102 L102 JSA King St Depot
The disposal of 16200 (L28 JSA) last month marks the end of this notable batch of Volvo Olympians just a year short of their 20th anniversary.
It was part of a batch of six Olympians with fleetnumbers that filled in gaps in the Olympian fleetnumbering series, 026-8 (L26-8 JSA), 100 (L110 JSA, later reregistered L100 JLB), 101/2 (L101/2 JSA) which became 16198-200/10/01/2 in the national Stagecoach series in 2003.
They were delivered new to Inverness Traction for the 25 service (although it was suggested locally at the time they had been ordered by Aberdeen for the 59), and some later migrated to Aberdeen and Perth when the three areas were all part of the enlarged Bluebird Buses.
The batch suffered from chassis corrosion problems that was an issue for Olympians of this vintage and 16202 was taken from Inverness to Perth where it donated useful parts to Strathtay Olympian 16881 in 2009 and eventually scrapped by Hyperworld, Denny in 2010.
16200 failed first with Inverness in 2007 following a rear end shunt and was taken to Buckie for storage and looked to be on its way out. However, it was treated to a rebuild and major chassis overhaul work in 2008 and was reregistered to NIB 4138 and retained at Tain for the 35 service to Portmahomack, then moved to Bluebird in 2010 for school contract work at Stonehaven as a yellow school bus, briefly loaned to Aviemore in 2011 before finishing up at Macduff for Banff Academy work where it last until December 2012 by then back as L28 JSA. It is now with Hilton, Newto-le-Willow for resale.
It brings to end what is believed to have been the last Inverness Traction decker with Bluebird.
102 (16202) is seen here at King Street Depot (back when Bluebird rented part of the depot space prior to the opening of the depot at Tullos) back in 1993 when new, three days before it was taxed and prepared for service in Inverness.
102 L102 JSA King St Depot
The disposal of 16200 (L28 JSA) last month marks the end of this notable batch of Volvo Olympians just a year short of their 20th anniversary.
It was part of a batch of six Olympians with fleetnumbers that filled in gaps in the Olympian fleetnumbering series, 026-8 (L26-8 JSA), 100 (L110 JSA, later reregistered L100 JLB), 101/2 (L101/2 JSA) which became 16198-200/10/01/2 in the national Stagecoach series in 2003.
They were delivered new to Inverness Traction for the 25 service (although it was suggested locally at the time they had been ordered by Aberdeen for the 59), and some later migrated to Aberdeen and Perth when the three areas were all part of the enlarged Bluebird Buses.
The batch suffered from chassis corrosion problems that was an issue for Olympians of this vintage and 16202 was taken from Inverness to Perth where it donated useful parts to Strathtay Olympian 16881 in 2009 and eventually scrapped by Hyperworld, Denny in 2010.
16200 failed first with Inverness in 2007 following a rear end shunt and was taken to Buckie for storage and looked to be on its way out. However, it was treated to a rebuild and major chassis overhaul work in 2008 and was reregistered to NIB 4138 and retained at Tain for the 35 service to Portmahomack, then moved to Bluebird in 2010 for school contract work at Stonehaven as a yellow school bus, briefly loaned to Aviemore in 2011 before finishing up at Macduff for Banff Academy work where it last until December 2012 by then back as L28 JSA. It is now with Hilton, Newto-le-Willow for resale.
It brings to end what is believed to have been the last Inverness Traction decker with Bluebird.
102 (16202) is seen here at King Street Depot (back when Bluebird rented part of the depot space prior to the opening of the depot at Tullos) back in 1993 when new, three days before it was taxed and prepared for service in Inverness.