturing arm. 1914–1918: Produces military lorries (notably the Y-type) during WWI. 1927: Main production moves from Walthamstow to Southall, West London. 1929: Introduces Regent double-decker and Regal single-decker bus chassis. 1948: Becomes part of Associated Commercial Vehicles (ACV) group. 1953: Launches AEC Reliance single-decker chassis. 1954: Builds first Routemaster prototypes with Park Royal. 1958: Full production of Routemaster buses begins. 1962: Leyland Motors acquires ACV (including AEC). 1968: Last Routemasters completed at AEC Southall works. 1977: AEC brand begins to be phased out under Leyland. 1979: Southall factory closes; last AEC chassis completed. 1979: Last AEC bus produced. AEC Reliance / Duple Dominant — registration JTM 109V AEC Buses in production date order #Click on an image to enlarge\nSpecifications AEC Buses in Museums July 1938 Registration Number: BUS 181\nChassis: AEC Regent 0661\nChassis Number: 06616225\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Crossley (1950) cut-down R4\nBody Number: 2363\nOriginal Operator: Glasgow Corporation\nFleet Number: 615 (later AR292)\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow December 1939 Registration Number: BBA 560\nChassis: AEC Regent 0661\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Park Royal seated 48, standing 5\nOriginal Operator: Salford Corporation Transport\nFleet Number: 235 (later 98)\nLocation: Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester September 1946 Registration Number: AWG 639\nChassis: AEC Regal Mk 1 0662\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Alexander C35F\nOriginal Operator: W Alexander \u0026 Sons Ltd.\nFleet Number: A52\nLocation: Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Dunfermline August 1947 Registration Number: AWG 623\nChassis: AEC Regal Mk 1 0662\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Alexander C30F\nOriginal Operator: W. Alexander \u0026 Sons Ltd.\nFleet Number: A36\nLocation: Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Dunfermline January 1961 Registration Number: EDS 288A (originally WLT 910)\nChassis: AEC Routemaster\nChassis Number: RM910\nBody Type: Park Royal H36/28R\nOriginal Operator: London Transport\nFleet Number: RM910\nRepresented Operator: Kelvin Scottish\nFleet Number: 1929\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow January 1961 Registration Number: SGD 500\nChassis: AEC Regent V\nChassis Number: 2D2RA827\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Alexander H41/31F\nBody Number: 6137\nOriginal Operator: Glasgow Corporation\nFleet Number: A350\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow May 1961 Registration Number: YDK 590\nChassis: AEC Reliance 2MU3RA\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Harrington Cavalier\nOriginal Operator: Yellowway Motor Services (Rochdale)\nLocation: Transport Museum, Greater Manchester July 1961 Registration Number: WLT 835\nChassis: AEC Routemaster\nOriginal Operator: London Transport\nFleet Number: RM835\nLocation: Visiting GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow 2025 May 1962 Registration Number: 7424 SP\nChassis: AEC Reliance 2MU3RV\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Alexander C41F\nOriginal Operator: W Alexander (Fife)\nFleet Number: FAC4\nLocation: The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Dunfermline February 1963 Registration Number: 414 CLT\nChassis: AEC Routemaster 2R2RH\nOriginal Operator: Demonstrator from London Transport for Manchester Corporation Transport\nFleet Number: RM1414\nLocation: Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester January 1964 Registration Number: 8860 VR\nChassis: AEC Regent V 2D3RA\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: East Lancs\nOriginal Operator: A Mayne \u0026 Son\nLocation: Transport Museum, Greater Manchester January 1965 Registration Number: CUV 131C\nChassis: AEC Routemaster\nChassis Number: RM2121\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Park Royal H36/28R\nBody Number: L5352\nOriginal Operator: London Transport\nFleet Number: RM2121\nLocation: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow September 1965 Registration Number: PTC 114C\nChassis: AEC Renown 3B3RA\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: East Lancs seated 72 standing 5\nOriginal Operator: Leigh Buses\nFleet Number: 15\nLocation: Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester March 1975 Registration Number: HVU 244N\nChassis: AEC Reliance 6U3ZR\nBody Type \u0026 Seating: Plaxton Panorama Elite III seats 49\nOriginal Operator: Yelloway Motor Services (Rochdale)\nLocation: Transport Museum, Greater Manchester The Last AEC Bus in the UK # hotspur_star, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nJTM 109V a 1979 AEC with Duple Dominant body in Metrobus livery, seen at the Alton Bus Rally 2015. The event was on Sunday 19 July 2015.\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/aec/","section":"Posts","summary":"An HTML table containing photographs of AEC manufactured from 1922 onwards, with a brief history of this iconic bus manufacturer.","title":"AEC Buses"},{"content":" Daimler CVD6DD (1951): Dundee Museum of Transport (May 2025) This small museum has some vintage cars on display, but sadly it is too small to display a larger collection of vintage buses. As always when I visit transport museums, the staff were very friendly and I did find out a lot more about Dundee\u0026rsquo;s history and characters.