Clydeside Scottish
Omnibuses Ltd.

Below are details and pictures of various days out that myself, friends and other museum members have had on GCS 50V, HSD 73V and E187 HSF.  This page of course will be updated over time!  If anyone has any other pictures taken on any of these days out please let me know!

Saturday June 9th 2007, was GCS 50V's first day out to an organised event.  The event in question was an open day held by Stagecoach Western at their Kilmarnock Depot to celebrate 75 years in business. This was the same company GCS 50V started life with back in 1980 so it was fantastic she was able to attend. The journey to Kilmarnock went smoothly, we had been allocated four spaces at the depot and GCS 50V was joined by Ex Kelvin Volvo Ailsa, Ex Midland Metrobus and Westerns own Leyland Leopard coach which the museum has on long term loan.  We made good progress, but since two of the vehicles were double decker's we had to take the long way to Kilmarnock.  Although slightly late arriving at the depot we were quickly shown to our allocated spaces..... Time now to chill out!

part of a long line up at Kilmarnock Depot, B105 PKS Ex Midland Scottish Metrobus seen with proud owner George next to GCS 50V.

GCS 50V is in there somewhere, I think!

The day was very successful with GCS 50V attracting much attention since this was her first day out since passing into preservation.  The weather was fantastic very hot day and my only worry was would we all get back to Beith without overheating!

During the afternoon I met with some members of the training school based at Kilmarnock Depot.  Since this is where I might be learning to drive it was a great opportunity to meet some of the trainers.  One of the attractions at the open day was the chance to have a shot of driving a real bus, and once the line waiting was not too long I decided to give it go.  I found it a bit strange at first and great to drive, but I was also aware that the fairly new Volvo coach I found myself in might not be just the same experience as my 27 year old Leyland leopard!  

Just time to be quickly shown the important things like the brake!

OK one more lap will do me promise!

Although I did not own former Clydeside Scottish Leyland Fleetline HSD 73V at this point in time, she did also attend the event. Below are some pictures taken in the yard at Kilmarnock.

Just after 4.00pm it was time to head home, we were all ready to leave when we found that the Western Coach we had brought had a flat battery and would not start! After a little attention from George and a jump start we were on our way home to Beith.  A pleasant journey home, again with no problems encountered by any of us.  After my first driving lesson at Kilmarnock, I decided that since GCS 50V's MOT was due to expire shortly, the journey home would be a great chance for me to finally get to drive my bus on the open road.  After a quick run through the controls then we were on our way again.  I was delighted with how she drives, the steering was a little heavier but apart from that not too different to the Volvo I had experienced earlier in the day.  My confidence was now growing and after arrival back at Beith I decided to try and navigate GCS 50V in the gate, around the other buses in the yard, back inside the museum and finally reversed back into my space. No problems were encountered, the training at Kilmarnock must be good!

Finally a big thank you to Donald Scott for being my driver for the day, without you GCS 50V would not have been able to attend the open day. Much Appreciated!

After my first lesson, now I am ready to hit the road!

Time to head back to Beith, why is everybody traveling on the other bus?

Since the MOT on GCS 50V expires on the 24th June 2007, we decided in light of the reasonable summer weather to take her for a short run today. After a quick fuel stop at Renfrew Road in Paisley, a road this vehicle would have known well earlier in its life, it was back to Beith and on down the coast to Largs.  We had a fantastic view of the Clyde and the island of Millport as we started our steep decent down in to Largs a route again this vehicle would have travelled often in the past. From Largs we headed along the coast to Kilwinning and back home to Beith via Dalry.  As always a faultless journey with GCS 50V performing well apart from the 2nd gear not working. Many thanks again to Donald for kindly agreeing to drive today! 

A quick stop for fuel at Renfrew Road, Paisley.

 

A quick photo stop on the A78 just outside Seamill.

 

Today Beith Transport Museum had a visit from Philip and Sandra Lamb, Bus and Coach Preservation Magazine. The weather was good and a pleasent day was had by all. Both GCS 50V and Volvo Ailsa LHS 747V were used to take our guests out for a short run and photo shoot in the local area.  The photos taken will be used in an article to be published soon in the magazine.  The photos of GCS 50V were taken outside the local church in Beith. Many thanks again to Donald for driving both vehicles on the day!  

