The following article contains extracts from the Western Enthusiasts Club newsletter, Issue 91, January – February 1995 and is intended to take a nostalgic “snapshot view” of the various activities that were taking place at Western Scottish during this time. We aim to publish these articles on a regular basis and, as always, we would like to thank the Western Enthusiasts Club for allowing us to publish their superb material on our site.
Company News
Ayrshire Bus Owners (A1 Service) Ltd
As forecast in the last issue, A1 Service was taken over jointly by Western Scottish Buses Ltd and Stagecoach Holding Ltd at midnight on Saturday 28th January 1995. Some 67 buses were involved in the deal, not all being used under Western Scottish control.
The A1 Service operation is to continue as a separate entity under Western Scottish management.
Arran Transport & Trading Company Limited
The Arran Transport & Trading Company limited name was changed to Clyde Islands Bus Company Ltd on February 9th. The new company does not own any buses and is in the process of being wound up.
New Vehicle Order
Vehicles allocated to Western Scottish from current Stagecoach Group orders are 20 Alexander (Belfast) bodied Mercedes Benz minibuses. 16 of these were due in February with the remaining 4 due in March.
They are to be allocated to Dumfries (17) and Rothesay (3) giving Rothesay it’s first new buses since 1974!
New Vehicles
December 1994
Chassis: Volvo B10M-55
Body: Alexander PS, DP48F
Fleet No’s: V584 – 593
Reg No’s: M784-793PRS
These vehicles were originally intended for the Stagecoach Glasgow operation. They have Stagecoach standard interior trim with an inward facing seat for three over the front offside wheelarch and a luggage rack over the corresponding wheelarch on the nearside. They have a flat floor throughout but interestingly the rear row of seats do not have headrests. Despite being classified as dual-purpose these buses, and indeed the earlier B6 vehicles are not fitted with tachographs, but like their smaller sisters feature electronic destination equipment at the front and side / rear route number apertures. Their U.W is 9660kg. V584-9 arrived on December 22nd with the balance arriving the following day. All entered service on January 9th.
February 1995
Chassis: Mercedes Benz
Body: Alexander (Belfast)
Fleet No’s: Z248-265/267/268
Reg No’s: M648-665/667/668FYS
These vehicles were in course of delivery as we went to press and further details are awaited.
Vehicles Re-registered
Further to the last issue, Dennis Dorchester KN416 (B987EGG) was re-registered to WLT 416 on January 02nd.
Disposals
| Fleet No | Reg No | Sold to | Date |
| V424 | WGB834W | Stagecoach Selkent | 10/1/95 |
| D244 | D244NCS | Wilson, Rhu | 11/1/95 |
| F200 | B764DEG | Hall’s Coaches, Fife | 16/1/95 |
| S439 | WGA908V | J Bell, Newtonards | 18/1/95 |
| D245 | D245NCS | Pacer Buses, Uttoexeter | 24/1/95 |
| D249 | D249NCS | Pacer Buses, Uttoexeter | 24/1/95 |
| D255 | D255NCS | Pacer Buses, Uttoexeter | 24/1/95 |
| D258 | D258NCS | Pacer Buses, Uttoexeter | 24/1/95 |
| D260 | D260NCS | Pacer Buses, Uttoexeter | 24/1/95 |
| D282 | D302SDS | Pacer Buses, Uttoexeter | 24/1/95 |
| D284 | D304SDS | Pacer Buses, Uttoexeter | 24/1/95 |
| D287 | D307SDS | Pacer Buses, Uttoexeter | 24/1/95 |
| S531 | ASD831T | Dunsmore | 26/1/95 |
| S533 | ASD833T | Dunsmore | 26/1/95 |
| S558 | BSD858T | Dunsmore | 26/1/95 |