\nBus 127 # Bus 127 Daimler CVD6DD (1951): Text © Dundee Museum of Transport\nClick image to enlarge\nDriver cab. Daimler CVD6DD (1951): Dundee Museum of Transport (May 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nOther Exhibits # Victoria Drummond: Text © Dundee Museum of Transport\nClick image to enlarge\nHMS Victory\u0026rsquo;s link to Dundee # HMS Victory model: Dundee Museum of Transport (May 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nText © Dundee Museum of Transport\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Videos #Although the Dundee Transport Museum is quite small compared to other museums across the country, the museum does have special Open Days, which may include a small display of vintage buses outside the building. It\u0026rsquo;s always best to check their website for the dates of these events.\nVideo by Karen Hendry\nVideo by Motoring Moods\nSources # Dundee Museum of Transport ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/dundee-museum/","section":"Posts","summary":"A small museum in Dundee that has a collection of vintage cars and other interesting artifacts, including a surprising link to HMS Victory.","title":"Dundee Museum"},{"content":" Leyland Lion LT5B (1934) reg WG2373: GVVT Bridgeton Bus Garage Glasgow W. Alexander \u0026amp; Sons was one of Scotland’s most influential and long-lived bus and coach operators, founded in 1913 by Walter Alexander in Camelon, near Falkirk. What began as a small charabanc and excursion business grew into a major transport group serving large parts of central, eastern and northern Scotland, with routes linking towns and cities such as Falkirk, Stirling, Perth, Dundee, Kirkcaldy and Aberdeen. Alongside running buses, the company also became a pioneering vehicle bodybuilder through its coachbuilding arm, producing the famous Alexander bus bodies that were used not only on its own fleet but across Britain and overseas. Through expansion, nationalisation, regional reorganisation and eventual privatisation, the Alexander name left a lasting mark on Scottish public transport.\nLeyland Tiger PS1 (1950): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester\nClick image to enlarge\nGuy Arab mkIII (1948): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nSEE POST:\nAlbion Valkyrie PW65 (1932) reg WG1448: Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nLeyland TS2 (1929): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Regal with Alexander C35F body (1946): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Falkirk Collections Our Stories Falkirk Wikipedia: W Alexander \u0026amp; Sons ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/alexander/","section":"Posts","summary":"W. Alexander \u0026amp; Sons was one of Scotland’s most influential and long-lived bus and coach operators, founded in 1913 by Walter Alexander.","title":"W Alexander and Sons"},{"content":" The Aldridge Transport Museum in Walsall I visited the Aldridge Transport Museum one very windy day in December 2025. It\u0026rsquo;s a small museum, but there were vintage buses on display and other very interesting exhibits.\nThe Aldridge Transport Museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage of transportation in the region, particularly in and around Aldridge and the Walsall area. It was established in 1997 by a group of volunteers. Volvo B7TL Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini (2004): Photographed at the Aldridge Transport Museum\nBMMO Son (1940): Photographed at the Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Routemaster (1960): Photographed at the Aldridge Transport Museum\nDaimler CLG5 (1954) \u0026amp; Leyland PD2 (1950): Photographed at the Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nMidland Red 5870 (1967): Photographed at the Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nMalta AEC Mercury (1965): Photographed at the Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nSEE POST: The AEC Mercury The Bank Bus, Daimler COGS (1935): Photographed at the Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Bank Bus, Daimler COGS (1935): Text © Aldridge Transport Museum\nBirmingham Trams: Photographs © Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nBirmingham Trams: Poster © Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nThe Hustler - Wooden Car: Photographed at the Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nSEE POST:\nRestoration work at Aldridge Transport Museum\nFord Zodiac (1969): Photographed at the Aldridge Transport Museum\n‘The Mechanical Horse’ Scammell MH3 (1944): Photographed at the Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # Aldridge Transport Museum Wikipedia: Aldridge Transport Museum Video: A walk around Aldridge Transport Museum ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/aldridge-museum/","section":"Posts","summary":"The Aldridge Transport Museum is a small museum, but it has many interesting vintage items on display, including a wooden car.","title":"Aldridge Transport Museum"},{"content":" Albion Victor FT39 KAN: Photographed at the Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge YFO 127: ex-Guernsey Railways Albion Victor (fleet no. 77). Type: Albion Victor FT39 KAN chassis with Reading (Portsmouth) B35F body (35 seats, front entrance). New: 1958 for Guernsey Railway Company / Guernsey Motors, fleet no. 77. Original Guernsey registration 8227. Measurement: Dimensioned for Guernsey’s narrow roads: 27 ft long x 7 ft wide; licensed for 35 seated + 7 standing (typical for the Guernsey Albions). Entered service: 1958 with Guernsey Railway Co (which, after trams closed in 1934, was the island’s bus operator). The bus worked the general island network from St Peter Port Town Terminus. End of service: Withdrawal from Guernsey service: around the 1979–1980 handover period when Guernsey Railway Company’s bus operation ceased and Guernseybus took over. Vehicles (incl. no. 77) were sold by auction. Engine: Albion 4-cyl diesel (noted for reliability \u0026amp; economy ~15–17 mpg in service). Transmission: 