 

Some Pictures Taken Outside The Local Church In Beith

Back At Beith After Photo Shoot!

Today GCS 50V Passed her MOT! After I finished work I decided to take her for a run to Kilmacolm. I grew up in Kilmacolm and have many memories of traveling on Clydeside Scottish Leyland Leopards to and from Kilmacolm. This was also my first proper drive with my bus since I had passed my test. As always with GCS 50V no problems were encountered during the run. Many thanks to Ewan Gray for taking the photos since I left my camera at home that day! 

Houston Road, Kilmacolm. The House I Lived In During My Time In Kilmacolm Was Just Round The Corner. I Got Off At This Stop On My Way Home From School!

The Turning Circle On The Road To Port Glasgow. Kilmacolm Is In The Background.

The Cross At Kilmacolm.

Houston Road Again! This Stop Would Be Where I Got The Bus To School! Time To Head Back To Beith.

This was the first full open weekend of the TPT Beith Transport Museum. Since GCS 50V was now serviced, insured and had a current MOT, she operated a few shuttle services with myself driving! to Glasgow George Sq and also Glengarnock Station. As you will see from the photos the weather was not great on the Saturday but the Sunday was a fantastic day. GCS 50V preformed very well and the open weekend was a great sucesss.

Below are some photos taken during the two day event.

Old Friends Meet Again! GCS 35V also now preserved, visited our open weekend at Beith.

Shuttle Service From Glengarnock Railway Station.

  

Some Photos Taken During The Shuttle Runs To Glasgow George Sq. The Clydeside Crew!

Today we took HSD 73V for a short run around Beith. We called up to the church in the town centre, the location of the photos of GCS 50V taken for the Bus and Coach magazine article.

 

HSD 73V was booked into W H Malcolm at Johnstone to have the speedometer fixed. At sometime in her career she had a tachograph fitted and I wanted this removed and a normal speedometer fitted. On the way we called in at Johnstone station.

M73 At Johnstone Station.

HSD 73V Parked up at W H Malcolm yard at Johnstone.

Today was the day GCS 50V,  finished as Clydeside Scottish G750, took to the road for the first time! We took her for a short drive around the Beith area to get some photographs and videos with a few guests on board including Sandra and Philip Lamb from Bus & Coach preservation magazine.

GCS 50V Outside the garage at Beith ready for our trip out!

GCS 50V On our trip out around Beith.

Today we took GCS 50V for a run to some locations in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde she previously operated. After a fuel stop at Renfrew Road, we headed into Renfrew and called in at Arriva's Inchinnan Depot. G750 was allocated to this depot from Jan 1994 till May 1995. G750 turned plenty of heads in the depot and many of the managers and staff who remembered the Leyland Leopards and Clydeside Scottish can down to see the vehicle. After Inchinnan we headed through Erskine, Bishopton and on down to Port Glasgow. From Port Glasgow we headed back to Beith via Kilmacolm where photos were taken again at the Cross and Houston Road after a former Clydeside employee waved us down to have a look at the bus!  G750 preformed well and a great day out was had by all!

The old meets the new in Renfrew!

Some pictures taken at Arriva's Inchinnan Depot. G750 was allocated here from Jan 1994 till May 1995.

A few pictures taken around Church Street Port Glasgow.

GCS 50V Back in Kilmacolm, this time as Clydeside Scottish G750.

HSD 73V was almost complete and today was booked for M.O.T  at Reids of Paisley. Below are some pictures taken of her outside Beith now wearing her Clydeside Scottish livery, without some of the stickers! and also at Reids.

Ready to leave Beith for Paisley.

Reids of Paisley ready for M.O.T

Today was the spring 2008 S.V.B.M (Scottish Vintage Bus Museum) running day at Lathalmond in Fife. Both GCS 50V and HSD 73V were able to attend, this was the first event both vehicles had attended in Clydeside Livery.  Both vehicles made it there and back ok! Although Hugo did have to put up with a faulty low water buzzer sounding in the cab of HSD 73V all the way to Lathalmond and back! Many thanks to S Crichton, Gary Conn and Ewan Gray for allowing me to use some of their photos on the site.

