Saturday 5 July 2003
Following last week's trip to one end of the Strathtay operating area, took a trip the other way to the west - i.e. Blairgowrie, Spittalfield, Perth, Alyth, Kirriemuir. Also got a photgraph of Travel Dundee's newest arrial - 67, formerly TWM 1481, Y722 CJW. The bus was formerly TWM 1481, a one-off bought for evaluation of the B7L single deck type. Ironically enough I've since learned the bus was intended for use on TWM Service 67 vs. the articulated Mercedes vehicles - as Travel Dundee have numbered it 67! - however, the vehicle sended up on the 91E more than most, so I hear. Anyway, the bus had a lucky escape when a bunch of kids on bikes came down Nelson Street (IIRC) and straight into three lanes of two-flow traffic - the driver managed to break and avoid hitting anyone or anything, but a split-second later would have written off the vehicle. Anyway, makes a change from being bus-changed off in its first day!

	Left Travel Dundee 67 - see above. Right Anyway, back to the plan, and following recent discussion on 60 seater Leyland Leopards, this iks the 60 seater Leyalnd Tiger reseated for use on the 60 during school terms. However, since the schools have been on holiday, the bus has been out & about on services to/from Dundee and Perth - making use of the high capacity - which are being duplicated some weekends due to the high number of travellers heading for Strathmore. Since the first issue of the Rough Guide To Scotland, which covered this area in detail - and quite rightly so - the buses have been getting very busy - but also on Sundays when even bigger buses have been put out on occasions.
	Coach park behind Wellmeadow bus stance brings us Left Rennie's of Dunfermline Mercedes/Plaxton Cheetah T808 TSC which was dropping off on a hire. Right Smith & Sons operate Service 71 from Tarvie, Strathardle and Kirkmicheal to Blairgowrie, with some journeys continuing to Coupar Angus in service to get closer to the company depot just outside Burrleton. Another Mercedes Vario/Plaxton Cheetah, T817 ASR, is seen approaching the bridge crossing the River Echt.
	Two of Strathtay's MCW Metroriders at Blairgowrie Wellmeadow. Left Short-wheelbase 156 is seen on the Blairgowrie - Rattary - Carsie local service. This is worked by a longer Metrorider during the school terms to accomodate a 31 seater on a school run. Right Longer 215 is seen here working Service 58 to Perth via Meikleour. The service was being held up substantially due to th Game Conservancy fair at Scone Palace - and this was holding up the bus I was waiting on while these images were being snapped!
	Left Fisher laundry services of Aberfeldy/Cupar have two coaches and two minibuses. Short Volvo B10M G145 BLD is used from their Aberfeldy premises to provide staff transport to/from Blairgowrie. Right Royal Mail Postbus Vauxhall mail van X289 ATC was the second one to arrive, from Glenshee (the previous one was from Glenisla). Seen just off Blairgowrie Wellmeadow.
	Left 212 came off the 58 - almost 40 minutes late with the traffic for Scone Palace - and went out to Spittalfield and Dunkeld. The vehicle is seen here turning at one side of Spittalfield before heading out to Dunkeld. Right Stagecoach in Perth 20177 is seen parking up in the "bus stand" in Spittalfield off-service before a run back to Perth via Stanley and Luncarty.
	Left Mercedes/Wright 41509 of Stagecoach in Perth seen at Mill Street, Perth. Right Stagecoach in Perth 14467 is seen in Kinnoull Street - cleverly combining Burghmuir/Tweedsmuir and Western Edge, but actually heading for North Muirton.
	Left 14338 is an "extra-long" Leyland Olympian transferred last Autumn to Stagecoach in Perth - primarily for a Crieff High School to Comrie school run on the 15. The bus, and it's 82 seats, are running round the city today however, from North Muirton turning at Kinnoull Street into Mill Street, heading for Burghmuir/Tweedsmuir - and I was finally able to snap it up! Right Stagecoach in Perth 14457 is seen on Service 10 also seen towards North Muirton in Perth High Street.
	Left Open-top Leyland Titan 11114 in Guide Friday livery, has been updated with City Sightseeing logos on the cream and green livery. Right Pegaus Travel service 49 from Glenalmond and Harrietfield to Perth now runs on Saturdays instead of Tuesdays, and Mercedes minicoach R79 EDW is seen in the layover area at Perth Bus Station.
	Left AJX 158 of Travel Dundee in Perth Bus Station on Citylink work. Right One of West Coast Motor's new DAF coaches, YJ 03 PFA, also seen in Perth Bus Station.
	Left Stagecoach in Fife 22255 on Service 56, running from Cowdenbeath depot on the Kelty - Perth service, at the bus station. Despite the window branding advertising the Route 19 MegaRider, the vehicles can turn up on any Cowdenbeath work, if spared from the 19, or on Sundays. Right Onto Alyth and Strathtay 815 seen at Alyth Square.
	At Alyth, Strathtay Service 57 connects with Meffan's Service 128 to Kirriemuir. Left L321 AUT is seen at Alyth Square. Right From Alyth to Kirriemuir, and Meffan's latest acqusition is YSV 904, a Plaxton Paramount-bodied Volvo ex-Riddler, Arbroath.
	Left Harlequin Coaches of Livingston - a relation to the Harlequin from Dunblane - had their Scania tri-axle coach N698 AHL is seen in the Kirriemuir depot. Right Strathtay 951 is seen in Kirriemuir outside the "Bank buildings".