If the Vintage Bus Museum at Lathalmond is not the Jewel in the Scottish bus scene’s crown, then it must surely rate alongside whatever
that location must be. It is situated at a former Ministry of Defence establishment of many acres so large that it boasted its own internal
railway system. Today that system is but a shadow if it’s former self, but is replaced instead by a bus service when the site is open to the
public to carry people around the network of roads.
As well as regular weekend openings there are two annual major events that have been on the calendar for many years, a bus running day in
May and the open weekend during August.
This used to be a regular haunt of mine but have been unable to attend for a while, so it was that I ventured north of the Border after
some years to sample the delights on offer. I was not disappointed as a splendid selection of buses, coaches and other interesting titbits
ancient and modern were brought out from the myriad of hangars or visited from elsewhere, whilst some of the less mobile vehicles stayed on
display within those hangers. There is much to feast the eye upon and satisfy almost everyone’s particular aspect of our hobby, many of
which would be seen south of the Border.
I mentioned the internal road system. The area is so large that vehicles are parked up in several locations and whilst it is possible to
walk to them all, the organisers provide a free internal bus service, upon which an eclectic mix of vehicles operated. On this occasion there
were such delights as a Northern Counties Daimler from the A1 service, allegedly one of the original fleet of Bristol FLFs operated by Sir
Brian Souter in his early days of Stagecoach and a former London Buses Leyland National. There were many more that ran every few minutes
around the site along with others that provided a 30-minute round trip to nearby Dunfermline and back. This latter service began on a
30-minute headway which soon turned into a 15-headway, such was the demand and popularity.
Visiting vehicles and local exhibits were displayed in a fashion that comparisons of type, liveries and companies could be observed and the
merits (or not as the case may be) discussed.
All in all though an event well worth making the effort to attend, thus grateful appreciation is accorded to the organisers and staff who
made this weekend possible.
Tony Wilson
August 2011
1. (also 2-5 below): A selection of various line-ups of buses and coaches with local connections in the many hangers around the site.
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6. (also 7-10 below): A selection of displays set up around the site of both local exhibits and visiting vehicles.
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11. East meets West. An Eastern Coachworks bodied Daimler Fleetline from Eastern Scottish, DD 294, contrasted with the austere lines of a Guy
Arab with Duple bodywork in the livery of AA based on the West Coast of Scotland. This vehicle was originally operated by Plymouth Corporation.
12. An Alexander Y-type bodied Seddon Pennine in the colours of Eastern Scottish. Fifty years of this type will be celebrated at
Lathalmond on the 25th September.
13. In contrast a later example of Alexander bodywork is applied to this Leyland Leopard another stalwart of many Scottish operators,
this time FPE 176 in the Fife fleet.
14. Not all buses present had a Scottish connection. This one definitely stood out from the crowd being as it was of antipodean connection.
A 1947 Albion Venturer with a Comenq body once operated by the DRTT of Sydney as their number 1877.
15. Celebrating 50-years of the Alexander Fife company Stagecoach repainted their TransBus Trident ALX400 18092 into this fine
representative livery. It also featured a vintage type fleet number FRT 1.
16. As indicated an internal bus service was operated around the site, along with a connecting service to and from nearby Dunfermline.
An excellent selection of buses and coaches were used on these including two quite different types. On the left is a Daimler CVG6 with
Northern Counties bodywork in the livery of the A1 Service, whilst alongside is another bus from overseas. This Alexander bodied Guy
Victory was originally operated by the China Motor Bus company as their fleet number LV36.
17. A further line-up of buses in use on the internal and external bus services.
18. From Lancashire came this AEC Regent III with Park Royal bodywork once operated by St.Helens Corporation, a type
similar to the 4000-odd similar vehicles once operated by London Transport.
19. Also with Lancashire origins was this handsome bus in the livery of J.Fishwick & Sons of Leyland. Indeed a Leyland Titan PD2
with Weymann bodywork as it pulled away from the main hangar that housed the visiting stallholders.
20. And finally in marked contrast an up to date visitor in the shape of a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL. Operated by FirstGroup
it previously ran with the London subsidiary in dual door form but now with the Scottish subsidiary based at Musselburgh east of
Edinburgh. Here it showed off the excellent representative repaint of the Eastern Scottish livery.