|
| |
| April 2001 |
 |
 |
 |
| Fife FRA46 (UFS879R)
is seen on a moody day in Kirkcaldy town bus station in September 1978.
This company had been the first to operate Ailsas in Scotland. |
Highland only ever
operated one of the 50 Ailsas - a former Midland example. G311
(YMS714R) waits for a workers journey at Dounreay power station in July 1990. |
Midland originally
allocated their Ailsas to Perth for city services. MRA12
(YMS712R), sporting a broadside advert for Drybroughs beer, is seen
in Perth in July 1979. |
| |
|
 |
Volvo Ailsas were once common
place in Scottish bus fleets, but now only a few remain in
service. Perhaps the most famous Ailsas were the 50 ordered
by Fife in 1977. In the end, only six were delivered to them
with the rest being spread amongst other Scottish Bus Group
fleets. Midland took 14, with Central, Eastern and Western taking
10 each. Over time, Highland acquired one from Midland, and
Eastern gave a final few years' service to the Central and Western
examples. Some even made it into Kelvin and Strathtay
colours.
These 50 vehicles may be long gone but their heyday is captured in this
feature. |
| Left: Crew-operated
Central SMT AH4 (BGG254S) in Buchanan Bus Station, Glasgow when
new in June 1978 |
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
| Eastern Scottish VV778
(CSG778S) is seen in St. Andrews Square Bus Station, Edinburgh in June 1978 |
Western SMT PA2689 (TSJ592S),
at Glasgow's Larkfield Depot for the open day in April 1978. |
KCB 1978 (YMS713R),
wearing Kelvin's third livery at Kirkintilloch Depot on a
typically wet day in July
1990. |
| |
| Click to enlarge
photos |
| |
| Links |
 | For a complete chronological history of the Volvo
Ailsa click here. |
|
|
