Kilted on the Buses

[cessna152towser]

Do a lot of folks ride the buses?

Yes they are quite popular. The open topper is always a favourite when the weather is fine.

[Lachlan09]

Great photos – being from Hawick, I guess your favourite bus would be a Teerie-bus !

It reminds me of my Dad’s stories of long ago in the late 1940’s (already ? Jings and Crivvens !) before he had a car.

He and my mum sometimes used to travel from Musselburgh through to Kintyre to stay with his auntie/uncle at À Chleit, near Muasdale. After train-trips culminating at Balloch, they boarded the evening MacBraynes bus bound for Tarbert, Loch Fyne. My dad knew the driver, who was a bit of a character.

In those days, the road was a bit narrow, twisty and undulating, with a loch at every sharp loop, dip and bend. That didn’t worry the driver. Once he got going, he pulled out his moothie (harmonica) and, one hand on the wheel, played and drove at the same time. In no time at all, the bus was in party mood as the passengers “hooched” (ch as in loch) and clapped while he drove one-handed on the road to Tarbert. A bottle or two even made their appearance, handed round for a swig or two. A ceilidh on wheels !

Eventually, they reached the harbour at Tarbert and everyone piled out, happy and still singing. On one occasion though, the driver pulled up too close to the quayside (there was no parapet wall) and as some of the passenger-revellers got out the bus into the dark, all my dad could hear from his place inside the bus were loud splashes and yelps as people dismounted and fell into the harbour ! Luckily, due to build up of gravel next the quay wall, the water at that part wasn’t deep !

Ahhh - life before quality control, personal targets, ISO auditors and human resources !

[English Bloke]

Quality Alex. Thanks

[Darkislander]

I'm looking forward to the opening of the new transport museum. The task of moving all of the stock there must be massive and costly. Good pics.

[TimC]

Alex, as always, great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

-Tim

[muirkirkca]

Grat Pictures. Visited Glascow on a bus tour - arrived at dark and left early the next morning. Obviously missed something and hope to return. Tour visited Edinburgh for a full day.