VioletEclipse
be the one... - Hybrid 1 (LB13 BUS) 'Stuart'
Lothian Buses Volvo 7900 Hybrid number 1 (LB13 BUS) ‘Stuart’ is seen here laying over on the southeastern side of Ocean Drive, at OT, in Leith Harbour and Newhaven, shortly before setting off on a service 36 to the Gyle
Taken on Monday the 1st of December 2025
Over 850 buses, coaches and trams in the fleet, and here is number one. A place in the fleet which only two buses have occupied in the past half century.
In the winter of 1972, an AN68 Atlantean bearing the fleet number 1 was delivered to Edinburgh Corporation Transport. It was part of the first 50 AN68 Atlanteans, fleet numbers 1-50. The batch had BFS-L registrations, meaning that number 1 was registered BFS 1L. It became affectionately known as ‘Basil’ due it the reg plate.
In 1973, when the batch was still shiny and new, sibling bus number 2 (BFS 2L) – known to me as ‘Bezel Star’ – made quite an impression on some folk, being one of the first AN68s in the fleet and strikingly different to the PDR1A Atlanteans before them.
Then number 1, or Basil, went travelling. To say that Basil is well travelled is an understatement, and honestly it would almost be faster to list the places that bus hasn’t been, than everywhere it has been.
Basil has been over the sea to Skye, along the north coast before it was cool, and explored much of the rest of the country. Not only that, Basil has driven across Europe in the early 90s, visiting Belguim, France, England, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and a bus rally in Liberec, Czechia.
Being first registered on the 1st of December 1972 according to the MOT checker, Basil’s 53rd birthday was the day I took this photo. At over half a century old, with endless travel stories, known by name and loved dearly by spotters and enthusiasts of all ages, Basil is undeniably a very important member of the heritage fleet. But history doesn’t stay still, and now Basil’s modern successor that shares its fleet number is reaching the end of its service life.
On Saturday the 13th of April 2013, Gordon Stirling piped 1 ‘Stuart’, 2 ‘Siobhan’ and 3 ‘Yan’ through the toun for the hybrid launch event. They were futuristic and fascinating, I was so excited to get to travel on fleet number 1 ‘Stuart’ for the first time when it entered service. All of 1-10 bore the slogan ‘be the one…’ on the sides, espescially fitting for Stuart here, not only was it new to service 1, it also bore the fleet number 1. The pitch change from the electric motor to the diesel engine kicking in was the sound of the future when it was new, and now it’s been part of the familiar soundscape for so many years to the point that you don’t even notice it.
I have a very strong connection to these wee buses, as they’ve been a pretty consistent part of my life since they were new, and I know them by name and love them. But you can read more about that in my post from October titled ‘The Hybrid Story’ (here’s the link: www.flickr.com/photos/160090695@N08/54927441784 ).
Safe to say that I am quite attached to these, and with only two of 1-10 left in the fleet, I would be sad to see them go for good. This is where I propose that this bus here deserves a future that isn’t withdrawal, sold on, and scrapped a number of years down the line, like is the fate of nearly all buses.
Two buses alike in fleet number, four decades apart in age, both numerically the first bus in the fleet of their type in of a batch of 50. While it hasn’t travelled as far as Basil (unless it’s been sneaking out at night!), between the similarities ‘Stuart’ shares with Basil, and its own eventful life and important part in the company’s history. I would be willing to make an argument that, when the day comes, wee hybrid number 1 ‘Stuart’ here, is more than worthy of a place in the heritage fleet.
I am aware that preserving a modern bus like this, especially a diesel-electric hybrid, is no easy job, nor is it cheap. However, it it can be done, and I would say that quite possibly no other single decker in the fleet has a stronger case for preservation instead of ending up in the scrapyard.
Maybe one day, future generations of enthusiasts will get in the way of eachothers cameras as they excitedly photograph the two legendary number ones, Basil and Stuart side by side on the Lathalmond grass. That would be truly wonderful.
Now what’s that ship in the background?
The ferry towering over the tram in the background is ‘Spirit of Tasmania V’. A brand new ferry, built for the Bass Strait ferry route between mainland Australia and Tasmania. It was launced in July 2024 and is intended to be in service on the other side of the world by July next year.
This ferry is owned by the Spirit of Tasmania government owned business enterprise, which is described on wikipedia as ‘attempts to provide ferry services’. At least CalMac aren’t given such a scathing introduction by wikipedia, yet! Truly hoping for CalMac’s troubles to be over as soon as possible, but that is both sadly unlikely in the near future and far from the topic of this description.
In Spirit of Tasmania’s fleet history, there is a ferry that shared a name with the business. That ferry is now called MS Princess Seaways, and operated by DFDS on the route between Newcastle, England and IJmuiden, Nederland. So while MS Princes Seaways once operated in Australia and now sails in this corner or Europe, Spirit of Tasmania V is here at OT, and will – hopefully - be off to Australia in the near future.
Since this photo was taken, on the first day of the month, 1 ‘Stuart’ has mostly staying on service 36 along wi number 2 ‘Siobhan’, I expect the two will last in service into the new year, however I wouldn’t be so sure that they’ll still be here come next winter.