5-speed constant-mesh (“crash”) gearbox. Axle \u0026amp; performance: No overdrive; top speed 34 to 48 mph depending on rear-axle ratio. Guernsey 77 was new with a low-ratio axle (34 mph). Body/fit-out: Reading B35F single-door front-entrance layout; 7 ft width to suit Guernsey width limits. Albion Victor FT39 KAN: Photographed at the Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nAlbion Victor FT39 KAN: Photographed at the Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nAlbion Victor FT39 KAN: Photographed at the Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nAlbion Victor FT39 KAN: Photographed at the Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nAlbion Victor FT39 KAN: Photographed at the Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nAlbion Victor FT39 KAN: Photographed at the Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # sct61.org.uk showbus.com classicbuses.co.uk Wikipedia: Guernsey Railway ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/albion-victor/","section":"Posts","summary":"This lovely former Guernsey Railway coach was recently on display at Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Bridgeton Bus Garage in Glasgow.","title":"Albion Victor"},{"content":" AEC Mercury (1965): Aldridge Transport Museum Delivered to Malta in 1965 as a CKD AEC Mercury lorry chassis, SXS 327 took a very different path from its original intention. Instead of becoming a goods vehicle, it was transformed into a 34-seat bus by the local coachbuilder Michael Barbara of Luqa, whose styling gave Malta’s buses a character all of their own.\nLinking Valletta with Buġibba, it worked within Malta’s unique, family-run bus system where vehicles were identified by route numbers and liveries rather than company names. Like many Maltese buses, it enjoyed a long working life marked by rebuilding and re-engining, reflecting an island tradition of keeping vehicles in service for decades rather than years.\nAEC Mercury (1965): Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Mercury (1965): Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Mercury (1965): Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Mercury (1965): Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nAEC Mercury (1965): Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nText © Aldridge Transport Museum\nClick image to enlarge\nA 1963 AEC Mercury lorry: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge\nSources # The National Archives of Malta: Bus 2003 Malta’s former owner-driver bus system Aldridge Transport Museum ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/aec_mercury/","section":"Posts","summary":"Exported to Malta in CKD form as a lorry chassis, this Mercury was instead bodied locally as a 34-seat bus by Michael Barbara.","title":"AEC Mercury"},{"content":" Guy Arab Mk III single-deck (1948): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond, Fife\nClick image to enlarge\nThis well-preserved single-deck ex-Edinburgh Corporation Transport bus became a driver training vehicle when it reached the end of its service life in 1961.\nESG 652 passed into preservation in August 1973. Alongside it was its sister vehicle, ESG 653, whose final contribution was to donate much-needed components to ensure ESG 652 could be rebuilt and preserved for future generations.\nSpecifications # Registration Number: ESG 652 Date New: 1948 Engine: Gardner 5LW Chassis: Guy Arab Mk III Body: Metro-Cammell B35R Seating: 35 seats Original Operator: Edinburgh Corporation Transport Fleet Number: 739 Location: Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Lathalmond, Fife Guy Arab Mk III single-deck (1948): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nGuy Arab Mk III single-deck (1948): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nGuy Arab Mk III single-deck (1948): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nGuy Arab Mk III single-deck (1948): Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond (August 2025)\nClick image to enlarge\nGardner Engine # SG2012, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nClick image to enlarge Although the engine above dates from 1938, the Gardner 5LW engine fitted to the Guy Arab ESG 652 was of the same basic design, with only minor developmental refinements.\nSources # Wikipedia: Guy Motors Ltd sct61.org.uk Myn Transport Blog flickr.com ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/guy-arab-single/","section":"Posts","summary":"This well-preserved single-deck ex-Edinburgh Corporation Transport bus became a driver training vehicle when it reached the end of its service life in 1961.","title":"Guy Arab SingleDeck Bus 1948"},{"content":" Every vintage vehicle, locomotive and ship has a story to tell, etched into its polished timber, worn leather, and the gentle thrum of its engine. Welcome to a quiet corner of the web dedicated to preserving those memories. Take a stroll through my Transport Diaries and Transport Postcards to rediscover the brilliant engineering, historic liveries, and shared nostalgia of classic public transport. Photographs # Vintage Transport images: Any image displaying the Vintage Transport logo in the caption is free to use for any purpose, though an attribution link back to Vintage Transport is highly appreciated. Wikimedia Commons images: If you intend to reuse or copy these images, you must preserve and include the exact license attributions provided in the captions. Transport Postcards: Permission granted by Vintage Transport does not override any existing third-party copyright. Users are responsible for establishing that their intended reproduction is lawful. Image size: The images that can be clicked to enlarge are 2,056 pixels wide. ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/","section":"Home","summary":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/images/outdoors.png\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"cursor-zoom-in\"\u003e\n  \u003cimg src=\"/images/outdoors.png\" alt=\"Vintage Buses sketch\"  /\u003e\n\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"text-xl font-normal text-neutral-800 dark:text-neutral-200\"\u003e\nEvery vintage vehicle, locomotive and ship has a story to tell, etched into its polished timber, worn leather, and the gentle thrum of its engine. Welcome to a quiet corner of the web dedicated to preserving those memories. Take a stroll through my Transport Diaries and Transport Postcards to rediscover the brilliant engineering, historic liveries, and shared nostalgia of classic public transport.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"photographs\" class=\"relative group\"\u003ePhotographs \u003cspan class=\"absolute top-0 w-6 transition-opacity opacity-0 -start-6 not-prose group-hover:opacity-100\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"group-hover:text-primary-300 dark:group-hover:text-neutral-700\" style=\"text-decoration-line: none !important;\" href=\"#photographs\" aria-label=\"Anchor\"\u003e#\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage Transport images:\u003c/strong\u003e Any image displaying the Vintage Transport logo in the caption is free to use for any purpose, though an attribution link back to Vintage Transport is highly appreciated.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWikimedia Commons images:\u003c/strong\u003e If you intend to reuse or copy these images, you \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003emust\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e preserve and include the exact license attributions provided in the captions.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransport Postcards:\u003c/strong\u003e Permission granted by Vintage Transport does not override any existing third-party copyright. Users are responsible for establishing that their intended reproduction is lawful.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImage size:\u003c/strong\u003e The images that can be clicked to enlarge are 2,056 pixels wide.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e","title":"Home"},{"content":"These are interesting links and videos that I\u0026rsquo;ve come across relating to transport. If you\u0026rsquo;d like to add your website, blog or video channel to Terminus, then click the link below to send your submission by email.\nDo you have a transport-related blog or website? Please let me know via my Contact Form.\nYou are welcome to add the Vintage Buses link to your own blog/website, but it is not mandatory.\n\u0026lt;a href=\u0026#34;https://www.vintagetransport.org\u0026#34; target=\u0026#34;_blank\u0026#34; rel=\u0026#34;noopener noreferrer\u0026#34;\u0026gt;vintagebuses.org\u0026lt;/a\u0026gt; There is a separate table on the Museums menu, listing most of the transport museums in the UK.\nPlease note that the links on this page lead to external sites; for more information, see my Disclaimer\nTransport-related Websites \u0026amp; Blogs # BLOG/WEBSITE\nDESCRIPTION\nAllWrote Bus Portal\"The AllWrote Bus portal exists to bring together the latest high quality content, primarily from small independent writers, podcasters and vloggers. The focus is on recent content and the list is refreshed at least twice a day. For topics where the amount of recent content is low, selected \"mainstream\" information is included. The focus however, aims be on small, independent voices first. This is a work in progress and will likely always be so, as new authors / creators come on stream over time.\" Ian's Bus Stop\"The BUS-STOP is an outsider's view of London Transport buses, mainly in the 1930-1980 era.\" leylandsociety.co.uk\"Celebrating a proud engineering heritage dating from 1884 created in the town of Leyland\nThe Leyland Society was formed in 1998 with the aim of preserving the heritage of Britain’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer for future generations to appreciate. For over 100 years Leyland Motors in its various guises produced trucks and buses with the occasional foray into trains, tractors, tanks and more.\" busandtrainuser.com\"I retired from the bus industry in 2013 and since then have been enjoying travelling all over the UK mainly by bus and train, but also the occasional tram, ferry and aeroplane, savouring the delightful scenery and places of interest our country offers as well as experiencing the best and worst and sometimes mediocre of public transport as a passenger.\" - Roger French OBE DL MA Coach \u0026 Bus WeekThis very active online magazine gives frequent news updates on the bus and coach industry, not just in the UK, but the well-written reports cover other countries too. There are many sections, including buses, coaches and minibuses for sale. (text by Vintage Buses) plymothiantransit.com\"The home of anything and everything to do with transport in and around Plymouth for TWENTY YEARS!\" The Humble Mechanic\"My name is Charles. I am a Volkswagen technician, and have been a mechanic, a grease monkey, and a car enthusiast for many years. I started this site mainly to connect with my customers in a way that I can’t in the shop.\" - Charles The Classic British Isles Buses Website\"Welcome to the home of classic buses and coaches on the net, established by Dick Gilbert in 1996. An Irish section was added by Shane Conway in 2002, followed by a Manx section in 2012.\" Trolleybuses and Buses Serving Tottenham\"North London Suburban Tramways built their first depot at the aptly named Tramway Avenue in Edmonton and it was in April 1881 when horse-trams first opened for public service on a route between Tramway Avenue and the Edmonton/Tottenham boundary.