Tayside Regional Council 52 (OSN 852Y)
Chassis Volvo Ailsa B55-10 Mk III chassis no. 822333 ♦ Body Northern Counties H51/33F body no. 2425
History
Tayside Regional Council’s smallest batch of Mark III Ailsas consisted of ten vehicles bodied by Northern Counties of Wigan and delivered to Tayside in April and May 1983. These were the first buses in the fleet to be bodied by Northern Counties, and they differed from the small number of other Ailsas bodied by that firm (and delivered to Greater Manchester PTE, Derby City Transport and Cardiff Bus) by carrying the standard Ailsa grille.
In its later days with Tayside Buses, 52 was the only Mk III Ailsa not to receive an ‘invisible’ single door conversion, and instead retained its exit doors, though latterly they were sealed up and inoperational, as seen in this 1992 photograph.
After withdrawal by Tayside Buses, 52 was sold to the long-established independent operator Irvine of Law, along with sister vehicle 57. Irvine’s sold both buses around 2004 to McDade, Uddingston for use on school contracts. 52 was withdrawn in January 2008, replaced by ex-Lothian Olympians, and was sold for scrap before being bought the following month by a member of the Society.
Restoration
Amazingly, the bus retains some of its original moquette seats: the majority of Tayside’s Mark III Ailsas lost theirs in favour of vinyl coverings. The central door remains, although it has been sealed up and has lost two of its window panes. Since acquisition a good deal of mechanical work has been undertaken to make the vehicle mobile again. In October 2010 it moved south to take up the workshop space vacated by Ailsa 46 so that further work can take place. A new fuel tank was fitted recently, and a good deal of work has taken place cleaning the interior and sanding the floor. The dash extension in the cab has been fully refurbished. Extensive work has also been undertaken on the front brake drums and hubs.