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John Sinclair shares some images from his collection dating back to the 1960s, a period where the Scottish Bus Group’s half-cabs were being structurally converted for One Man Operation (OMO)
Whilst it was customary for normal control buses to be operated without a conductor in the more remote parts of Scotland, it was only the arrival of underfloor engine buses that enabled this to become normal practice.
Many small independent companies adapted their half-cab single decks to allow the driver to collect fares, but the mighty Scottish Bus Group only converted 11 Leyland Tiger PS1s and two double-decks, although Alexander Northern did acquire eight vehicles converted by previous owners, of which only one was painted into fleet colours.
Six single decks were in the Alexander Midland fleet, and their Alexander bodies were adapted by inserting a triangular piece between the offside cab and the front bulkhead to accommodate a Setright stand.
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The first Alexander Northern vehicle converted was BMS693 in April 1959 to operate the service between Pitlochry and the remote community of Kinloch Rannoch, where it is seen at the terminus in September 1961
Five further 14-year-old Leyland PS1s were converted in 1964 when the Gleneagles to Comrie railway service was closed to passengers, and extra vehicles were urgently required for a network of services between Perth and Crieff. These were Crieff depot’s entire allocation of PS1s, CWG281/5/91/2 and Perth’s AWG591 which was photographed at Crieff Bus Station in July 1964. Although it was numerically the final Alexander-bodied PS1 to be delivered to the company, it had a reissued registration number. CWG292 was photographed in Bridge of Earn.
Five further 14-year-old Leyland PS1s were converted in 1964 when the Gleneagles to Comrie railway service was closed to passengers, and extra vehicles were urgently required for a network of services between Perth and Crieff. These were Crieff depot’s entire allocation of PS1s, CWG281/5/91/2 and Perth’s AWG591 which was photographed at Crieff Bus Station in July 1964. Although it was numerically the final Alexander-bodied PS1 to be delivered to the company, it had a reissued registration number. CWG292 was photographed in Bridge of Earn.
Crieff depot was also using AEC Reliances on this network of services, such as GWG96 and Bedford VAS TWG601. It was one of three similar vehicles new in 1962, one for each of the companies Alexander Midland, Northern and Fife, the first new ‘small’ service buses for the group. Allocated to a specific route, they were not successful, and only one more was purchased, for Northern
Crieff depot was also using AEC Reliances on this network of services, such as GWG96 and Bedford VAS TWG601. It was one of three similar vehicles new in 1962, one for each of the companies Alexander Midland, Northern and Fife, the first new ‘small’ service buses for the group. Allocated to a specific route, they were not successful, and only one more was purchased, for Northern
The other five Leyland PS1s, CWG331-2/3-6, were in the Alexander Northern fleet being 1948 chassis with 1950 Burlingham Sun Saloon bodies. Having full-fronted bodies, there was no external evidence of the conversion work, although they did have rear reversing lights. CWG334-6 was converted in October 1964 to operate a three-day cycle of rural services from Aberdeen to the villages of Lumphanon and Strathdon. In May 1965, they were transferred to Ballater depot, as Northern had taken over the business of Strachan’s Deeside Omnibus Service, which had five Fodens individually converted for OMO operation with a manual control door linkage, but without the triangular adaptation used by Alexander. All of these were withdrawn by the end of the year. Plaxton-bodied EYS222 and Roberts-bodied GSA303 were photographed at the terminus in Aberdeen
The other five Leyland PS1s, CWG331-2/3-6, were in the Alexander Northern fleet being 1948 chassis with 1950 Burlingham Sun Saloon bodies. Having full-fronted bodies, there was no external evidence of the conversion work, although they did have rear reversing lights. CWG334-6 was converted in October 1964 to operate a three-day cycle of rural services from Aberdeen to the villages of Lumphanon and Strathdon. In May 1965, they were transferred to Ballater depot, as Northern had taken over the business of Strachan’s Deeside Omnibus Service, which had five Fodens individually converted for OMO operation with a manual control door linkage, but without the triangular adaptation used by Alexander. All of these were withdrawn by the end of the year. Plaxton-bodied EYS222 and Roberts-bodied GSA303 were photographed at the terminus in Aberdeen