\" feorag.wordpress.com\"Forsyth's Compendium of Curious Contraptions. One-track railways, and other marvels.\" ltmuseum.co.uk/blogLondon Transport Museum's own blog which is full of interesting posts by various authors. wheel.news Buses section\"Guides, information and advice on buses and coaches, from professional vehicles to energy, electrification and safety.\" Vintage Transport on Video # VIDEO CHANNEL\nDESCRIPTION\nPete And His Bus \"Hi My name is Pete. I love old stuff. It all started some time ago when I turned a bus into a bar for the events industry and it's been a huge success! I'm now surrounded by Routemasters which are, my bus bar 2355, my project bus 2730, the Nyetimber bus 2757, the bus as a bus 1009 and the rescued bus 843! And then there are of course all the other non-bus vehicles I collect, drive, sell, keep and enjoy! Welcome to my channel, I hope you like it! P.\" Graham Sleath \"Classic buses in action together with trams and trains at heritage railways as well as summer events in the United Kingdom feature on this channel. I hope they will be interesting to transport lovers and for those who like being out and about. I usually upload monthly or more frequently in the summer.\" SCTV: The Bus \u0026 Coach Channel \"In most of our videos we look at the history of vehicles and bus and coach companies across the UK from Bristol VRs to AEC Regents. You look like a bus enthusiast with good taste so there's bound to be something here that will appeal to you.\" SHTV Media \"Capturing tomorrow's history, today.\nPublishing transport videos from across the North of England and beyond. New Videos released at 6pm.\nBuses, Trucks, Trains, Trams, I cover most forms of Transport in the UK.\" ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/terminus/","section":"Home","summary":"A list of websites, blogs and video creators that are transport-related","title":"Terminus"},{"content":"Here are some useful links to museums within the UK on the subject of vintage vehicles, not just buses. If I have missed out any transport museums that you recommend should be added, or you have an update or correction for a museum listing then please let me know via my Contact Form.\nThere is a separate table on the Terminus menu, listing some interesting transport-related websites,blogs and video channels.\nPlease note that the links on this page lead to external sites; for more information, see my Disclaimer\nMuseum Link\nAddress\nEngland London Bus MuseumBrooklands Drive, KT13 0SL Museum of Transport Greater ManchesterBoyle St, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M8 8UW\nvisited 26 March 2025 Transport Museum WythallChapel Lane, Wythall, Worcestershire B47 6JA Oxford Bus MuseumHanborough Rail Station Yard, Main Road, Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire, OX29 8LA South Yorkshire Transport MuseumWaddington Way, off Aldwarke Lane (A6123) in Aldwarke, Rotherham, S65 3SH Dewsbury Bus Museum7-11 Foundry Street, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury, WF13 3HW North West Museum of Road TransportHall Street, St Helens, WA10 1DU Black Country Living MuseumTipton Road, Dudley, DY1 4SQ visited 10 July 2026 Southampton \u0026 District Transport Heritage TrustBursledon Brickworks Museum, Swanwick Lane, Swanwick, Southampton, SO31 7HB Isle of Wight Bus \u0026 Coach MuseumThe Bus Depot, Park Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2BE Anson Engine MuseumAnson Road, Poynton, SK12 1TD Aldridge Transport MuseumShenstone Drive, Aldridge, Walsall, WS9 8TP\nvisited 9 December 2025 Ipswich Transport MuseumThe Old Trolleybus Depot, Cobham Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 9JD Beamish MuseumBeamish, County Durham, DH9 0RG\nVisited 16 May 2026 Zero2 Bus MuseumPoole Farm, Poole Street, Great Yeldham, Essex, CO9 4HP Northern Ireland Ulster Transport Museum153 Bangor Road, Cultra, Holywood, Co. Down BT18 0EU The Coach House Museum, Glenarm Castle2 Castle Lane, Glenarm, Ballymena, Co. Antrim BT44 0BQ Scotland Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust76 Fordneuk St, Glasgow G40 3AH\nlay member - visit often Grampian Transport MuseumMontGarrie Road, Alford, Aberdeenshire, AB33 8AE Riverside Museum Glasgow100 Pointhouse Pl., Kelvin Harbour, Glasgow, G3 8RS\nlast visit: 1 May 2026 Dundee Museum of TransportUnit 10, Market Mews, Market St, Dundee, DD1 3LA\nvisited 12 May 2025 The Scottish Vintage Bus MuseumM90 Commerce Park, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 0SJ\nvisited 16 August 2025 Wales Anglesey Transport Museum – Tacla TaidNear Llangefni, Island of Anglesey Llangollen Motor MuseumPentre Felin, Llangollen LL20 8EE, Denbighshire Museum of Land Speed (formerly Pendine Museum of Speed)Marsh Road, Pendine, SA33 4NY, Carmarthenshire ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/museums/","section":"Home","summary":"A comprehensive directory of transport and bus museums.","title":"Museum List"},{"content":" Fearless Francis is a little boy living in Glasgow in the late 1950s. He lives in a fantasy world, playing in the tenement streets and back courts, having all sorts of imaginary adventures. But they are more like mishaps\u0026hellip;..\nThe number 9 to Auchenshuggle tramcar trundled its way slowly along Argyle Street. The beam from Its cyclops headlamp made the wet cobblestones glisten and shimmer in the twilight of the winter\u0026rsquo;s evening. The rain had just stopped and the streets of Glasgow seemed to have been scrubbed and cleaned with the fresh rainwater.\nFrancis knelt on the long seat of the tram and looked out the window. He was happy and excited. At last his constant nagging had paid off and he got the toy he had always wanted - a toy Derringer gun.