THE SCOTTISH VINTAGE BUS MUSEUM - WESTERN SMT 75th ANNIVERSARY
2007 marks the 75th anniversary of Western SMT and successor companies and to mark the event Stagecoach Western Buses staged a celebration over the weekend of 9/10 June.
The Saturday was given over to an open day at Kilmarnock depot which was well attended by the public. The usual attractions included sales stands, vintage vehicles and free bus trips, the open top tour being well patronised in view of the sweltering sunshine, a rare commodity in 2007.
On Sunday 10th the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust (GVVT) organised and ran a Vintage Bus Running Day from Ayr Bus Station, using buses in previous Ayrshire liveries.
Vintage buses from the Western, AA and Al fleets ran a half-hourly circular service via the Esplanade, Doonfoot, Alloway and Belleisle Park in both directions. In addition a service operated to Dunure which proved popular.
Several of the buses are housed at the SVBM, including those belonging to the Stagecoach Heritage Fleet. Buses from Lathalmond comprised RAG578, CDR679, RCS382, UCS659, EDS50A and DSD936V which had blotted its copybook by failing its MoT at the last minute and attended as a static exhibit.
The event was well-patronised, the weather being untypically warm and sunny, with many positive comments from local folk who remembered the buses in service. Several even insisted that CDR679 (in its AA livery, of course) had been their actual school bus!
SATURDAY 9TH
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SUNDAY 10TH
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