Sadly, on the day after this photo, Hybrid number 29 ‘Emanuel’ was in a horrible crash on Maybury Road which involved two lorries and the bus. As far as I know, no injuries are reported, and I hope that’s true and it stays that way.
The unofficial name ‘Stuart’ comes from me just giving 1-10 (mostly) regular human names that came tae mind, wi the first letter of the name matching the final letter of the number plate. Wi this batch it’s honestly long been the case where my main association of most of the names is the bus that it’s assigned tae.
Vehicle Information
Operator: Lothian Buses
Service: 36 Leith Harbour and Newhaven Ocean Terminal Ocean Drive – Costorphine Gyle, South Gyle, Gyle Centre bus terminus (Trip 3428)
Vehicle type: Integral Volvo 7900 bodied Volvo B5LH
Vehicle engine: Euro 6 Diesel/Electric Hybrid
Vehicle fleet number: 1
Vehicle registration: LB13 BUS
Vehicle name: Stuart
Vehicle depot: Longstone (LS)
Vehicle livery: Lothian Buses Madder and White Fleet of the Future (FOTF) Single Deck 2020 version
Vehicle destination screen: white Hanover LED screen
Vehicle destination display: Gyle Centre 36
Vehicle Chassis: Vo B5LH YV3T1R924D1159415
Vehicle Body: Vo P126846
Vehicle Seating: B34F
Operating area: City of Edinburgh
Registration prefix area: Wimbledon, London, England (personalised reg plate)
Year of manufacture: 2013
Date of first registration: 07.03.2013 (Day T41339)
Original operator: Lothian Buses
Original fleet number: 1
Original registration: LB13 BUS
Age of vehicle: 12 years, 8 months and 28 days (total 4652 days)
Photo location: Ocean Drive, Ocean Terminal, Leith Harbour and Newhaven, Lìte, City of Edinburgh
Taken on: Monday the 1st of December 2025 (01.12.2025)
Taken on Day U3623
References
Bus Lists on the Web (2025) LB13BUS. Available at: www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/ (Accessed 02.12.2025, Day U3624)
Bustimes.org (2025) Lothian Buses - Vehicles – 1 (LB13 BUS). Available at: bustimes.org/vehicles/loth-1?date=2025-12-01 (Accessed 02.12.2025, Day U3624)
GOV.UK (2025) Check MOT History – LB13 BUS. Available at: www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?registration=LB13BUS... (Accessed 02.12.2025, Day U3624)
be the one... - Hybrid 1 (LB13 BUS) 'Stuart'
Lothian Buses Volvo 7900 Hybrid number 1 (LB13 BUS) ‘Stuart’ is seen here laying over on the southeastern side of Ocean Drive, at OT, in Leith Harbour and Newhaven, shortly before setting off on a service 36 to the Gyle
Taken on Monday the 1st of December 2025
Over 850 buses, coaches and trams in the fleet, and here is number one. A place in the fleet which only two buses have occupied in the past half century.
In the winter of 1972, an AN68 Atlantean bearing the fleet number 1 was delivered to Edinburgh Corporation Transport. It was part of the first 50 AN68 Atlanteans, fleet numbers 1-50. The batch had BFS-L registrations, meaning that number 1 was registered BFS 1L. It became affectionately known as ‘Basil’ due it the reg plate.
In 1973, when the batch was still shiny and new, sibling bus number 2 (BFS 2L) – known to me as ‘Bezel Star’ – made quite an impression on some folk, being one of the first AN68s in the fleet and strikingly different to the PDR1A Atlanteans before them.
Then number 1, or Basil, went travelling. To say that Basil is well travelled is an understatement, and honestly it would almost be faster to list the places that bus hasn’t been, than everywhere it has been.
Basil has been over the sea to Skye, along the north coast before it was cool, and explored much of the rest of the country. Not only that, Basil has driven across Europe in the early 90s, visiting Belguim, France, England, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and a bus rally in Liberec, Czechia.
Being first registered on the 1st of December 1972 according to the MOT checker, Basil’s 53rd birthday was the day I took this photo. At over half a century old, with endless travel stories, known by name and loved dearly by spotters and enthusiasts of all ages, Basil is undeniably a very important member of the heritage fleet. But history doesn’t stay still, and now Basil’s modern successor that shares its fleet number is reaching the end of its service life.
On Saturday the 13th of April 2013, Gordon Stirling piped 1 ‘Stuart’, 2 ‘Siobhan’ and 3 ‘Yan’ through the toun for the hybrid launch event. They were futuristic and fascinating, I was so excited to get to travel on fleet number 1 ‘Stuart’ for the first time when it entered service. All of 1-10 bore the slogan ‘be the one…’ on the sides, espescially fitting for Stuart here, not only was it new to service 1, it also bore the fleet number 1. The pitch change from the electric motor to the diesel engine kicking in was the sound of the future when it was new, and now it’s been part of the familiar soundscape for so many years to the point that you don’t even notice it.
