The ‘last’ Strathtay bus has been saved for preservation after restoration by a team at Stagecoach East Scotland, reports Jonathan Welch
Stagecoach East Scotland is celebrating its history in Tayside with the presentation of a historic vehicle to a local preservation group. Strathtay’s bus services became part of the Stagecoach Group with the take-over of the Yorkshire-based Traction Group in 2005. Just before the take-over the very last new bus was delivered in the company’s distinctive blue, white and orange livery. That bus, fleet number 260, was a Solo built by Optare in Leeds and was the last of 11 of the type delivered to Strathtay.
Now after 18 years of serving the communities of Angus and Dundee, the small bus has come to the end of its working life with Stagecoach East Scotland and has been restored to its original condition by the workshop team at the company’s Aberhill depot in Fife. Following completion of that work, it has now been donated to the Angus Transport Group whose members keep the spirit of the former Strathtay company alive through their fleet of vintage and preserved vehicles.
Optare 260 was one of a batch of four Optare Solos bought for a pair of new routes in Dundee, one operated by Strathtay (route 13) and the other by Travel Dundee (route 14), which were the subject of a joint Bus Route Development Grant bid. Both routes were branded as X City Direct, and the branding (in Travel Dundee house style) has been recreated as part of the restoration.
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