Ready to depart for Lathalmond on the Sunday morning.

On the road to Lathalmond GCS 50V, following Gary and Martins Kelvin Scottish Metrobus. Photo Copyright Gary Conn.

HSD 73V Outside Buchanan Bus station, Glasgow on the way to Lathalmond. Photo copyright Ewan Gray.

Both vehicles arrived safely and part of the line up.

Hugo, Ewan and Myself with HSD 73V at Lathalmond May 2008. Photo copyright S Crichton.

A rear view  ! Showing the Clydeside Scottish adverts on GCS 50V and HSD 73V.

The Clydeside Crew. Myself and Hugo Gilmour with G750 & M73 at Lathalmond.

After a great day, time to head back to Beith.

My uncle arrived from Europe today and needed a lift to Kilmacolm to visit my Gran. Alan was also keen to see my buses at Beith so I decided to give him a lift to my Grans in GCS 50V.

Myself at the wheel of G750 and also outside my grans house in Kilmacolm.

Today was the first day of the August 2008 S.V.B.M (Scottish Vintage Bus Museum) annual two day event at Lathalmond in Fife. Regretably HSD 73V was not able to attend, however GCS 50V attended on Saturday and my Eastern Scottish, Volvo Citybus E187 HSF spent the weekend there and was my "bed" for the night after a BBQ and a FEW drinks  ! on the Saturday night with Ewan, Andy, Shug and others. This was my first time at the Lathalmond August event and I had one of the best weekends of my life  with both GCS 50V and E187 HSF working a few shuttle services to and from Dunfermline to the event. Many thanks to Scott Houston for driving GCS 50V to and from Lathalmond.

E187 HSF and GCS 50V at Cumbernauld on the way to Lathalmond.

E187 HSF and GCS 50V with George Grays Midland Scottish Metrobus B105 PKS. B105 PKS can be seen next to GCS 50V before restoration in the photographs taken at the Kilmarnock open day.

GCS 50V Operating a shuttle service to and from Dunfermline. A healthy load was carried both ways!

This was the annual G.V.V.T (Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust) open day in Glasgow. I brought G750 up during the week to allow her to be placed as part of the line up. The photos below were taken during the event and also on Thursday 9th October and Tuesday 14th October, the day I collected G750 and returned her to Beith.

G750 Arrived at G.V.V.T on Thursday 9th October 2008 ready for the open weekend.

My mum and dad next to GCS 50V at the G.V.V.T open day.

GCS 50V with other visiting vehicles ready to head home after the open day.

Today was GCS 50Vs first trip out of 2009. Due to last minute non availablity of the booked vehicle, G750 was requested to operate the G.V.V.T tour to Edinburgh and the Museum of Flight at East Linton near North Berwick.  Leaving Beith at around 8am we collected our 30 Guests from George Square and the G.V.V.T in Glasgow. G750 arrived at Edinburgh Park station approx 45mins later having made light work of the M8, both keeping up and passing other much younger buses & coaches! Next it was on to the Museum of Flight at East Linton, where an enjoyable few hours was spent.  Longnidry was our next stop, where after parking GCS 50V at the Local Station car park, a wonderful lunch was enjoyed in the local Inn!  After lunch we headed for the city centre, where due to high winds our tour bus was unable to meet us. Therefore it was left to G750 to complete the City Tour complete with our own guide. Although not the most ideal vehicle to navigate round Edinburgh city centre, the bus and my driving skills managed it and a well earned drink awaited me when I got home!

All in all a fantastic day out and just what the old girl needed after the winter. Many thanks to both Gary Conn and David J Kerr for for allowing me to use a few of their photos, will need to get a better camera that can take good night shots!

GCS 50V At Edinburgh Park Station, making sure Martin got to work on time!

We made it! GCS 50V is parked up at the Museum Of Flight, enjoying a well earned rest!

 

Big bus and wee bus!

GCS 50V and a err British Airways plane. Sorry not too good with types of planes, but it makes a great photo!

Longnidry Station during our lunch stop, good choice of Restaurant andy, spot on!

GCS 50V At the start of the Edinburgh City tour.

The "strange" building in the background is the Scottish parliment.

G750 Outside Dynamic Earth.

