THE SCOTTISH VINTAGE BUS MUSEUM - RAG 578

DETAILS Chassis: Daimler CVGLX-30 Body: Double Deck, Northern Counties NCMEH40/33, built 1960 Engine: Gardner First Licensed: 1960 Right: 2003 Open Weekend (Jim Crichton)

HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE

Saltcoats, June 1961 (Iain MacGregor)

RAG 578 was new in 1960 to A1 Motor Services, the Ayrshire co-operative. It was bought out of service by Martin Bott in 1985 and was owned by him until 1999. Unfortunately, the space it occupied was then required for other purposes and the vehicle required a new home within two weeks. In order to secure its long term future, and in view of its Scottish history, it was offered as a donation to the SVBM. Having been stored under cover for most of this time it is in reasonable condition, but for a few months prior to it coming to the museum, it was in open storage and suffered several broken windows (luckily flat glass) and other minor damage. This bus is unique as the only Daimler with full front NCME (Queen Mary, Southdown-type) bodywork.

Irvine (Gordon Stirling)

I lived in Irvine and Kilmarnock for many years and remember traveling on this bus many times. Irvine ROF might have been the old Volvo factory between Irvine and Kilwinning. Before Volvo took it over I can remember some sort of military connection. I could be wrong because in the picture of the bus it’s heading towards Kilmarnock and away from the Volvo factory. But even if I’m wrong any service to Irvine ROF would have been a peak time service only, probably for workers. I can also confirm your decision to place the fleetnames below the windows was correct. A1 changed to above the windows in the late 70's approximately but before then they were below. Having grown up in Dreghorn I’m also very familiar with DCS 616 which you’ve also got at the museum although I was disappointed to learn it had lost it’s roof and A1 colours. I did eventually drive for the A1 service although many years later so I can maybe give you more route info although it’s from a different era. (1992-1994)

RESTORATION DETAILS On arrival at Lathalmond, the bus was taken in hand by Jim Methven who carried most of the restoration work - with help from various other members as required. The engine ran well considering its long layover, and suffered only from some 'lack of use' problems like gears actuators sticking (it has semi- automatic transmission), starter motor clicking and diesel running back to the lift pump. Jim and Dave Forrest spent 2000 closing up the rear and offside bodywork. The doors, which were the worse for water ingress, and all the door openings, were repaired. Door panels were recycled from some familiar museum buses, and oak doorway timbers came from a vintage table sourced at Lochgelly. The upper and lower saloons were cleaned out and the seat frames repainted. The underside of the chassis was cleaned and painted silver, and work was done on front panels, frames and windows.

Lathalmond, 17/10/1999 (Rod Wallace)

Lathalmond 28/10/2001 (Jim Crichton)

During 2001, the driver's cab was cleaned and repainted and the door and threshold was stripped and rebuilt with timber and some new panels. The front upper dome was deeply dented and an earlier pushout was hammered as smooth as possible and a little discreet filler added on the inside. The inner area was painted along with the inner front window apron which had sustained damage from feet.  In the latter half of 2001, the wheels were removed and 4 of the 6 tyres were replaced. The brakes were stripped, cleaned and rebuilt. The wheels were repainted in fleet colours and refitted. On the upper-deck the the 2 Clayton heaters were removed, cleaned, had the leaks soldered and had new rubber pipe unions fitted to make the system watertight. Following problems with the electric door system, it is complete and working "more or less as it should".

RAG 578 went for test in November 2002 and failed on headlight aim. The fault was rectified and she passed at the second attempt the following day.

Aberdeen Open Weekend 2003

Since the she passed her M.O.T. RAG 578 has been on a number of outings one of the farthest being to the Aberdeen Open Days on 23rd and 24th August 2003. I finally got the dynamo working on the bus by fitting a brand new voltage regulator into the cab alongside the mains box. The regulator is a self contained unit different to the original which slots into the mains box. It is not the original type but it is discreet enough to avoid the eye of the purists. Getting a brand new voltage regulator was not easy and I had to visit Ray Trigg at Stafford to get one. Ray is a specialist dealer in discontinued commercial automotive electrics and while scanning the shelves of his barn I spotted a relay unit for bus electric doors along with new relay spare units. It's an exciting place to be and I put these in the trolley.

