We welcome you to this independent transport videos programme which features our 2022 visit to the superb Scottish Vintage Bus Museum at Lathalmond in Fife and our regular update visit to Edinburgh to film the contemporary buses running in service in the city.
We begin our programme at Lathalmond with a look at the mainly preserved buses lined up along the roads of the museum awaiting to be inspected by the public and to have their photos taken! There are plenty of action shots of buses and coaches running on the Internal Service at various locations on this impressive museum site. Of course the majority of buses running are preserved and feature many types from a bygone era with chassis manufactures including Leyland, Albion, Daimler, AEC and Bristol. Bodywork builders such as Alexander, ECW, Metro-Cammell, Park Royal and many others are also seen on our programme. Bus companies from the past are also well represented including W Alexander (Midland), (Northern), (Fife) and Scottish Omnibuses, Eastern Scottish, Western SMT to name but a few. Looking to the future, a battery-electric bus was also in operation on the Internal Service in the shape of 29111 (LC71 KVZ), a BYD 11.6m / ADL Enviro200EV from the Stagecoach East Scotland fleet based at Perth (You can see these buses in service on our “Scottish Buses 2022 – Electric Special” DVD). Lothian Buses sent one of their massive Volvo B8L / ADL Enviro400XLB double-deckers, 1093 (SJ19 OXX) which is seen operating the Internal Service offering a contrast with the older buses and coaches in service. Our cameras take rides out from the museum on the shuttle services to Dunfermline Bus Station.
Our first journey is on board former Eastern Scottish AA43 (CSG 43C), a 1965 Bristol Lodekka FLF6G with an ECW H70F body. This bus has been restored to a very high standard and it is pleasing to see the interior colours that are so different from the usual green that is seen on the Lodekkas operated by the English Tilling bus fleets. We continue on this bus for the return journey to the Museum site. Our second journey to Dunfermline is on another Bristol Lodekka. This time on a 1964 FS6G formally operated by W Alexander (Fife) as their FRD199 (BXA 464B). We travel to Dunfermline Bus Station and remain there to catch up on the contemporary bus activity, which is mainly provided by Stagecoach East Scotland. Our return to Lathalmond is on board a former Clydeside Scottish Leyland Leopard PSU3E/4R with an Alexander Y type B53F body, G750 (GCS 50V), built in 1980. On arrival at Lathalmond there is just time to inspect the superb restoration of the 1957 Bristol Lodekka LD6G / ECW H60R, AA620 (OWS 620) painted into the light green and cream livery of Scottish Omnibuses. An excellent way to conclude our visit to Lathalmond.
We now turn our attention to the contemporary bus scene in Scotland’s capital – Edinburgh. Our locations on this visit include Shandwick Place, Lothian Road, Princes Street, South St David Street and St Andrew Square. There is plenty of variety to be seen on the streets. As usual the main operator is Lothian Buses and they have just introduced a fleet of 98 new Volvo B5TL / ADL Enviro400MMC double-deckers as well as new Volvo B8RLE single-deckers with MCV eVoRa bodywork. Some East Coast Buses, operated by Lothian Buses are appearing in their new livery of dark green and white, more inline with the main fleet. We also see First Scotland East buses in service, one with the new West Lothian fleetnames and just a few weeks after our filming the company was sold to McGill’s who will reintroduce the fleetname ‘Eastern Scottish’ to the streets of Edinburgh! There is plenty of action to see which includes the many sightseeing buses, including ‘Bright Bus Tours’ operated by the erstwhile First Scotland East and even a former London Transport Routemaster as a ‘bistro bus’. Plenty to catch up on, so enjoy the visit!
Produced by - Independent Transport Videos
Duration - 82 minutes
Region - 0 (worldwide) PAL
Aspect Ratio - 16:9 Widescreen
DVD only
Released - November 2022