Within Bridgeton garage, vehicles are parked in herringbone fashion to ease access. Heading this line up is a rare Eastern Scottish Alexander bodied Leyland-DAB Lion underfloor engine double-decker from 1986
Rogerson Coach Travel of Tranent’s Tourismo was part of the visiting vehicle display on the Saturday
Visiting from Chepstow Classic Coaches, this Alexander Midland Leyland PD2 with lowbridge Alexander bodywork is seen at the head of a convoy of Alexander Midland vehicles on the Sunday lunchtime tour to Anniesland
New to Chenery of Diss in Norfolk, this Duple Viceroy Bedford YRQ has recently been restored in the ownership of Prentice-Westwood
Whitelaws have upgraded half of their service bus fleet in 2021 with 12 short (10.8m) MCV Evo-Ra bodied Volvo B8RLEs. The 12th to be delivered is seen alongside one of McGill’s Yutong E12 electrics in Bridgeton’s visiting vehicle showcase area
MD Sandra Whitelaw and driver Robert Kennedy with the 12th of Whitelaw’s short (10.8m) MCV Evo-Ra bodied Volvo B8RLEs
With a chassis built by Albion in Glasgow, this repatriated 1947 Commonwealth Engineering bodied Sydney double-decker is typical of Australian buses of that era. The body shaping makes for some cramped seating on the upper deck
Since 2018, much conservation work has been under undertaken on Kevin Carroll’s 1973 Greater Glasgow PTE Leyland Atlantean, returning it to original condition as far as possible. It was a regular performer on the shuttle to Glasgow’s Riverside museum, seen here in the city centre and at Riverside
Since 2018, much conservation work has been under undertaken on Kevin Carroll’s 1973 Greater Glasgow PTE Leyland Atlantean, returning it to original condition as far as possible. It was a regular performer on the shuttle to Glasgow’s Riverside museum, seen here in the city centre and at Riverside (2)
The rear-engined Albion Viking VK43AL was built almost exclusively for the Scottish Bus Group and featured a manual gearbox. Note the narrow wheel track on this 1967 Alexander Midland example
Roger Burdett’s Black and White Leyland Leopard brought a visiting party from the Midlands and briefly posed alongside the current generation of National Express vehicles represented by Bruce’s Coaches recently delivered Caetano Levante 3 bodied Scania
Visiting from Merseyside, restoration of this luxurious Plaxton bodied Leyland Leopard was completed this year with its full Ribble splendour first revealed at the North West Vehicle Restoration Trust event at Kirkby in September
Following the merger of Scottish Bus Group’s Kelvin and Central businesses, the company traded for a time as KCB Network, a livery recalled by this Alexander PS bodied Volvo B10M. It is seen just off Glasgow’s George Square against a background of buildings often used by film makers as a double for American cities
Frequent showers provided opportunity for reflected images, such as this 1960 Alexander Northern AEC Reliance with Alexander coachwork. Similar bodies, but on Leyland Tiger Cub chassis, in the colours of the other two components of the divided Alexander business were also on display
In one of Sunday’s sunnier breaks, a 1958 Glasgow Corporation Leyland PD2 with Alexander bodywork turns out of Killamont Street by Buchanan Bus Station
Amongst regular service buses, the 1960 Glasgow Corporation Alexander bodied Leyland PD3 leaves George Square on a late afternoon journey to back to Bridgeton
Prior to opening on the Saturday morning, three Glasgow Corporation double-deckers line up outside the museum, led by a 1960 Leyland PD3
Within the Bridgeton premises is this Leyland Tiger, one of several 1930s buses from the Alexander fleet on display
Now in preservation, this early low floor double-decker, a 2000 Alexander ALX400 bodied Volvo B7TL spent most of its operating life with First in Aberdeen carrying this promotional branding for The Archie Foundation
Restoring early low-floor vehicles is attracting new interest to the preservation movement. This recently completed 2001 Wrightbus bodied Volvo B10BLE carries the colours of Hutchison, Overtown

Bridgeton bustles in the rain

Posted by Chris Peat on Tue 19th October 2021 - 13:02PM | No Comments

GVVT’s annual open weekend at Bridgeton Bus Garage made a successful return for 2021 with regular free shuttle services from the garage to Glasgow city centre and the city’s Riverside transport museum. A wide variety of vehicles ran on each day with the ‘corpie’ (Glasgow Corporation) vehicles more prominent on the Saturday and Scottish Bus Group vehicles on the Sunday when three Alexander Midland liveried double-deckers ran in convoy on a lunchtime tour to Anniesland.

In response to the pandemic, improvements have been made to facilities at the garage, particularly reducing overcrowding and service time at the popular Clippies Café. Despite some rain, particularly on the Saturday, and more competing events across the country than usual, there was a good number of visitors, some arriving in heritage vehicles from across Scotland and England as far south as the midlands.

Newly restored vehicles always attract attention and for 2021 these included the return of Kevin Carroll’s Greater Glasgow PTE liveried Leyland Atlantean. A popular performer for many years at rallies across the country, since 2018 it has been in the care of the technicians at Bridgeton who have restored many of its original features, replaced worn components and given it a full repaint. Early low floor vehicles are attracting new interest to the preservation scene and a recently restored Wrightbus bodied Volvo B10BLE in Hutchison of Overtown colours proved a popular exhibit.

The modern scene was well represented with new vehicles from Whitelaws (10.8m Volvo B8RLE – MCW EvoRa), McGills (Yutong E12 electric) and Bruce’s Coaches (Scania – Caetano Levante 3). Reflecting the prevalent shortage situation, driver recruitment was a theme across the current operators present with both Stagecoach and First having dedicated training vehicles on site.

For more information on future events and opportunities to be involved at Bridgeton Bus Garage, click here.

Click the image above to see a slide show of the displays

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