\nIn those days, toy manufacturers endeavoured to make the toy guns look as real as possible. This Derringer was a one-shot cap gun made of metal and painted in silver. The grip had plastic panels, but were made to look like ivory. But what Francis loved most about this gun was the time-consuming way it had to be loaded with a small round cap. First, he had to cock the trigger, remove the \u0026lsquo;cartridge\u0026rsquo;, separate the bullet from its shell, place the round cap inside the shell, replace the bullet and place the whole cartridge back into the gun, uncocking the trigger.\nHis imagination was running wild again. Today, he was Fast Francis, the fastest gun in the Calton. His mission, as always, was to rid the world of baddies. Stretching his fantasy to the limits, he imagined that he was capable of shooting a baddie at ANY distance.\nHis glasses were still wet and he couldn’t see out of them very well. What looked like a grizzly bear appeared on the platform of the tram. Francis reacted swiftly, pointed his gun at the bear’s heart and fired. The poor old lady in the fur coat got such a fright that she farted and screamed at the same time. Pandemonium broke out as the conductress shouted at Francis\u0026rsquo;s mother, who in turn was skelping him across the ear. Eventually, everything quietened down and the old lady, with a vaguely unpleasant odour beginning to emanate from her, sat down. Everyone was glaring at Francis, whose face was red, not only with embarassment, but from the slap from his mother.\nThe journey through the city centre was slow. Roadworks had closed some side streets and traffic was nose to tail. This gave more time for Francis to reload his gun. For now a new danger just boarded the tram. This was a mean-looking hombre who sat facing Francis. Slowly taking his gun out of his pocket, Francis made a big show of loading the cap. He gave the hombre a menacing scowl, to let him know he meant business. The object of his attention, a smartly dressed elderly gentleman, stared back at the little boy in amusement, guessing correctly that the boy had a vivid imagination.\nStill snarling, Francis finally loaded the gun, made a show of cocking the trigger, and put it in his coat pocket. His mother told him that this was their stop. He got up, still scowling at the ‘baddie’. As he slowly walked past the elderly gentleman, the heel of his shoe stood on something very slippy. Next thing Francis knew he was flat on his back on the dirty floor. The gun went POP! in his pocket, the old lady in the fur coat screamed and farted again and his mother shouted that she\u0026rsquo;d kill him when they got off the tram. The elderly gentleman helped him up.\nWhen they alighted from the tram his fiery-tempered mother lost no time and skelped his ear. \u0026ldquo;You gave me a showing up!\u0026rdquo;, she screamed. He tried not to cry, and looked back at the tram as it began to trundle off. He saw the elderly gentleman looking at him through the tram window. Then the gentleman pointed his finger at Francis, raising his thumb and bringing it down fast, as if to shoot him. Francis reached for his gun, then realised it was empty. His mother was walking quickly down the road, but turned and shouted to him.\n\u0026ldquo;C\u0026rsquo;moan you, get alang the road - NOO!\u0026quot;\nFrancis decided to become John Wayne, and lurched forward in a slow deliberate fashion, lurching first to the right, then the left, trying to emulate the John Wayne walk. To the people standing at the tram stop, it looked as if the wee boy was drunk. He kept looking at the receding tram as he slowly, deliberately turned around, his hands hovering over his imaginary six-shooter, which he had suddenly decided to wear. He head was the last thing to turn around as it came into contact with a lampost. There was a clunking sound, followed by roars of laughter from the onlookers.\nHe staggered back slightly dazed, saw his mother glare at him in the distance and decided to get on his horse and ride out of trouble. Slapping his backside and holding imaginary reins, he galluped past the queue at the tram stop, neatly ducked under his mother\u0026rsquo;s swooping hand aimed at his ear and rode into the sunset of his imaginary world.\nWishart Frankfield oooOOooo\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/auchenshuggle-express/","section":"Posts","summary":"A little boy had just been given a new toy gun. Chaos erupts on the Number 9 tramcar to Auchenshuggle as he and his mother head home.","title":"Gunfight On The Auchenshuggle Express"},{"content":" Rosa Parks Transit Center in Detroit before the March to Save Our Service: 42-BRT, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons The need for Bus Campaigns #Buses remain an essential part of public transport in our cities and rural areas. Underground train networks and tramcars also play a part, but it is the bus that carries the majority of daily passengers in most places.\nYet buses in some countries are underfunded, overcrowded, or slow, leading to growing frustration among passengers. In response, communities, advocacy groups, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have organized bus campaigns to push for change.\nHere in the UK, from 26 October 1986, prime minister Margaret Thatcher\u0026rsquo;s government abolished road service licensing, meaning that any operator holding a PSV (Public Service Vehicle) Operator\u0026rsquo;s Licence was free to register any local bus service outside London.\nPrivate bus companies were free to run their own routes. At first passengers were enjoying the cheaper fares, sometimes even free travel, while the established and newly formed bus companies fought over the lucrative routes. As time went by, some operators withdrew services from non-profitable routes, or ran fewer buses in the evenings.