Northern’s Bedford VAS SRS134 was allocated new to Huntly depot for a network of rural services to Cullen and Turrif. These services had historically been operated by Bedford OBs such as BWG42, seen leaving Huntly depot in August 1963
Northern’s Bedford VAS SRS134 was allocated new to Huntly depot for a network of rural services to Cullen and Turrif. These services had historically been operated by Bedford OBs such as BWG42, seen leaving Huntly depot in August 1963
The Fife Bedford VAS 7436SP was allocated to a rural service in North Fife from Newburgh to Gauldry, but did not prove successful and was never adapted for OMO operation. It was photographed at Gauldry in 1964, and inside Cupar depot in 1968 after transfer
The Fife Bedford VAS 7436SP was allocated to a rural service in North Fife from Newburgh to Gauldry, but did not prove successful and was never adapted for OMO operation. It was photographed at Gauldry in 1964, and inside Cupar depot in 1968 after transfer
Further North, CWG331/2 were allocated to Elgin depot for services in Moray and supplemented by AEC Reliances such as dual-purpose seated JWG684 photographed at Elgin Bus Station. To the West is the village of Mintlaw, where local operator Burnett was taken over by Northern in January 1967, and although this included three Willowbrook bodied AEC Regals converted by the original owner, City of Oxford Motor Services for OMO operation with power-operated doors, only OJO727 photographed outside Mintlaw depot received fleet livery.
Further North, CWG331/2 were allocated to Elgin depot for services in Moray and supplemented by AEC Reliances such as dual-purpose seated JWG684 photographed at Elgin Bus Station. To the West is the village of Mintlaw, where local operator Burnett was taken over by Northern in January 1967, and although this included three Willowbrook bodied AEC Regals converted by the original owner, City of Oxford Motor Services for OMO operation with power-operated doors, only OJO727 photographed outside Mintlaw depot received fleet livery.
The half-cab double-deckers converted were only used on school contracts, to allow inspection of the scholars’ passes. Western Scottish adapted three 12-year-old Albion Lowlanders VCS413/26/7 in August 1976, fitting sliding windows behind the driver, reversing lights and mirrors and a periscope. VCS413 shows no external evidence of this when photographed outside its depot in Penpont in rural Dumfriesshire. The other two were based in Stranraer for school contracts there, but all were replaced within a year by Daimler Fleetlines. Scottish Omnibuses, however, converted two Bristol Lodekka FLF6Gs YWS876 and CSG46S in a similar manner to the Alexander Leyland PS1s, intending to use them on routine service work, and the former was loaned to Cumberland Motor Services. However, they were only used at the rural depot in Peebles on school contracts, and both were reallocated in August 1976, when the depot went fully OMO operational. YWS876 was photographed at the depot in May 1974.”
The half-cab double-deckers converted were only used on school contracts, to allow inspection of the scholars’ passes. Western Scottish adapted three 12-year-old Albion Lowlanders VCS413/26/7 in August 1976, fitting sliding windows behind the driver, reversing lights and mirrors and a periscope. VCS413 shows no external evidence of this when photographed outside its depot in Penpont in rural Dumfriesshire. The other two were based in Stranraer for school contracts there, but all were replaced within a year by Daimler Fleetlines. Scottish Omnibuses, however, converted two Bristol Lodekka FLF6Gs YWS876 and CSG46S in a similar manner to the Alexander Leyland PS1s, intending to use them on routine service work, and the former was loaned to Cumberland Motor Services. However, they were only used at the rural depot in Peebles on school contracts, and both were reallocated in August 1976, when the depot went fully OMO operational. YWS876 was photographed at the depot in May 1974.”
