Days Out And About 2018
Below are details and pictures of various days out that myself, friends and other museum members have had on GCS 50V, HSD 73V, B509 YAT and E187 HSF. This page of course will be updated over time! If anyone has any other pictures taken on any of these days out please let me know!

Saturday 24 March & Sunday 25 March 2018

This was the weekend when I decided to awaken my buses from their winter slumber. On Saturday 24 March I visited SVBM Lathalmond and checked both my Clydeside Scottish Leyland Fleetline HSD 73V and Orkney Coaches Bedford YNT B509 YAT. Both vehicles started first attempt and later on I took HSD 73V a short run to Saline. She performed great as always.

On Sunday 25 March I visited GVVT where my Eastern Scottish Volvo Citybus E187 HSF and Clydeside Scottish Leyland Leopard GCS 50V were residing for the winter. Again both started first time and later in the day GCS 50V was moved over the pit for a pre-mot inspection.

HSD 73V on her first trip out of 2018. 24 March 2018.
GCS 50V in the yard at GVVT before heading over the pit for her pre-mot inspection. 25 March 2018.

Sunday 08 April 2018

On Sunday 08 April 2018, Stagecoach West Scotland held an open day event at their Kilmarnock Depot to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Western SMT company. A number of vehicles made the trip to Kilmarnock from both GVVT and SVBM museums. I decided to take both my Clydeside Scottish Leyland Leopard GCS 50V and Leyland Fleetline HSD 73V. Although preserved in Clydeside Scottish livery, both vehicles were new to Western Scottish in 1980. This would not be the first time that GCS 50V attended an open day event at Kilmarnock Depot, as she attended an event 10 years ago not long after I purchased her for preservation. A great day was had and both vehicles performed faultlessly. HSD 73V was on static display and GCS 50V completed a number of free services between the depot and Symington village.
HSD 73V Departs SVBM Lathalmond Saturday 07 April 2018, bound for GVVT ahead of the open day event at Kilmarnock.
HSD 73V and GCS 50V get ready to depart from GVVT on Sunday 08 April 2018 heading to Stagecoach, Kilmarnock Depot open day.
 Information leaflet  from the open day event.
TSJ 64S and GCS 50V undertaking a free service to Symington Village from Kilmarnock Depot during the open day event on 08 April 2018
GCS 50V is pictured turning into MacKinlay Place, Kilmarnock on her way back to the Stagecoach Depot after operating a free service to Symington Village. Photograph Copyright Jack Lang.
HSD 73V captured in the afternoon sun at Kilmarnock depot 08 April 2018
GCS 50V, TSJ 64S and  CSF 160W , All three vehicles Alexander Y Type Leyland Leopards, pictured at Symington Village whilst operating a free service from Kilmarnock depot during the open day event.
GCS 50V is pictured with her owner at the wheel passing the impressive railway viaduct in Kilmarnock. Photograph Copyright William Brown.
GCS 50V and HSD 73V are pictured getting ready to depart from Kilmarnock Depot with other members of the GVVT collection at the end of the open day event. The event raised £2000 for the National Autistic Society.
GCS 50V and HSD 73V are pictured passing through Kilmarnock Bus Station on their way back to GVVT Museum following the open day event at the Stagecoach Depot Kilmarnock. Photograph Copyright Tom's Transport Photos.

GCS 50V and HSD 73V are pictured passing through Shawlands Cross, Glasgow on their way back to GVVT.

Sunday 08 April 2018. Photograph Copyright Wullie Maffy

Sunday 20 May 2018

Sunday 20 May 2018 was the date of the annual SVBM Lathalmond spring running day. My Clydeside Scottish Leyland Leopard GCS 50V was back on the road this year after taking a break for a year. It really was great to get back behind the wheel again. My Eastern Scottish Volvo Citybus E187 HSF was also out in service during the event. The weather was fantastic this year and event was busy all day. GCS 50V completed a free service to Saline and E187 HSF completed a run to Dunfermline and back. Fantastic day and always a highlight of the year.

GCS 50V pictured after arrival at SVBM Lathalmond on Sunday 20 May 2018.
E187 HSF and GCS 50V pictured at SVBM Lathalmond 20 May 2018
H188 OSG. A fellow Edinburgh vehicle that would have operated often along side E187 HSF on the streets of Edinburgh.

Two Green and Cream buses that operated in very different parts of the world. GSU 378 pictured on the left operated in a land down under.

As well as the May open day event, a two day open weekend is held in August each year at SVBM Lathalmond.
GCS 50V is pictured with her owner at Saline whilst operating a free service during the open day event. Sunday 20 May 2018.

Both vehicles are Leopards, the vehicle on the left a Plaxton Leopard coach from 2017, whilst on the right is GCS 50V a Leyland Leopard from 1980.

E187 HSF is pictured at Dunfermline bus station whilst operating a free service between SVBM Lathalmond and Dunfermline. Sunday 20 May 2018.
Each year a vehicle receives an award for the best visiting vehicle. For 2018, the award went to Mr Gray for his excellent Volvo B10 Alexander PS N94 OGG restored into KCB livery.
A fellow Ex Western Scottish vehicle DSD 936V, is pictured at SVBM Lathalmond on Sunday 20 May 2018.
GCS 50V is pictured in Livingston collecting Alan and Cassie on the way back to GVVT museum in Glasgow. Sunday 20 May 2018.

Saturday 18th August and Sunday 19th August 2018

How quickly this year has flown past. It just seems a few weeks ago it was the May 2018 event at Lathalmond. Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th August was the weekend of the 2018 SVBM open weekend event. Although the UK had experienced a fantastic summer so far with lots of warm sunny weather, Unfortunately this weekend was not one of them.