I have a very strong connection to these wee buses, as they’ve been a pretty consistent part of my life since they were new, and I know them by name and love them. But you can read more about that in my post from October titled ‘The Hybrid Story’ (here’s the link: www.flickr.com/photos/160090695@N08/54927441784 ).
Safe to say that I am quite attached to these, and with only two of 1-10 left in the fleet, I would be sad to see them go for good. This is where I propose that this bus here deserves a future that isn’t withdrawal, sold on, and scrapped a number of years down the line, like is the fate of nearly all buses.
Two buses alike in fleet number, four decades apart in age, both numerically the first bus in the fleet of their type in of a batch of 50. While it hasn’t travelled as far as Basil (unless it’s been sneaking out at night!), between the similarities ‘Stuart’ shares with Basil, and its own eventful life and important part in the company’s history. I would be willing to make an argument that, when the day comes, wee hybrid number 1 ‘Stuart’ here, is more than worthy of a place in the heritage fleet.
I am aware that preserving a modern bus like this, especially a diesel-electric hybrid, is no easy job, nor is it cheap. However, it it can be done, and I would say that quite possibly no other single decker in the fleet has a stronger case for preservation instead of ending up in the scrapyard.
Maybe one day, future generations of enthusiasts will get in the way of eachothers cameras as they excitedly photograph the two legendary number ones, Basil and Stuart side by side on the Lathalmond grass. That would be truly wonderful.
Now what’s that ship in the background?
The ferry towering over the tram in the background is ‘Spirit of Tasmania V’. A brand new ferry, built for the Bass Strait ferry route between mainland Australia and Tasmania. It was launced in July 2024 and is intended to be in service on the other side of the world by July next year.
This ferry is owned by the Spirit of Tasmania government owned business enterprise, which is described on wikipedia as ‘attempts to provide ferry services’. At least CalMac aren’t given such a scathing introduction by wikipedia, yet! Truly hoping for CalMac’s troubles to be over as soon as possible, but that is both sadly unlikely in the near future and far from the topic of this description.
In Spirit of Tasmania’s fleet history, there is a ferry that shared a name with the business. That ferry is now called MS Princess Seaways, and operated by DFDS on the route between Newcastle, England and IJmuiden, Nederland. So while MS Princes Seaways once operated in Australia and now sails in this corner or Europe, Spirit of Tasmania V is here at OT, and will – hopefully - be off to Australia in the near future.
Since this photo was taken, on the first day of the month, 1 ‘Stuart’ has mostly staying on service 36 along wi number 2 ‘Siobhan’, I expect the two will last in service into the new year, however I wouldn’t be so sure that they’ll still be here come next winter.
Sadly, on the day after this photo, Hybrid number 29 ‘Emanuel’ was in a horrible crash on Maybury Road which involved two lorries and the bus. As far as I know, no injuries are reported, and I hope that’s true and it stays that way.
The unofficial name ‘Stuart’ comes from me just giving 1-10 (mostly) regular human names that came tae mind, wi the first letter of the name matching the final letter of the number plate. Wi this batch it’s honestly long been the case where my main association of most of the names is the bus that it’s assigned tae.
Vehicle Information
Operator: Lothian Buses
Service: 36 Leith Harbour and Newhaven Ocean Terminal Ocean Drive – Costorphine Gyle, South Gyle, Gyle Centre bus terminus (Trip 3428)
Vehicle type: Integral Volvo 7900 bodied Volvo B5LH
Vehicle engine: Euro 6 Diesel/Electric Hybrid
Vehicle fleet number: 1
Vehicle registration: LB13 BUS
Vehicle name: Stuart
Vehicle depot: Longstone (LS)
Vehicle livery: Lothian Buses Madder and White Fleet of the Future (FOTF) Single Deck 2020 version
Vehicle destination screen: white Hanover LED screen
Vehicle destination display: Gyle Centre 36
Vehicle Chassis: Vo B5LH YV3T1R924D1159415
Vehicle Body: Vo P126846
Vehicle Seating: B34F
Operating area: City of Edinburgh
Registration prefix area: Wimbledon, London, England (personalised reg plate)
Year of manufacture: 2013
Date of first registration: 07.03.2013 (Day T41339)
Original operator: Lothian Buses
Original fleet number: 1
Original registration: LB13 BUS
Age of vehicle: 12 years, 8 months and 28 days (total 4652 days)
Photo location: Ocean Drive, Ocean Terminal, Leith Harbour and Newhaven, Lìte, City of Edinburgh
Taken on: Monday the 1st of December 2025 (01.12.2025)
Taken on Day U3623
References
Bus Lists on the Web (2025) LB13BUS. Available at: www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/ (Accessed 02.12.2025, Day U3624)
Bustimes.org (2025) Lothian Buses - Vehicles – 1 (LB13 BUS). Available at: bustimes.org/vehicles/loth-1?date=2025-12-01 (Accessed 02.12.2025, Day U3624)
GOV.UK (2025) Check MOT History – LB13 BUS. Available at: www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?registration=LB13BUS... (Accessed 02.12.2025, Day U3624)