Lothian Region Transport : Leyland Titan PD3 farewell tour : 18 October 1980 : ASC 665B - crew break
As Lothian Region Transport's bus fleet moved more towards complete OPO operation during the 1970s, and event that saw many earlier vehicle types leave the fleet as new ones arrived, there was a series of 'farewell' tours organised by LRT staff and enthusiasts. This trip, on 18 October 1980, was significant as it was the last vehicle of the many hundreds of Leyland Titan type chassis that Edinburgh Corporation Transport had been such enthusiastic purchasers as well as marking an end to crew operation. From now on all vehicles were capable of and operated as one person operation. The bus was one of the batch of 50, forming two deliveries of 25, and this first batch from 1964 having a manual gearbox and vacuum brakes. The Alexander "E" style bodywork also had a forward entrance with doors; a move towards increasing safety in comparison with previous open rear platform buses.
The information sheet issued to those who participated in the tour round the city, that from memory featured many routes from Marine Garage where the bus 665, ASC 665B, spent many years from allocation as new in 1964. Several of this batch later migrated to other garages, replacing even earlier rear entrance PD2/20 type buses, and I remember vehicles such as 665 running one of the bus routes that served our home in Morningside, the 16. The information sheet was edited by LRT staff including A.C.J.; Alan Jamieson. Alan is seen here in the photo - quite possibly having a cigarette break! - and as well as working for ECT and successor LRT Alan was heavily involved in the preservation of many early Edinburgh and Scottish buses alongside such names as Jasper Pettie. The bus used on this tour and seen here, 665, itself survives into preservation.
Lothian Region Transport : Leyland Titan PD3 farewell tour : 18 October 1980 : ASC 665B - crew break
As Lothian Region Transport's bus fleet moved more towards complete OPO operation during the 1970s, and event that saw many earlier vehicle types leave the fleet as new ones arrived, there was a series of 'farewell' tours organised by LRT staff and enthusiasts. This trip, on 18 October 1980, was significant as it was the last vehicle of the many hundreds of Leyland Titan type chassis that Edinburgh Corporation Transport had been such enthusiastic purchasers as well as marking an end to crew operation. From now on all vehicles were capable of and operated as one person operation. The bus was one of the batch of 50, forming two deliveries of 25, and this first batch from 1964 having a manual gearbox and vacuum brakes. The Alexander "E" style bodywork also had a forward entrance with doors; a move towards increasing safety in comparison with previous open rear platform buses.
The information sheet issued to those who participated in the tour round the city, that from memory featured many routes from Marine Garage where the bus 665, ASC 665B, spent many years from allocation as new in 1964. Several of this batch later migrated to other garages, replacing even earlier rear entrance PD2/20 type buses, and I remember vehicles such as 665 running one of the bus routes that served our home in Morningside, the 16. The information sheet was edited by LRT staff including A.C.J.; Alan Jamieson. Alan is seen here in the photo - quite possibly having a cigarette break! - and as well as working for ECT and successor LRT Alan was heavily involved in the preservation of many early Edinburgh and Scottish buses alongside such names as Jasper Pettie. The bus used on this tour and seen here, 665, itself survives into preservation.