I had two vehicles in use over the weekend. GCS 50V travelled up from GVVT on the Saturday morning and completed a few internal services on the Sunday afternoon. E187 HSF completed two runs to Dunfermline on the Saturday afternoon. B509 YAT was still lurking at the back of Shed 4, I will get around to getting her back on the road!

On the Saturday evening the social event took place, a great opportunity to catch up with friends and enjoy a good few drinks. All in all a great weekend as always, even though it was a little damp at times.

My latest book to be published "Restoring a Bus" which details the history and restoration of each of my vehicles was on sales and I was asked to do some book signing on the Sunday afternoon. A selection of my photographs from the weekend are below.


GCS 50V gets ready to depart GVVT with fellow Clydeside vehicle HSD 73V in the background.
G545 RDS and A735 PSU get ready to depart GVVT for SVBM Saturday 18th August 2018
E187 HSF returns from a free service to Dunfermline. A fellow museum resident, St Helens RT can be seen behind. Saturday 18th August 2018.

GCS 50V is pictured above operating a number of internal services around the site on the Sunday afternoon.


B509 YAT is pictured inside the main shed awaiting attention to her leaking clutch.

Book signing on the Sunday afternoon for my new book "Restoring a Bus" published by Amberley. This book gives the history of each of my preserved vehicles along with details of the restoration work carried out.
Fully stocked bar, ready for customers on the Saturday evening at the open weekend social event. Saturday 18th August 2018.
E187 HSF is pictured back at GVVT at the end of the 2018 SVBM open weekend. She is pictured next to fellow Volvo Citybus G545 RDS.

Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October 2018.

The 2018 GVVT open weekend took place on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October 2018. Again I was fortunate to have both days away from work and had a most enjoyable weekend. After such a great run of weather this year, the weather for the open weekend was not great. For the past few years my Eastern Scottish Volvo Citybus E187 HSF has taken part in the open weekend, however this year it was the turn of my Clydeside Scottish Leyland Leopard GCS 50V which undertook a few runs into town and to the Riverside Museum and proved popular with visitors. 

GCS 50V Outside Buchanan Bus Station whilst operating a free service back to GVVT on Saturday 13th October 2018

GCS 50V pictured at the Riverside Museum on Saturday 13th October 2018 getting ready to operate a free service back to GVVT. 

GCS 50V is pictured in a very wet George Street Glasgow, whilst heading back to GVVT with a free service from the Riverside museum on Saturday 13th October 2018. 

A recently preserved Western Scottish Leyland Leopard is OSJ 631R. She is pictured in Western Scottish red and cream livery inside GVVT during the 2018 open weekend. This vehicle is owned by McGill's the current operator of the former Clydeside Scottish operating area. 
BF67 WKH represents the current type of vehicle McGill's operate from Johnstone depot, a Mercedes Citaro. J3351 is pictured in the yard at GVVT on a rather wet Saturday 13th October 2018. 
GCS 50V is pictured on a rather wet Saturday afternoon getting ready to depart to the Riverside Museum. A slightly older Alexander Y type can be seen behind in Highland livery. This was the first time GCS 50V had taken part in the annual GVVT open weekend for a few years and was a popular choice for visitors. 
GCS 50V began life in April 1980 with Western Scottish. UCS 659, an Alexander bodied Albion Lowlander was another former Western Scottish vehicle attending the 2018 GVVT open weekend. She is pictured on Sunday 14th October which, as can be seen was a much better day weather wise. 
GCS 50V is pictured parked up inside GVVT next to Highland Scottish Alexander bodied Leyland Olympian B592 UAS. GCS 50V did very well over the weekend, proving a popular choice for visitors to the 2018 GVVT open weekend. 

Sunday 21 October 2018

On Sunday 21st October 2018, SPT held an event at Glasgow Buchanan bus station featuring a selection of vintage vehicles. The event was supported by Radio Clyde and attracted a large number of visitors. GCS 50V would have been a regular visitor to Buchanan Bus station during her time at Inchinnan depot. I was therefore keen for her to take part in the event even although I was unable to attend myself. Fellow GVVT member Phil Halewood kindly ensure GCS 50V was able to attend and following the event took her to some familiar Glasgow West End locations.  

Sunday 21st October 2018. A selection of vintage vehicles are pictured at the far end of Glasgow's Buchanan bus station including GCS 50V. Photograph copyright Phil Halewood. 

GCS 50V is pictured with fellow Alexander Y type vehicles at Buchanan bus station on Sunday 21st October 2018. Photograph Copyright John Rodgers. 

GCS 50V is pictured on stance at Glasgow Buchanan Bus station with fellow preserved vehicles on Sunday 21st October 2018. Photograph Copyright Anthony Burrows. 

Clydeside Scottish GCS 50V is pictured next to Western Scottish OSJ 631R at Glasgow Buchanan bus station on Sunday 21st October 2018. Photograph Copyright Phil Halewood. 

GCS 50V is pictured on Partick Bridge with the iconic Kelvingrove gallery in the background. Sunday 21st October 2018. Photograph Copyright Phil Halewood. 

GCS 50V is pictured on Sunday 21st October 2018 and Thornwood, Glasgow. Photograph Copyright Phil Halewood. 

GCS 50V is pictured with GVVT member Gary McGowan in the hot seat at Renfrew Street, Glasgow on Sunday 21st October 2018 heading back to the GVVT museum. Photograph Copyright Phil Halewood.