Tour of Scotland by 357

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TOUR OF SCOTLAND BY DOUBLE DECK

The local Aldershot-Guildford Group of the Omnibus Society, under the leadership of their Chairman. Mr. L. Nicholson, organised a tour to Scotland from May 18th to 26th 1968. The vehicle used was an Aldershot and District. Dennis Loline Double Deck, number 357 (SOU 465), based at Guildford Depot. The driver was "Jock" Cockburn.

After loading up at Guildford Bus Station the bus left on the Saturday morning at 7.30 a.m. for London. where the remainder of the party were picked up at Charing Cross and Victoria Embankment. The route then threaded its way through the London suburbs until open country was reached at Barnet, then on to Northampton and Leicester, where members examined the bus stations of "Midland Red." At Willington a visit was made to Blue Bus Services, who owned the original two Dennis Loline vehicles; one of these, 465 FRB, was parked alongside SOU 465 for the benefit of the photographers, The night was spent at Derby.

On Sunday, the party continued northwards via the "Cat and Fiddle" (nearly 1,700 feet above sea level) and into Macclesfield, before reaching Stockport and Manchester. where a "Brab," ex. "A and D" 183, was seen as a caravan. A visit to Lancashire United's Swinton Depot to see their ten "Lolines," was followed by a visit to Leigh Corporation to see their Dennis "Lolines," with identical body-work to the Aldershot version, and also their rear entrance Loline III resplendent in blue livery.

After an overnight stop at Keswick, Monday morning dawned bright and sunny, and the party were soon under way to Carlisle, after which wheels were set towards Glasgow.

The journey on Tuesday commenced from Central Glasgow with a run to Alexanders' Milngavie Depot before the trip over undulating countryside to Stirling. The "Loline" was driven over steep, cobbled streets to the courtyard of Stirling Castle. Awaiting the party were Mr. N. G. Brookes, former A&D Chief Engineer, with his wife. After lengthy chats and reminiscences. Mr. Brookes led the way in his car via Doune to Dunblane, where the bus was parked outside his house and a group photograph was taken.

357 at Dunblane

Mr. and Mrs. N. G. Brookes
with the group at Dunblane

Good-byes were said, then on to Perth for tea and Arbroath for the night.

On Wednesday, the trip continued first to Carnoustie and Dundee, then across the Tay Bridge to Tayport and St. Andrew's. The afternoon journey was via the Fife Coast to Kirkcaldy, where a visit was made to Alexander (Fife) works and garage, where the Chief Engineer, Mr. Edmond. showed the party over the various departments. Then followed a run to the Forth Bridge, before the entry into Edinburgh.

A free day was spent in Edinburgh on Thursday before the run along the coast to North Berwick and the attractive fishing port of Dunbar on Friday. Then to the border into England and on to Newcastle for the night.

357 Across the Tees Swinging Across the Tees

On Saturday the bus headed for South Shields and Sunderland before journeying to Hartlepool and the Transporter Bridge on which the bus was swung across the Tees, on to Middlesbrough and Harrogate. where the first "real rain" of the tour was encountered. Leeds was soon reached, where the party stayed at the Guildford Hotel.

Sunday was sunny, for the run home to journey's end at Guildford Depot. SOU 465 had covered some 1,200 miles without any mechanical trouble and had given an extremely smooth ride over the many diverse types of road covered. At many of the garages visited during the week comments had been passed that the vehicle was both smart and very practicable for such an operation, affording good vision to passengers on both decks.

From Aldershot & District Staff Bulletin Autumn 1968



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