Ah Yes, MagicBus, that was Stagecoach in Glasgow’s old brand, with it’s origin going back to 1986 days, with the Route 19 (which was the Glasgow - Easterhouse Loop), I remember that they tried to compete with First back around 2006-2008, and ultimately pulled out in the end.
They may be 15 years old but that means they still have two years depreciation left on them.
Some B7RLEs have had seat re-trims (Examples are mostly on some of the SF55, WX55 plated ones).
Most of the 06 plate examples are very badly presented inside
Do you have any proof of this? Because I wonder where they said that would happen?
That bus was K174 EUX, I think that it lasted till 2012 with Glasgow, shame it got scrapped though, it had a really an interesting history, having so many First Group operations after it was sent from Singapore.Several dozen former 'A-class' Ailsas (or Alphas as some called them) lasted well into 2006 (all withdrawn by the summer of that year), all based at Scotstoun primarily for school work by the end fitted with seatbelts and crash-pads on top of the seats. And yeah, the very last ones in service carried A & B-regs; now-preserved A735 PSU was among these.
Also worth mentioning that 735 was one of only 2 Ailsas to carry Barbie 2/Willowleaf livery; B27 YYS (31221; ex-A126) was the other one. Images of both (both from the haley111 Flickr collection) dating from August (213) & May 2005 (221) linked below. The aforementioned crash-pads can clearly be seen on both vehicles.
First Glasgow 31213 (A735PSU)
Ailsas didn't really hang around long enough to receive Barbie colours, apart from this one (there may have been one more). Seen in Bath Street passing the former Council transport offices (hiding behind scaffolding)www.flickr.com
First Glasgow 31221 (B27YYS)
Making a rare excursion on the 42 back in 2005 is one of the only Ailsas repainted into willow leaf livery. Seen here at the stop outside the King's Theatre in Bath Street, Glasgow.
As to the final point, a number of second-hand deckers were parachuted into the FiG fleet in the early 2000s.
Noted among these were ex-London Dennis Dominators, ex-Greater Manchester PTE Leyland Olympians, 10 ex-Hong Kong tri-axle Leyland Olympians (ex-China Motor Bus/New World First Bus) and a sole ex-Singapore Bus Services Volvo Olympian; both of the latter 2 had worked with Greater Manchester prior to flitting north. Four ex-Eastern Scottish Volvos (3 Ailsas and a sole B10M Citybus) also appeared within the same period. Linked below are two representatives of the first 2 examples (both taken by our own @awsnews), both images dating from June 2003. There may have been others besides these, but they were the ones that sprang most readily to mind.
First Glasgow Dennis Dominator DD23 on the 62
Another older view, this time from 2003, sees First Glasgow DD23 (later renumbered 31346), a Dennis Dominator new to Capital Citybus which moved to Glasgow at the end of 2002, heading for Baillieston on the 62. Somewhat unusual for a London bus in being single door from new.
First Glasgow Olympian LO130 on Argyle Street
Another 2003 view shows another Northern Counties bodied import to the First Glasgow fleet, LO130 (later becoming 30167) being a Leyland Olympian new to Greater Manchester PTE and moving to Glasgow in March 03.
K174 EUX lasted in service until late 2010/early 2011 IIRC; was withdrawn after it caught fire at Anniesland Cross while working a 118 to Duntocher. Was dumped in the scrapline at Parkhead depot afterwards, languishing there well into 2013 (linked photo from the Sean Reilly Flickr stream proving this). While the damage was repairable in a purely practical sense, it's age - it would have turned 18 years old had it lasted to June 2012 for instance - coupled with it's mileage & it's non-standard nature, repairs couldn't really be justified financially.
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Thanks for the clear up, such a shame though it caught on fire. I did remember it being one of the last Olympians in Glasgow Services (excluding the Dumbarton ones that lasted till 2014 or 2015).K174 EUX lasted in service until late 2010/early 2011 IIRC; was withdrawn after it caught fire at Anniesland Cross while working a 118 to Duntocher. Was dumped in the scrapline at Parkhead depot afterwards, languishing there well into 2013 (linked photo from the Sean Reilly Flickr stream proving this). While the damage was repairable in a purely practical sense, it's age - it would have turned 18 years old had it lasted to June 2012 for instance - coupled with it's mileage & it's non-standard nature, repairs couldn't really be justified financially.
