VioletEclipse
West End X19 - Gemini Three 447 (SJ66 LPE) 'Elian'
Lothian Buses Gemini 3 Facelift bodied Volvo B5TL number 447 (SJ66 LPE) ‘Elian’ is seen on Shandwick Place on a service X19 to Regent Road.
Taken on Thursday the 18th of September 2025.
To the left a tram negotiates the temporary speed restriction of 5kmh which has been in place here at the points for a while now. The van seems to not have fixed the problem, and trams are still crawling along at 5kmh where I believe they’re otherwise able to do 30. Now the focus of this photo isn’t those points, but the green bus fae the west. Service X19 is still quite new, and 447 ‘Elian’ here, a new 22 nearly 9 years ago now, has recently been repainted into green and moved to Livi.
Lothian Buses Gemini 3 number 447 (SJ66 LPE) ‘Elian’ was new in January 2017. 441-465 were all new between late 2016 and early 2017 branded as ‘new 22s’ for then flagship service 22 between the Gyle and Ocean Terminal. Service 22 is now very different, and these buses have been more common on other routes for years now, recently most of them joined Lothian Country like this one here.
These were the first new buses new in this version of madder and white, known as ‘Glass Staircase’, or more commonly as ‘Fleet of the Future’ or ‘FOTF’. These buses are also unique in not being delivered with any next stop screens or announcements, although they were the first new batch with USB charging points.
The unofficial name ‘Elian’ comes from me giving some of this batch regular human names.
I do now have a web page of all the unofficial names I have given to Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams currently in the fleet, linked on my flickr page, it’s just on my ‘Info’ page. Feel free to have a look!
Also – if anyone is interested in making name suggestions/naming some buses, then I would be happy for anyone who wants to name 791-798 (or 791-800 if that ends up being the case). I’m happy to name them myself or with friends, but incase anyone is wanting to contribute some names then go ahead!
Service X19 was introduced in it’s current form on Sunday the 1st of December 2024 (Day U3258). It runs between the M9 Junction on Beatlie Road in Winchburgh to Regent Road in New Town/Broughton via Kirkliston, Newbridge, Corstorphine, Haymarket and Princes Street.
The route is very similar to the eastern half of McGill’s service X38.
Vehicle Information
Operator: Lothian Country (Lothian Buses)
Service: X19 Winchburgh Beatlie Road (B8020) by the M9 Junction – New Town/Broughton Regent Road (Trip number unknown)
Vehicle type: Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini 3 Facelift bodied Volvo B5TL
Vehicle engine: Euro 6 Diesel
Vehicle fleet number: 447
Vehicle registration: SJ66 LPE
Vehicle name: Elian
Vehicle depot: Livingston (LV)
Vehicle livery: Lothian Country Green and White Fleet of the Future (FOTF) non-ADL Double Deck 2021 version
Vehicle destination screen: white Hanover LED screen
Vehicle destination display: Edinburgh X19 via Kirkliston and Drum Brae
Vehicle Chassis: Vo B5TL YV3T9U224HA181412
Vehicle Body: Wt AN873
Vehicle Seating: H49/30F
Operating area: West Lothian and City of Edinburgh
Registration prefix area: Glesga
Year of manufacture: 2016-2017
Date of first registration: 12.01.2017 (Day U378)
Original operator: Lothian Buses
Original fleet number: 447
Original registration: SJ66 LPE
Age of vehicle: 8 years, 8 month and 6 days (total 3171 days)
Photo location: Shandwick Place, West End, City of Edinburgh
Taken on: Thursday the 18th of September 2025 (18.09.2025)
Taken on Day U3549
References
Bus Lists on the Web (2025) SJ66LPE. Available at: www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/ (Accessed 22.09.2025, Day U3553)
Bustimes.org (2025) Lothian Country Buses - Vehicles - 447 (SJ66 LPE). Available at: bustimes.org/vehicles/loth-447?date=2025-09-18 (Accessed 22.09.2025, Day U3553)
GOV.UK (2025) Check MOT History – SJ66 LPE. Available at: www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?registration=SJ66LPE... (Accessed 22.09.2025, Day U3553)
Scottish Community Councils (2025) Find a Community Council. Available at: www.communitycouncils.scot/community-council-finder (Accessed 22.09.2025, Day U3553)
West End X19 - Gemini Three 447 (SJ66 LPE) 'Elian'
Lothian Buses Gemini 3 Facelift bodied Volvo B5TL number 447 (SJ66 LPE) ‘Elian’ is seen on Shandwick Place on a service X19 to Regent Road.