| D222 | D222NCS | Lister | 26/1/95 |
| D224 | D224NCS | Lister | 26/1/95 |
| S551 | BSD851T | Dunsmore | 27/1/95 |
| S559 | BSD859T | Dunsmore | 27/1/95 |
| S460 | DSD960V | Dunsmore | 28/1/95 |
| S523 | ASD823T | Dunsmore | 29/1/95 |
| S545 | DSD983V | Dunsmore | 29/1/95 |
| S522 | ASD822T | Dunsmore | 30/1/95 |
| S535 | ASD835T | Dunsmore | 30/1/95 |
| R828 | LMS160W | Leon, Finningley | 30/1/95 |
| D226 | D226NCS | Lister | 2/2/95 |
| D256 | D256NCS | Lister | 2/2/95 |
| V487 | GSU 950 | Stagecoach South | 13/2/95 |
| E572 | CCS459T | Scottish Citylink | 13/2/95 |
| L707 | MHD336L | Lister | 15/2/95 |
| L708 | PTF732L | Lister | 15/2/95 |
| L709 | NHA256M | Lister | 15/2/95 |
| R839 | ULS669T | Lister | 15/2/95 |
| R842 | OSG59T | Lister | 15/2/95 |
| R848 | XSJ648T | Lister | 15/2/95 |
| R887 | ECS887V | Lister | 15/2/95 |
| V426 | TOS524X | J Bufton, Gwent | 15/2/95 |
| V429 | VLT 219 | J Bufton, Gwent | 15/2/95 |
| V432 | WGB645W | J Bufton, Gwent | 15/2/95 |
| S518 | YSD818T | S Nicholas, Liverpool | 15/2/95 |
| E571 | HCS350N | S Nicholas, Liverpool | 15/2/95 |
| E578 | HVY132X | S Nicholas, Liverpool | 15/2/95 |
| D231 | D231NCS | Lister | 16/2/95 |
| D250 | D250NCS | Lister | 16/2/95 |
| S455 | DSD955V | Dunsmore | 2/95 |
| S472 | DSD972V | Dunsmore | 2/95 |
| S528 | ASD828T | Dunsmore | 2/95 |
| S532 | ASD832T | Dunsmore | 2/95 |
| S536 | ASD836T | Dunsmore | 2/95 |
| S552 | BSD852T | Dunsmore | 2/95 |
| S553 | BSD853T | Dunsmore | 2/95 |
Depot & Chassis Codes
Western’s system of using depot and chassis type code letters which dates back to 1948, may, by default cease to appear on vehicles. The fleet number transfers are corporate group purchases and lettering is not commonly used. Apart from Western Scottish, only the recently acquired East London and Selkent companies use letter type codes.
Although the codes have not yet appeared on vehicles, new types added to the fleet following the A1 takeover have been allocated the following code letters:
B – Bristol VRT
C – Scania
F – Iveco (Fiat)
L – Leyland Titan – given ‘L’ to identify a unique Leyland type in the fleet.
V – Volvo – all Volvo’s including the front engined Ailsa type of code ‘V’. There is no differentiation between double or single deck types either. The Leyland built Olympians are also classified ‘V’ in order to be consistent with the new Volvo Olympians due this summer.
Vehicles Re-Numbered
The arrival of the Bristol VRT’s for the Stagecoach A1 Service fleet and the impending arrival of the new Mercedes minibuses has resulted in a number of vehicles being re-numbered from February 22nd.
| Old Fleet No. | New Fleet No | Registration |
| D223 | D023 | D223NCS |
| D225 | D025 | D225NCS |
| D227 | D027 | D227NCS |
| D228 | D028 | D228NCS |
| D229 | D029 | D229NCS |
| D230 | D030 | D230NCS |
| D248 | D048 | D248NCS |
| D251 | D051 | D251NCS |
| D252 | D052 | D252NCS |
| D253 | D053 | D253NCS |
| D254 | D054 | D254NCS |
| D257 | D057 | D257NCS |
| D259 | D059 | D259NCS |
| Z262 | Z222 | D122NUS |
| Z263 | Z223 | D123NUS |
| Z264 | Z224 | D124NUS |
| Z266 | Z226 | D136NUS |
| Z268 | Z228 | D128NUS |
| Z269 | Z229 | D129NUS |
| Z270 | Z230 | D130NUS |
| Z271 | Z231 | D121NUS |
| Z272 | Z232 | E638UYS |
| R832 | R842 | ASA22T |
| R833 | R843 | ASA23T |
Allocations & Transfers
January 1995
| Fleet No | Reg No | From | To |
| Z216 | D116NUS | Dumfries | Ayr |
| Z216 | D116NUS | Ayr | Store |
| Z218 | D118NUS | Store | Dumfries |