First Glasgow 30107 K174EUX , 31484 Volvo Olympians
Explore N657EWJ's 10592 photos on Flickr!
K174 EUX lasted in service until late 2010/early 2011 IIRC; was withdrawn after it caught fire at Anniesland Cross while working a 118 to Duntocher. Was dumped in the scrapline at Parkhead depot afterwards, languishing there well into 2013 (linked photo from the Sean Reilly Flickr stream proving this). While the damage was repairable in a purely practical sense, it's age - it would have turned 18 years old had it lasted to June 2012 for instance - coupled with it's mileage & it's non-standard nature, repairs couldn't really be justified financially.
First Glasgow 30107 K174EUX , 31484 Volvo Olympians
Explore N657EWJ's 10592 photos on Flickr!
The last 2 Olympians in service (low-height R-Types 31435 & 31449 iirc) were withdrawn in late 2014/early 2015. There's every chance they worked out of Caledonia (opened October '14) after Larkfield shut, if but for a very brief time (linked images from the MSE062 and haley111 Flickr collections respectively).
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Aye, it did seem to have a reputation for being the height of sheddery when compared to 'native' Olympians and especially the ex-SBL 'AH' B10M Citybuses it spent a good portion of it's Glasgow career working alongside. Points in it's corner for interest/oddball status nonetheless, least as far as us enthusiasts go!
The last 2 Olympians in service (low-height R-Types 31435 & 31449 iirc) were withdrawn in late 2014/early 2015. There's every chance they worked out of Caledonia (opened October '14) after Larkfield shut, if but for a very brief time (linked images from the MSE062 and haley111 Flickr collections respectively).
First Glasgow - N946 SOS (31435)
Larkfield depot is the home to the last few remaining Olympians in the Glasgow fleet. 31435 is seen here having completed the 89A which interworks with its afternoon school run.
First Glasgow 31449 (N960SOS) & 67809 (SN13EBD)
A comparison of ages in Hope Street, Glasgow. The Volvo Olympian with low height Alexander R Type body is one of only 2 step entrance double deckers in Glasgow. It's hanging on by virtue of being seatbelt fitted. It was delivered new to Strathclyde's Buses as its VO60 in 1995. The E300 is one of...
Aye, it did seem to have a reputation for being the height of sheddery when compared to 'native' Olympians and especially the ex-SBL 'AH' B10M Citybuses it spent a good portion of it's Glasgow career working alongside. Points in it's corner for interest/oddball status nonetheless, least as far as us enthusiasts go!
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That is actually one of my earilest bus photos of half-decent quality that you linked there.Surviving into 2015 (31435)
One of the last surviving Volvo Olympians (31435) in the First Glasgow fleet is seen resting at Caledonia Depot, in-between a Enviro 500 (38215) and a Dennis Trident (33040). Photo Date: 8th February 2015
Though it was withdrawn from public use, 31435 was kept till early 2015, it was at the Caledonia depot by then.
I wonder if they where Scrapped or sent over to First Midland Bluebird for a short time, like most of Glasgow’s high floor fleet.
It’s a bygone era of First Glasgow.That is actually one of my earilest bus photos of half-decent quality that you linked there.
Funny how that photo is now one of my most historic in spite of it's so-so quality, given that 31435 was sold not long after I took it, virtually all the E500s had all been transferred north to Aberdeen by the end of 2015 and there's only one Plaxton President-bodied Dennis Trident left in the fleet (and it ain't 33040 lol). The Wright single-decker to the right of 33040 (a Axcess Floline-bodied Scania L94UB; all withdrawn from passenger service by the end of 2015) rounds the lineup out.
Too right. If I had a time machine, this is (one of many!) periods I'd go back to armed with my much improved skills and camera equipment. So many subjects I wish I'd captured, but didn't. :/ But that is neither here or there in regards to staying relevent to the thread topic lol
With embedded link this time
Which where the best ones then? Other than R655 DUS.
The new buses look smart.
Were already common on the no 6 route.
Who said they’re even coming back in the first place?
Until there's no driver shortage there's zero chance of them coming back I think.
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I seen one on the 6A last winter. Only one ive seen in service.