We were among four buses that left Lathalmond early on Saturday morning heading for King Street Aberdeen, Campbell Morrison took the Hong Kong Fleetline, Bob McKenzie took the "Mairs" Y type Leopard and 155, a 1945 Aberdeen Corporation Daimler, made its first trip with co owners Douglas Forbes, David Heathcote and Ian Souter. This group would join Douglas and Ross Scoular who left the previous day in the Edinburgh Corporation Leopard 101. The Lathalmond deputation reached the destination by 11 40 without any breakdowns always a good start to the weekend.

The Saturday event was different to previous years with no seafront line up or grand parade along Union Street. Instead there was a city road run lasting about an hour. Not a leisurely drive about but a timed circuit through the urban traffic with four stages where the crew had to check in with a marshal or should I say Inspector who would mark your sheet. Running at five minute intervals the vehicles were expected to arrive at the stage checks at the specified times or as near as possible. I was given an A3 city map with the route highlighted through the centre and suburbs.

Reading the map is easy but recognising the street names and landmarks takes a bit of doing when you don't know your way around. We had 3 eager passengers who asked to join us on the trip, one gent from Tomintoul and 2 younger travellers from the west coast who could not believe their luck to find the A1 running. They had been keeping tabs on the bus at Lathalmond for some time and found it laid up on each of their visits. One of these lads was the possessor of an A1 destination blind presumably in good condition. I kept the conversation going as long as possible but could not talk him into giving it up. I managed to recruit an established driver who spoke the vernacular and was familiar to the district in the name of Ian Souter. He agreed to take RAG on the run as 155 was being used under first bus trade plates with a company driver. Steve my son would be the runner at the check points.

Our road run took us around Footdee, Joint Station, Holburn Junction, Duthie Park, Bridge of Dee, Craigiebuckler, Woodend, Summerhill, the Lang Stracht, now there's a Doric description if ever there was one, Beechgrove, Rosemount, Union Ter, Castlegate and King Street. During the trip Ian was able to point out interesting points around the City such as bygone tram routes and railway lines not forgetting the Beechgrove Garden. Unlike a scenic tour the landmarks were appreciated rapidly while gripping the grab rails with both hands. Despite a very promising start the Saturday afternoon traffic was tailing back from many of the main junctions and we were about 7 minutes behind schedule. Dunfermline were playing at Pittodrie that afternoon as it happens. Back at King Street we had caught up with the bus in front and managed to keep to the route. 

There was a delay while the awards were formalised and a restless Ian Souter was lured away from the depot with a ride on yet another Daimler 325, another fine possession of Aberdeen Corporation and one of the last open platform double deckers to be supplied in Scotland in 1965.

The awards were announced: Best single decker to the McBraynes Reliance; Best Double Decker to 155 - the Aberdeen Daimler; Best overall bus to the Edinburgh Corporation Leopard 101; Best time checks on the Road Run to RAG 578. Not a bad sweep for the Lathalmond contingent. It turned out that while the A1 was not the quickest time she was the quickest to successfully complete the designated route. In the absence of our driver who was still enjoying another Daimler experience I was forced to accept the award on his behalf, a nicely formed granite plaque with a brass inscribed plate. I will tell Ian about the prize eventually. 

On Sunday we took part in the King Street Depot Open Day, possibly the last one at this location as there are plans to move the garage elsewhere and sell the property. The vintage vehicles were scheduled to run a service to the Bridge Street Station and the current vehicles did open top trips and park and ride services. There was a chance to drive two of the modern vehicles around the depot and the queues were long in this area. The staff allowed Steve to take the wheel at 14 years and he was chuffed to bits to get his hands on a real bus. All of the attractions and services were collecting cash for local charities and the First Bus staff raised over £7000. As I thought it would, it turned out to be a good event where the local drivers and enthusiasts looked after the visitors and made them feel very welcome. Thanks to Peter McCutcheon and his hard working team for a great weekend.

Jim Methven

Jim Methven is keen to learn of the bus's history. Photos tend to indicate that it was commonly in service between Kilmarnock and Irvine Royal Ordnance Factory, via Irvine Cross Anyone with information can contact Jim at jimmethven@bun.com.