Sunday was a Bus Running Day in central Scotland when there were opportunities to ride different buses on different routes. I started out from Glasgow on this Clydeside Scottish Leyland Leopard 53 seat bus. This one entered service in 1979 and has recently entered preservation and been re-painted into the colours of the old Clydeside Scottish Omnibuses with whom it ran for a time in the nineteen eighties and nineties. This was a rare opportunity as the bus was making a one way run to the Scottish Bus Museum at Lathalmond in Fife where it will going on display for the time being.
I had arranged to meet friend Suzy at Lathalmond
.......and her partner Caroline
We had a look around the extensive bus museum. The green double decker in the background formerly ran in Sydney Australia.
We travelled to Dunfermline in this Ailsa bus, built in Scotland in 1977. The chassis was built by Ailsa Truck and Bus, coachwork by Alexanders, all assembled in Scotland, and powered by a Swedish Volvo engine.
In the historic town of Dunfermline, which was the ancient capital of Scotland.
We travelled back to Lathalmond in this Leyland PD3 which was built in 1961. This is an old friend which I have often photographed and travelled on, when it was still in regular daily service until 1980 and more recently when it has been brought out for special events.
The bus was an old friend of mine and its driver was an old friend of Suzy's.
More to follow shortly.
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