GCS 50V at Waverley Bridge, during the Edinburgh City Tour, with the Scott Monument in the background.

GCS 50V at Waverley Bridge, during the Edinburgh City Tour. Photo Copyright Gary Conn.

GCS 50V at Waverley Bridge, during the Edinburgh City Tour. Photo Copyright David J Kerr.

The Clydeside Crew back safely at Beith after a long day!

Today Easter Sunday 2009 it was planned to have a family day trip out on my recently completed Eastern Scottish Volvo Citybus E187 HSF. However due to a vehicle awaiting engine parts being in front of the Citybus, a last minute change of plan ment GCS 50V was our vehicle for the day.  After leaving Beith we headed to Johnstone and follwed the route of the former Clydeside Scottish No. 20 through Linwood, Houston, Bridge Of Weir, Kilmacolm, Port Glasgow and Greenock. The weather was fantastic and a great day was had by all, this was the first time my family had been out for a run on one of my vehicles. We also had a booked lunch stop at Cardwell Garden centre just after Gourock. After a pleasent lunch it was on down to Largs before returning to Beith via Ardrossan and Kilwinning.

Looking back G750 was the perfect vehicle for the trip taking her back to locations and routes she would have operated previously. It was also noted that 2 days prior to the tour she was 29 years, happy birthday GCS 50V! Some photos of the day are below.

Gran Barclay takes the wheel during our trip out!

My family with G750 on our Easter Sunday trip out Sunday 12th April 2009.

Today GCS 50V moved to her new home at the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust, Bridgeton Bus Garage. I was delighted to find out during the week that both GCS 50V and HSD 73V had been accepted to join the fantastic museum collection. HSD 73V will join GCS 50V in few days after some MOT work is completed in Paisley. The photos below were taken in the yard at G.V.V.T when G750 arrived. She is pictured next to a similar Ex Western Scottish Leyland Leopard.

G750 Arrived at her new home at G.V.V.T, Saturday 25th April 2009.

GCS 50V is seen in the yard at G.V.V.T shortly after arrival with fellow Leopard SCS 335M.

Today was the spring 2009 S.V.B.M (Scottish Vintage Bus Museum) running day at Lathalmond in Fife. Both GCS 50V and my Eastern Scottish Volvo Citybus E187 HSF attended.  This was the first event for E187 HSF after her restoration, and although she made to to Lathalmond and back ok she did cause a few problems! Whilst operating one of the free shuttle services to Dunfermline one of the fuel tank straps broke causeing minor damage to the vehicle behind . However she made it back to Lathalmond where Hugh Cummings was able to carry out a temp repair to get back to Glasgow. She made it safely back to GVVT and a full repair will be carried out shortly. Thanks again to Hugh for fixing E187 HSF, much appreciated. Thanks also to John Weaver and David Godon for the photos of GCS 50V and Steven Booth for the shot of my two vehicles together since for some reason I never took a picture myself!  Other than that a most enjoyable day with fantastic weather yet again.

G750 Ready to leave GVVT on the Sunday morning for Lathalmond.

A quick fuel stop for GCS 50V before heading out of town.

GCS 50V Parked up safely at Lathalmond.

G750 part of the line up at Lathalmond.

G750 Operating a free shuttle service during the running day 17th May 2009.

Scott Houston at the wheel once more!

GCS 50V and my Eastern Scottish Volvo Citybus E187 HSF side by side at Lathalmond. Photo Copyright Steven Booth.

G750 operating a free service around the Lathalmond site on Sunday 17th May 2009. Photo Copyright David Godon.

G750 operating a free service around the Lathalmond site on Sunday 17th May 2009. Photo Copyright John Weaver.

G750 operating a free service around the Lathalmond site on Sunday 17th May 2009. Photo Copyright John Weaver.

Over the past few weeks friend and fellow enthusiast George Gray had been helping me get GCS 50V ready for MOT and serviced. She went for test on Tuesday 21st July at North Ayrshire councils Kilwinning depot where she almost passed with flying colours. A brake imbalance of 40% regrettably resulted in a failure and would require a partial retest. To ensure GCS 50V was going to be ready for her retest we asked Arriva if it would be possible to test G750 on the rolling road / brake test equipment on Sunday 26th July 2009. We were granted permission and turned up with G750 at Johnstone Depot shortly after lunch ready for testing.  The first reading was still a wee bit out, after a few more adjustments and road run the second set of results were spot on. I must admit it was strange for me being back in Johnstone Depot after around 20 years and although the vehicles and colours have changed as can be seen in the photo below Clydeside still lives on, this was also the depot that GCS 50V was first allocated to back in 1980. Many thanks to Ralph and his staff at Arriva for all their help. 