| D234 | D234NCS | Disposal | Arran |
| D235 | D235NCS | Disposal | Arran |
| Z269 | D129NUS | Stranraer | Ayr |
| Z269 | D129NUS | Ayr | Store |
| D291 | E636DCK | Acquired | Dumfries |
| D295 | E644DCK | Acquired | Dumfries |
| V334 | M734BSJ | Kilmarnock | Ayr |
| V335 | M735BSJ | Kilmarnock | Ayr |
| V336 | M736BSJ | Kilmarnock | Ayr |
| V356 | M679SSX | Kilmarnock | Ayr |
| V357 | M680SSX | Kilmarnock | Ayr |
| V358 | M681SSX | Kilmarnock | Ayr |
| S519 | YSD819T | Disposal | Stranraer |
| S520 | YSD820T | Disposal | Stranraer |
| S527 | ASD827T | Disposal | Stranraer |
| S534 | ASD834T | Disposal | Stranraer |
| S542 | ASD842T | Disposal | Stranraer |
| S543 | ASD843T | Disposal | Stranraer |
| S544 | ASD844T | Disposal | Stranraer |
| V584 | M784PRS | New | Kilmarnock |
| V585 | M785PRS | New | Kilmarnock |
| V586 | M786PRS | New | Kilmarnock |
| V587 | M787PRS | New | Kilmarnock |
| V588 | M788PRS | New | Kilmarnock |
| V589 | M789PRS | New | Kilmarnock |
| V590 | M790PRS | New | Kilmarnock |
| V591 | M791PRS | New | Kilmarnock |
| V592 | M792PRS | New | Kilmarnock |
| V593 | M793PRS | New | Kilmarnock |
| L637 | GCS37V | Kilmarnock | Ayr |
| L638 | GCS38V | Kilmarnock | Ayr |
| L653 | GCS53V | Kilmarnock | Ayr |
| L657 | GCS57V | Kilmarnock | Ayr |
| R837 | ASA27T | Dumfries | Store |
| R840 | ULS660T | Dumfries | Store |
| R858 | XSJ658T | Stranraer | Store |
| R862 | XSJ662T | Dumfries | Store |
| R867 | XSJ667T | Stranraer | Store |
| R871 | BCS871T | Stranraer | Store |
February 1995
| Fleet No | Reg No | From | To |
| S449 | DSD949V | Dumfries | Ayr |
| S453 | DSD953V | Dumfries | Ayr |
| S456 | DSD956V | Dumfries | Ayr |
| R858 | XSJ658T | A1 | Ayr |
| R867 | XSJ667T | A1 | Ayr |
| R871 | BCS871T | A1 | Ayr |
Withdrawals
January 1985
Dodge Minibuses:
DD222 (D222NCS), AD224 (D224NCS),
AD226 (D226NCS), AD231 (D231NCS),
AD232 (D232NCS), AD233 (D233NCS),
AD234 (D234NCS), AD235 (D235NCS),
AD240 (D240NCS), AD244 (D244NCS),
AD249 (D249NCS), AD250 (D250NCS),
AD255 (D255NCS), ND256 (D256NCS),
AD258 (D258NCS), DD260 (D260NCS),
DD282 (D302SDS).
Seddon Pennines:
SS439 (WGA908V), DS443 (DSD943V),
DS455 (DSD955V), CS460 (DSD960V),
S472 (DSD972V), AS553 (BSD853T).
Fleetline:
R828 (LMS160W)
February 1995
Seddon Pennines:
CS462 (DSD962V), CS482 (DSD982V).
Seddon Pennines SS440 (DSD940V) and SS444 (DSD944V) were scheduled to be withdrawn in January also but were reprieved and transferred from Stranraer to Cumnock instead.
Vehicles Reinstated
A considerable number of vehicles were reinstated in January in order to take account of changes to school bus requirements in Dumfries & Galloway region as well as additional commitments following the A1 Service takeover at the end of the month.
Vehicles reinstated on January 05th and sent to Stranraer depot were Seddon Pennines S519/20 (YSD819/20T), S527/34 (ASD827/34T) and S542-4 (ASD842-4T). Dodge minibuses D234/5 (D234/5NCS) were also reinstated in January and sent to Arran.
Due to the fact that a number of vehicles were retained by the members of the A1 Service co-operative, Western reinstated a number of buses to cover. These were minibuses D232/3 (D232/3NCS), D240 (D240NCS) and D243 (D243NCS) and Seddon Pennines S525/6 (ASD825/6T), S537 (ASD837T), S546 (DSD984V) and S556 (BSD856T). All of these buses were immediately transferred to the Stagecoach A1 Service operation along with several buses taken out of storage (see next heading).