Taken on Thursday the 18th of September 2025.
To the left a tram negotiates the temporary speed restriction of 5kmh which has been in place here at the points for a while now. The van seems to not have fixed the problem, and trams are still crawling along at 5kmh where I believe they’re otherwise able to do 30. Now the focus of this photo isn’t those points, but the green bus fae the west. Service X19 is still quite new, and 447 ‘Elian’ here, a new 22 nearly 9 years ago now, has recently been repainted into green and moved to Livi.
Lothian Buses Gemini 3 number 447 (SJ66 LPE) ‘Elian’ was new in January 2017. 441-465 were all new between late 2016 and early 2017 branded as ‘new 22s’ for then flagship service 22 between the Gyle and Ocean Terminal. Service 22 is now very different, and these buses have been more common on other routes for years now, recently most of them joined Lothian Country like this one here.
These were the first new buses new in this version of madder and white, known as ‘Glass Staircase’, or more commonly as ‘Fleet of the Future’ or ‘FOTF’. These buses are also unique in not being delivered with any next stop screens or announcements, although they were the first new batch with USB charging points.
The unofficial name ‘Elian’ comes from me giving some of this batch regular human names.
I do now have a web page of all the unofficial names I have given to Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams currently in the fleet, linked on my flickr page, it’s just on my ‘Info’ page. Feel free to have a look!
Also – if anyone is interested in making name suggestions/naming some buses, then I would be happy for anyone who wants to name 791-798 (or 791-800 if that ends up being the case). I’m happy to name them myself or with friends, but incase anyone is wanting to contribute some names then go ahead!
Service X19 was introduced in it’s current form on Sunday the 1st of December 2024 (Day U3258). It runs between the M9 Junction on Beatlie Road in Winchburgh to Regent Road in New Town/Broughton via Kirkliston, Newbridge, Corstorphine, Haymarket and Princes Street.
The route is very similar to the eastern half of McGill’s service X38.
Vehicle Information
Operator: Lothian Country (Lothian Buses)
Service: X19 Winchburgh Beatlie Road (B8020) by the M9 Junction – New Town/Broughton Regent Road (Trip number unknown)
Vehicle type: Wrightbus Eclipse Gemini 3 Facelift bodied Volvo B5TL
Vehicle engine: Euro 6 Diesel
Vehicle fleet number: 447
Vehicle registration: SJ66 LPE
Vehicle name: Elian
Vehicle depot: Livingston (LV)
Vehicle livery: Lothian Country Green and White Fleet of the Future (FOTF) non-ADL Double Deck 2021 version
Vehicle destination screen: white Hanover LED screen
Vehicle destination display: Edinburgh X19 via Kirkliston and Drum Brae
Vehicle Chassis: Vo B5TL YV3T9U224HA181412
Vehicle Body: Wt AN873
Vehicle Seating: H49/30F
Operating area: West Lothian and City of Edinburgh
Registration prefix area: Glesga
Year of manufacture: 2016-2017
Date of first registration: 12.01.2017 (Day U378)
Original operator: Lothian Buses
Original fleet number: 447
Original registration: SJ66 LPE
Age of vehicle: 8 years, 8 month and 6 days (total 3171 days)
Photo location: Shandwick Place, West End, City of Edinburgh
Taken on: Thursday the 18th of September 2025 (18.09.2025)
Taken on Day U3549
References
Bus Lists on the Web (2025) SJ66LPE. Available at: www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/ (Accessed 22.09.2025, Day U3553)
Bustimes.org (2025) Lothian Country Buses - Vehicles - 447 (SJ66 LPE). Available at: bustimes.org/vehicles/loth-447?date=2025-09-18 (Accessed 22.09.2025, Day U3553)
GOV.UK (2025) Check MOT History – SJ66 LPE. Available at: www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?registration=SJ66LPE... (Accessed 22.09.2025, Day U3553)
Scottish Community Councils (2025) Find a Community Council. Available at: www.communitycouncils.scot/community-council-finder (Accessed 22.09.2025, Day U3553)