Service complete and almost ready for MOT.

Leaving GVVT on our way to Arriva's Johnstone depot in some typical scottish summer weather! Photos copyright Alexander McKillop.

After arrival at Johnstone Depot, George backs G750 onto the rolling road.

G750 on the rolling road during test at Johnstone Depot.

Ah Clydeside lives on at Johnstone in 2009!

Arriva 4408 and Clydeside Scottish G750, the old and the new side by side at Johnstone Depot. Both vehicles were allocated here from new, just 28 years apart!

Today was the first day of the annual two day August event at S.V.B.M (Scottish Vintage Bus Museum), Lathalmond in Fife. Both GCS 50V and newly returned to the road HSD 73V attended.  This was the first time HSD 73V had been out and about for a while due to ongoing repairs during 2008/9, and I was pleased she performed well. My third vehicle E187 HSF now part of the Lathalmond collection awaited our arrival. This enabled me to finally get a photograph of all three vehicles together completed. My other driver for the weekend was former Clydeside Driver Adam Connor who with his friend Simon travelled up from Reading to lend a hand. With the August event being a two day show, I usually sleep over at Lathalmond and enjoy a glass or 3 of wine! With others, however not this year since both vehicles had been requested to attend the Arriva Inchinnan depot open day on the Sunday. Both vehicles left Lathalmond around 4pm after a pleasant day and travelled back to Inchinnan depot where they would be stabled for the night ready for the open day on the Sunday.

HSD 73V & GCS 50V Arrived and parked up as part of the line up on Saurday 15th August 2009.

At long last my three completed vehicles are pictured together at Lathalmond 15 August 2009.

G750 & M73 Ready to leave Lathalmond for Inchinnan depot.

M73 & G750 parked up inside Inchinnan depot after a good wash inside and out ready for Sundays open day!

Sunday 16th August 2009 was the day of Arriva's Inchinnan Depot open day. The event was organised to celebrate the arrival of a fleet of new vehicles for the 23 service. I received a request from the Managing Director, also a former Clydeside Manager! For a loan of my two Clydeside vehicles. The event was due to open at 10am and we decided it would be best to drop the vehicles off at Inchinnan depot on the Saturday evening after Lathalmond, to enable the staff to position them where they wanted when setting up on the Sunday morning. We arrived at the depot around 6pm after some heavy traffic on the way back from Lathalmond, I believe Adam decided to take the A803 through Kirkintilloch and Springburn to avoid the traffic which made good sense, although I would have loved to have got a few photos on the way!  A warm welcome awaited us at Inchinnan and after the vehicles passed through the wash and received a quick clean inside, we headed home ready for Sunday!

We all arrived at Inchinnan around 10am just as the event was due to open, I thought my vehicles would have been part of a line up in the yard, so was most shocked to see them sitting pride of place on newly painted and lined sections of the floor at the main depot entrance. The staff had been busy decorating the vehicles with balloons and printing a supply of information sheets for each vehicle. They had even managed to find appropriate destinations for service 23! The reaction from the public and staff was fantastic, and it was nice to see both vehicles back at Inchinnan depot again since they were both previously allocated there in the Clydeside days! The event finished around 3pm and the Arriva management were delighted with the turn out from the public and the day was deemed a great success.

Since we would not get back into GVVT till after 6pm that evening with everyone either at the Bigger rally or Lathalmond, we decided to take M73 for a run down to Largs. A few friends who had arrived at the open day towards the end decided to join us. We headed over to Paisley and down to Largs via the "High" road, Beith, Kilbirnie and the Hailey Brae. After descending the very steep Hailey Brae we parked up in Largs and went for tea and cakes, allowing the brakes to cool down! Return trip to Glasgow was up the coast road to Gourock, Greenock, Port Glasgow and Erskine. We called back into Inchinnan Depot and collected G750 and finally parked both buses safely back at GVVT approx 7pm.