\nSome Bus Campaigns from across the world # Country Campaign Organiser Website 🇦🇺 Australia Better Buses (Melbourne / Victoria) Melbourne Friends of the Earth \u0026amp; local groups melbournefoe.org.au 🇨🇦 Canada Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders / \"Save the Bus\" Movement (Metro Vancouver Transit Riders) movementyvr.ca 🇨🇱 Chile TransporteDigno Citizen/resident participation TransporteDigno 🇫🇷 France Île-de-France riders \u0026amp; NGOs campaigns FNAUT (National Federation of Transport Users) fnaut.fr 🇩🇪 Germany Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) — Better bus actions Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD) vcd.org 🇮🇹 Italy Roma / public transport campaigns Local NGOs \u0026amp; commuter groups cittadinanzattiva.it 🇲🇽 Mexico Ciudad de México, Guadalajara, Monterrey colectivos Local colectivos \u0026amp; NGOs cemda.org.mx 🇳🇿 New Zealand Campaign for Better Transport (NZ / Auckland) Campaign for Better Transport (NZ) bettertransport.org.nz 🇰🇷 South Korea Seoul bus reform advocacy; civic NGOs Local civic NGOs greentransport.org 🇪🇸 Spain Regional Better Bus Campaigns (Madrid, Barcelona) Local commuter \u0026amp; climate NGOs ecologistasenaccion.org 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Get Glasgow Moving; Campaign for Better Transport / Better Buses Campaign Get Glasgow Moving; Campaign for Better Transport getglasgowmoving.org\nbettertransport.org.uk 🇺🇸 United States Bus Riders Union (LA); Riders Alliance (NYC) / multiple local 'Better Bus' campaigns Bus Riders Union; Riders Alliance; Transit Alliance groups thestrategycenter.org\nridersalliance.org ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/bus-campaigns/","section":"Posts","summary":"Bus campaigns, usually led by non-profit non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), are increasingly shaping how public transport evolves.","title":"Bus Campaigns"},{"content":"Darren \u0026amp; Joe\u0026rsquo;s Free Gaff: Bus Sketch #Video by RTÉ Player\nBus Driver Jokes #The Ugly Baby\nA woman gets on a bus with her baby. While trying to pay for the bus fare, the bus driver made a comment about how ugly the baby was. Mad about the comment the bus driver made, the lady was huffing and puffing and was clearly upset when she sat down.\n\u0026ldquo;What\u0026rsquo;s wrong?\u0026rdquo;, said the man next to her. \u0026ldquo;The bus driver said something that offended me!\u0026rdquo;, she said. \u0026ldquo;Well, that\u0026rsquo;s not right. Bus drivers are public servants. He shouldn\u0026rsquo;t have offended you. Why don\u0026rsquo;t you go back to the front and ask for an apology?\u0026rdquo;, said the man. \u0026ldquo;You\u0026rsquo;re right, I should do that right now!\u0026rdquo;, said the mother as she stands up. \u0026ldquo;Good for you!\u0026rdquo;, the man replies. \u0026ldquo;Now, let me hold your monkey.\u0026rdquo;\nPeanuts\nA nice old lady on a bus offers the bus driver some peanuts, the driver happily eats them. Every five minutes the old lady hands the driver a handful of nuts, eventually he asks:\n“Why don’t you eat them yourself?” To which the old lady replies\n“I don’t have any teeth,” So the driver looking confused then asks “So why do you buy them then?”\nThe old lady gives a nice smile and responds “I just enjoy the chocolate coating around them”\nThe Zip\nAt a crowded bus stop, a beautiful young woman in a tight leather mini skirt, with matching tight leather boots and jacket was waiting for the bus. As the bus rolled up and it became her turn to get on, she became aware that her skirt was too tight to allow her leg to come up to the height of the first step on the bus.\nSlightly embarrassed and with a quick smile to the bus driver, she reached behind and unzipped her skirt a little, thinking that this would give her enough slack to raise her leg.\nAgain, she tried to make the step onto the bus, only to discover she still couldn\u0026rsquo;t!\nSo, a little more embarrassed, she once again reached behind and unzipped her skirt a little more and for a second time attempted the step and once again, still she could not raise her leg because of the tight skirt.\nWith a coy little smile to the driver, she again unzipped the offending skirt to give a little more slack and again was unable to make the step.\nAbout this time, a big Texan that was behind her in the line picked her up easily from the waist and placed her lightly on the step of the bus.\nWell, she went ballistic and turned on the would-be hero screeching at him, \u0026ldquo;How dare you touch my body!! I don\u0026rsquo;t even know who you are!\u0026rdquo;\nAt this, the Texan drawled, \u0026ldquo;Well ma\u0026rsquo;am normally I would agree with you, but after you unzipped my fly three times, I kinda figured that we were friends.\u0026rdquo;\nThe Bus Driver and the Priest\nA bus driver and a priest died, and went to the gates of heaven. There they were greeted by St Peter, who said that heaven is full, and that only one can come in.\nSo they had to wait for heavenly decision. After some time, St Peter came back and said, \u0026ldquo;Alright, we can take the bus driver.\u0026rdquo;\nThe priest protested saying that he has lived a good life in faith, why should he not get to heaven?\nSt Peter answered: \u0026ldquo;When you were giving speeches about the word of the God, everyone slept, but whenever this bus driver drives, everyone prays.\u0026rdquo;\nJokes provided by upjoke.com\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/posts/snippets/say_thanks/","section":"Posts","summary":"Some funny stories regarding bus drivers and their eccentric passengers - do you always thank the driver when get off the bus?","title":"Say Thanks to the Bus Driver"},{"content":"Click any image to view it in full-screen.