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The first pics of the day were taken at Anstruther, where the summer sun showed off the vehicles well - sometimes too well! Left Volvo B10M/Plaxton Interurban 52367 is seen at Anstruther Harbour on Service X26, picking up loads for those heading west. Right Behind in the Volvo pic, you will note a double-decker - it's this one. Services 95A/95B cover the "via Crail" section during the day, whilst the X26 runs direct via Dunino. Both services are timed to connect at Anstruther Harbour for through passengers. In any case, Northern Counties bodied Volvo Olympian 16423 is seen overtaking the coach. |  |
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Left Services 62/62A were reinstated last November following changes to the 95 group of services with off-road bits. The minibus provides a shuttle service between Cellardyke, Anstruther, Pittenweem and Earlsferry, and connecting with the services for travel further afield, as well as the local shops. In this view on the seafront at Anstruther, Mercedes 709D/Alexander minibus 40073 is seen heading for the Cellardyke loop. Right 40586, a slightly newer minibus, is seen at Pittenweem Tollcross, on Service 95B from St Andrews. This vehicle was acquired from Bluebird around one year ago. |  |
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Following stops in the East Neuk, got further along the coast to Kirkcaldy, where as usual there was lots to see. Smaller Mercedes minibuses and Dennis Darts have been had from Aberhill (to Kirkcaldy depot) in exchange for larger Dennis Darts. Left Mercedes minibus 40591 is seen backing off the stand at Kirkcaldy bus station for a run to Chapel Village and back, and until recently this vehicle did work from Aberhill. Right Service 33 was depicted earlier on in the year at Dunfermline. This time, I've snapped the service at the Kirkcaldy end, with 16075 (another ex-East London Alexander-bodied Volvo Olympian) seen at the bus station, leaving for Dunfermline via Cowdenbeath. |  |
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Left 32344, an ex-London United Dennis Dart acquired with the "Allison's" business, is seen backing off from the stand in the bus station for a run around the north and west parts of Kirkcaldy to Glamis Road as a K5, then continuing back to the bus station as a K6. However, devoid of blinds, the bus does look a bit anonymous, especially with Levenmouth fare material adding to the confusion! Right Ex-London Northern Counties bodied Olympian 16114 is seen in the bus station, getting ready for a run to Ballingry, and eventually at the end of the day to return home to Cowdenbeath depot. The blind set on this bus is somewhat unusual as when a single line blind is needed, normally they are placed at the bottom of the box! In addition, on the left, ex-Bluebird 50 is now Stagecoach corporate 11450, and based at Kirkcaldy depot. |  |
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Left Still carrying non-corporate number 701 is Leyland Olympian/Alexander 14701. To illustrate the mass of assortment on the K2/K3 and K5/K6 groups, this Olympian worked the journey immediately after the one I snapped with the minibus above - talk about little and large eh? While Kirkcaldy defiantly needed one minibus for the B1 (the Burntisland Town Service commenced this month on re-tender from MoBUS), the reason for migrating some journeys to minis is not clear. While there are some tight turns on the K2/K3 and K5/K6, it's not been a problem for the last 9 or so years since the MCW Metrorider "BuzzBus"es were removed from these routes, but to illustrate the matter further, the bus that works the second journey on Service X61 (see below) comes light from Glenrothes to Kirkcaldy, does a K2/K3, then light to Edinburgh New Royal Infirmary, then back as an X61 to Glenrothes Whinnyknowe, then light to the depot. Dead mileage award? Anyway, I digress... That was the last picture in Fife for THIS part of the trip, and a cross-forth trip to Edinburgh for the afternoon to get some pics before coming back on Service X61 - so more Fife to come at the end of this page. Right Lothian Buses 364 is seen in Hanover Street heading north on Service 27 - one of the few routes not to be tinkered with in ANY of the recent restructurings - well, not too much anyway! It shows off the "Bus Company Of The Year 2003" logo (the one shaped like a wreath) now being applied by Lothian Buses to their vehicles. |
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Following a stop in Edinburgh city centre (not for long) stopped at the New Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for a few photos. Left First 314 is seen on Service 140 to Rosewell via most of East Lothian and Dalkeith.... seen at the new ERI, this ex-Hong Kong Dennis Dart is fitted with air conditioning and tinted windows. New five digit "Voyager" corporate numbers are being allocated to these vehicles, but this one at least has so far escaped. Right Leyland Olympian 815 is seen here at the new ERI end of Service 18 - see previous shots for this route at The Gyle and Westside Plaza. This takes the bottom half of Services 32/52 Outer Circle (or 32A as the 52 was known in the end) with part of Service 18 (formerly 58, R58 etc.) between Westside Plaza (Wester Hailes Shops) and Gyle. |  |
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Left Lothian Buses Volvo Olympian 266 is seen here at the new ERI, passing the new A&E block entrance opened this Spring. Services 7 & 33 are linked at Ferniehill, offering passengers from Liberton to travel to the new ERI, and vice-versa, as well as getting round the issue of no-where to turn at Ferniehill! Both are (IIRC) ran from Longstone, meaning crew changes for the pair are done when the bus is a 33 around the depot. Right Speaking of which, similar 278 is seen heading for Ferniehill, where it will change to a 7 for Newhaven. |
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Left National time here, and one of the Lothian vehicles that just wont die! 104 - one of the oldest batch of eight - is seen here at the new ERI on Service 24. Presently the allocation is intermixed with Dennis Darts, but new low floor Darts due for later this year will convert Service 24 to low-floor - again. Right If you wonder what a Dennis Dart SLF in harlequin will do for the new architecture in the building, then ponder no more. Dennis Dart SLF 152 - from the first batch of such vehicles for Lothian - is seen on one of the hourly projections of Service 49 to Rosewell - introduced with support from Midlothian Council after First withdrew the 79 and gave a replacement in the form of the 140 - a journey taking more than three times as long! |  |
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Left Service 49 runs every 20 minutes on the Danderhall - The Jewel section, which has replaced part of the original 19/39 circular around Lochend and Craigentinny as well as being intended to replace the 82 all those moons ago. Anyway, Dennis Dart 159 is passing through the new ERI at high speed in this shot! Right The last Lothian vehicle for today's Edinburgh selection is 408, working Service 33 (then the 7) in this shot also at the new ERI. |  |
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Service X61 is a new commuter service from Edinburgh to parts of north Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes - which includes one journey to/from the new ERI. This service does not pick up at Ferrytoll, or run via Dunfermline at all. However, even with the Edinburgh schools back, the service still presently has an excess of running time... So, this meant a few "timing point" photo shots, and the driver was willing for me to nab the bus as we went along! Left 52440 seen at the Crammond Bridge (Brig) with the pub/eatery by the same name on the other side of the road - and just visible in this picture. Right Upon arrival at Chapel (Kirkcaldy) the bus met up with a vehicle I'd snapped up earlier in the day - 40591, which is seen here at Chapel Level. |  |
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Two final pics of 52440 at Chapel Level, with nearside and offside shots showing the "flipping" of the destination possible on this vehicle. The regular vehicles should be the coaches with the manually-wound blinds... |  |