All in all a fantastic weekend and I was delighted everything ran smoothly. Many thanks to both Adam and Simon for taking the time to come up and drive for me and their help in making both days a great success. 

M73 & G750 Take up their positions at the door of the depot ready for the public with one of the new VDL vehicles behind.

The public arrive...!

G750 & M73 sit on the freshly painted floor, complete with balloons and route 23 destinations!

Years ago this would be an everyday sight! Leopard and Fleetline at Inchinnan!

Both buses ready for the public. Photo Copyright Arriva Scotland West.

Adam Connor, Myself and Simon Green All complete in Clydeside uniform! Photo Copyright Arriva Scotland West.

Driver Barclay hard at work in M73! Photo Copyright Arriva Scotland West.

M73 gets ready to leave Inchinnan once more! Photo Copyright Adam Connor.

M73 Leaving Inchinnan Depot for our afternoon trip to Largs. With some of the new VDL vehicles behind!

HSD 73V at Largs whilst we all went for tea and cakes M73 had a break to let the err brakes cool!

HSD 73V at Gourock, Glasgow bound or maybe Paisley!

The classic Greenock photo at Kilblain Street with the Horseshoe Bar and former Tesco supermarket in the background. On the G750 Clydeside page there is a photo of G750 taken here too!

G750 awaits our return at Inchinnan after our trip to largs and Greenock. Time to head back to GVVT.

 

This was the annual G.V.V.T (Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust) open day in Glasgow, where both G750 and M73 are kept. Today it was the turn of M73 to help out! She worked a Southside tour along with fellow museum vehicle Glasgow Corporation D217. The hour long tour included visits to Peoples Palace at Glasgow Green and Battlefield Rest. Over 50 people joined us on board HSD 73V for the tour and she performed very well taking all the hills in her stride including Prospecthill Road! Later in the day she worked a few runs to George Square and along to the Glasgow Transport museum. A great day with good numbers and fine weather and a relieved owner that M73 had behaved herself! 

Although not out in service today, G750 was at home in her usual space in G.V.V.T

M73 awaits its first turn outside the museum on a fine October Sunday.

A rather unusual shot this of a S.B.G vehicle BEHIND a corpy bus!!

M73 and D217 at the Peoples Palace, Glasgow Green heading back to Bridgeton after out Southside tour.

HSD 73V at Glasgow Green with a good load ready to return to Bridgeton.

M73 at the museum of transport, soon to be replaced next year. (the museum not the bus!)

M73 back at George Sq, ready for the last run back to G.V.V.T at Bridgeton.

Some photos taken during the G.V.V.T Clydeside Country tour on Sunday 29th Nov 2009. The vehicle used was my own former Clydeside Scottish Leyland Fleetline HSD 73V. We departed Bridgeton at 10am and followed the route of Clydeside Scottish service 23 to Arriva's Inchinnan Depot where a Depot tour was organised for 11am. After Inchinnan we made our way through Erskine, Bishopton, Port Glasgow and Greenock to Cardwell Garden Centre, near Gourock.
A fantastic lunch was provided and there was some time for a look around the Xmas stalls, before we started our return journey back to Bridgeton this time via Kilmacolm, Johnstone and Paisley. A fantastic but cold day! Also the last time HSD 73V would be out and about for a while since once her tax disc expires at end of Dec 2009, she will be taken off the road to enable the remaining restoration work to the lower deck to be completed. Many thanks to Ralph at Arriva for allowing our visit to Inchinnan depot.

M73 at Govan bus station, Sunday 29th November 2009.

HSD 73V at Inchinnan depot next to some newer Arriva vehicles, Sunday 29th November 2009.

Group shot taken at Inchinnan Depot during our tour on Sunday 29th November 2009.

M73 At Greenock heading toward our lunch stop at Cardwell Garden Centre, Sunday 29th November 2009.

HSD 73V back in my home village, Kilmacolm. M73 is seen at Kilmacolm Cross on Sunday 29th November 2009.

A night shot of M73 at Paisley Cross, heading back to Bridgeton after our Clydeside day out, Sunday 29th November 2009.