Company sources advise that a solitary Leyland Cub, L601 (C802KBT) has been taken off the disposal list and is presently regarded as being stored. It had suffered rear axle failure and later had a number of windows broken whilst parked at the rear of Dunoon depot but it is planned that the bus will be reinstated when repairs are complete.
Vehicles Transferred to A1
The full list of vehicles transferred to the Stagecoach A1 Service operation on January 29th comprised: Mercedes minibuses AZ216 (D116NUS) and AZ269 (D129NUS), Dodge minibuses (all from Disposal list) D232/3 (D232/3NCS), D240/3 (D240/3NCS), Seddon Pennines (from Disposal list) S525/6 (ASD825/6T), S537 (ASD837T), S546 (DSD984V), S556 (BSD856T) and from Storage S474 (DSD974V) and Leyland Fleetlines (all from storage) R837 (ASA27T), R840 (ULS660T), R858 (XSJ658T), R862 (XSJ662T) and R867 (XSJ667T).
Subsequently, during February a number of Leyland Atlanteans were also transferred to Stagecoach A1 Service comprising KA800 (UNA853S), KA801 (UNA863S), AA804 (ANA211T), AA806 (RJA702R), KA807 (UNA772S) and KA808 (RJA801R).
Following the transfer of the Atlanteans, Fleetlines R858 (XSJ658T) and R867 (XSJ667T) were returned to Western and allocated to Ayr by February 12th.
Livery Changes
Pride of place goes to the news that, contrary to the last issue, the unique Berkhof bodied Volvo B10M coach, SV198 (WLT 720) did not receive Stagecoach stripes but instead was repainted in Western’s own ‘coach livery’. We understand that the coach livery is being evaluated as a possible prelude to further repaints to differentiate the coach fleet from express or dual purpose vehicles.
Correcting the last issue, Talbot Freeway KT276 (F336JHS) and Atlantean AA806 (RJA702R) have not received Stagecoach livery. However, similar Talbot NT274 (F334JHS) is now in Stagecoach colours, clearly a case of mistaken identity.
Former Arran Transport vehicles now in Stagecoach corporate livery are Mercedes minibuses NZ221 (G574FSD) and NZ272 (E638YUS), and Bedford / Plaxton coach NE583 (E849AAO).
The only other vehicles reported as having received Stagecoach livery are Mercedes minibus KZ210 (D110NUS) and Dennis Dorchester KN413 (YSV 730). The latter has received “Stagecoach Express” logos which have also been retrospectively applied to earlier repainted CN142 (VLT 272).
Local News
Ayr
Vehicles noted being stored here on January 8th were open top Fleetline R102, Volvo coach V487 and Dodge minibuses D245/50. Leyland Atlanteans AA804/6 had gone to the A1 operation at Ardrossan by February 12th, having been replaced by Fleetlines R858/67/71
Kilmarnock
The activities of the former Western Engineering workshops ceased on December 23rd and the windows have since been boarded up. Both the Dock and Body shops continued to be used by the local Ford dealer well into the new year but the premises are now understood to have been vacated.
Preserved short Leopard L600 remains in the Dock shop, it’s completion being of very low priority given the recent upheavals.
The withdrawn vehicle line-up on January 8th comprised minibus D287, Seddons S523/45 and 546, Fleetlines R828/39/42, unused Bedford E578, a Volvo chassis and Citylink owned WGB816W. Volvo Duple V424 was in the top garage having been prepared for it’s long trek South. Interestingly is still retained it’s Rothesay destination blind at that time.
Stranraer
As previously forecast, the school contract work was subject to revision at the start of the new school term on January 5th. Both the Drummore and Machars schools services which hitherto required double deckers are now worked by single deckers.
On the first day (January 5th), Seddon SS544 was noted on the Stranraer – Drummore working whilst the Machars schools services (which previously required two double deckers and one single decker) now require four single deckers. These were SS527, SS529, SS543 and SS473, although all four allocations are normally 53 seaters.
East Lancs. rebody SV431 along with it’s Girvan based sister AV427 have yet to be fitted with Stagecoach Western Scottish Fleetnames.
The depot buildings at both Stranraer and Whithorn have both received large Stagecoach Western Scottish name boards above their doors.