SCOTTISH VINTAGE MUSEUM

The new Glasgow Bus Museum held its first Open Day on the 26th August in the former Glasgow Corporation Bridgeton Bus Garage. A few buses from the SVBM, carrying several members, travelled west to participate. Photos by Jim Crichton.

I took some family members and SVBM members from Lathalmond in ex London Transport Routemaster EDS 288 A, in her well known pseudo Edinburgh Corporation Transport livery. Along the way we collected more members and, despite a blown exhaust, timed our arrival perfectly to claim the last space among other Edinburgh buses.

Left: EDS 288 A & YSG 101 in position.

I had accepted an invitation to be included in the drivers roster for the free bus service to/from George Square and almost as soon as we arrived was asked to take the Atlantean Open-topper. My driving can't be too bad as most of the Routemaster passengers joined the Atlantean for a trip to the city centre.

Right: HRS 265 V at George Square.

Then it was time for a look round the museum and stalls. Photographed from the north (vehicular) entrance, the Fife-liveried coach on the left is another Lathalmond visitor as is the ex Halleys brown and cream coach a bit too far down the line to see.

Photographed from the south (visitors) entrance, a MacBraynes mailbus is first on the left with a couple of ex Glasgow Atlanteans the first of an assortment of deckers on the right - although I think the fourth vehicle is the Halleys coach.

There is an excellent stand-alone workshop at Bridgeton. As seen on the left there are ten pits, and next door to the main garage shed (which houses a bus wash) there is another workshop with two lifts.

Following my look round the displays, I took halfcab Daimler CVG6-30/Alexander H41/32R (FYS 999) on a couple of trips. The bus service was well planned at George Square. The buses sat outside the City Chambers until the next bus appeared in the square then moved off on the return journey. As the photo on the right shows, if the waiting driver misses the following bus, as did the driver of Leyland/Alexander SGD 65....

Right: FYS 999 & SGD 65 at George Square.

I first drove this bus when she was at Lathalmond and thought the steering was very heavy - but put it down to the lack of power assistance. But since then, having driven several buses with no power steering I still feel she is very heavy. Was this a characteristic of these vehicles? Following the departure of SGD 65, I waited until the next bus appeared, and it was none other than .....

Left: FYS 999 at George Square.

..... Lathalmond resident, Central Scottish 1967 Bristol Lodekka FLF6G / Eastern Coachworks H44/34F - HGM 346 E. The owner rightly takes great pride in his vehicle, which he spent long hours restoring.

Right: HGM 346 E at George Square. (Gerry Cushley)

One of the visiting buses at Bridgeton was an American school bus belonging to First Group. I wonder when we will see these in service - or are they already.