\n1946 AEC Regal Mk1 Read the Post → 1934 Leyland Lion LT5B Read the Post → 1958 Albion Victor FT39 KAN Read the Post → 1961 AEC Routemaster RM910 Read the Post → Bridgeton Bus Garage, Glasgow Read the Post → 1965 Bristol FLF6G Bus - converted to tow truck 1979 Read the Post → 1963 AEC Routemaster RM1414 Read the Post → 1948 Guy Arab mkIII Read the Post → 2004 Volvo B7TL Read the Post → 1966 Leyland Atlantean L320 \u0026amp; 1975 Leyland Atlantean L907 Read the Post → 1948 Guy Arab mkIII Read the Post → 1935 Leyland Lion LT5A Read the Post → Red \u0026amp; Orange Glasgow Buses Read the Post → 1928 Leyland Titan TD1 Read the Post → 1965 AEC Mercury Read the Post → Glasgow Buses at Bridgeton Garage Read the Post → Transport Museum Greater Manchester Read the Post → The Car Built by Ladies Read the Post → Leyland Tiger Cub (1961) Read the Post → The Coach That Got Bigger Read the Post → ","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/gallery/","section":"Home","summary":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClick any image to view it in full-screen.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex flex-wrap -mx-4\"\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"w-full md:w-1/2 lg:w-1/3 px-4 mb-12\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"overflow-hidden\"\u003e\n      \n      \n      \n      \u003ca href=\"/gallery/AEC_Regal_Mk1_1946.webp\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"block\"\u003e\n        \u003cimg src=\"/gallery/AEC_Regal_Mk1_1946.webp\" alt=\"1946 AEC Regal Mk1\" class=\"w-full h-72 object-cover block shadow-lg rounded-sm border-4 border-white\"\u003e\n      \u003c/a\u003e\n      \n  \n      \u003cdiv class=\"m-0 p-0 text-center leading-none -mt-3 relative z-10\"\u003e\n        \u003cp class=\"font-bold text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100 p-0 m-0\"\u003e\n          1946 AEC Regal Mk1\n        \u003c/p\u003e\n        \n          \u003cdiv class=\"mt-1\"\u003e\n            \u003ca href=\"/posts/aec/\" class=\"text-primary-700 hover:underline text-xs font-bold uppercase tracking-wide\"\u003e\n              Read the Post →\n            \u003c/a\u003e\n          \u003c/div\u003e\n        \n      \u003c/div\u003e\n    \u003c/div\u003e\n  \u003c/div\u003e\n\n  \u003cdiv class=\"w-full md:w-1/2 lg:w-1/3 px-4 mb-12\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"overflow-hidden\"\u003e\n      \n      \n      \n      \u003ca href=\"/gallery/Leyland_Lion_LT5B_1934.webp\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"block\"\u003e\n        \u003cimg src=\"/gallery/Leyland_Lion_LT5B_1934.webp\" alt=\"1934 Leyland Lion LT5B\" class=\"w-full h-72 object-cover block shadow-lg rounded-sm border-4 border-white\"\u003e\n      \u003c/a\u003e\n      \n  \n      \u003cdiv class=\"m-0 p-0 text-center leading-none -mt-3 relative z-10\"\u003e\n        \u003cp class=\"font-bold text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100 p-0 m-0\"\u003e\n          1934 Leyland Lion LT5B\n        \u003c/p\u003e","title":"Gallery"},{"content":"","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/tags/","section":"Tags","summary":"","title":"Tags"},{"content":"Welcome to the heart of the site.\nPlease choose a category to explore the records:\nRoad \u0026amp; Bus - Preserved motor buses, trolleybuses, trams, and road transport history.\nRail \u0026amp; Track - Steam locomotives, royal trains, station lore, and heritage railway history.\nMaritime \u0026amp; Ships - Clyde steamers, ferries, ocean liners, and maritime heritage.\nFleets - Historical operators, municipal transport departments, and modern bus fleets.\nMemorabilia - Ticket machines, uniforms, timetables, maps, and classic ephemera.\nTransport Postcards - Postcards From The Past: Vintage transport postcards across road, rail, and sea.\nOddities - Wooden cars, buses with no engines, prop-driven trains, and transport curiosities.\n","date":null,"permalink":"https://vintagetransport.org/diaries/","section":"Home","summary":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWelcome to the heart of the site.\u003cbr\u003ePlease choose a category to explore the records:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"/categories/road--bus/\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRoad \u0026amp; Bus\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e - Preserved motor buses, trolleybuses, trams, and road transport history.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"/categories/rail--track/\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRail \u0026amp; Track\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e - Steam locomotives, royal trains, station lore, and heritage railway history.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"/categories/maritime--ships/\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaritime \u0026amp; Ships\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e - Clyde steamers, ferries, ocean liners, and maritime heritage.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\n      \n    \u003ca href=\"https://vintagetransport.org/categories/fleets/\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFleets\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e - Historical operators, municipal transport departments, and modern bus fleets.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\n      \n    \u003ca href=\"https://vintagetransport.org/categories/memorabilia/\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMemorabilia\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e - Ticket machines, uniforms, timetables, maps, and classic ephemera.\u003c/p\u003e","title":"Transport Diaries"}]