Tayside Regional Council 62 (OSN 862Y)

Chassis Volvo Ailsa B55-10 Mk III chassis no. 82242

Body East Lancashire Coachbuilders H48/36F (originally H51/33D) body no. A3702

History

Tayside Regional Council and its predecessor Dundee Corporation had bought only Alexander-bodied buses since the 1950s, so it was a major change of direction when the 1983 deliveries of Mk III Ailsas were bodied by not one but two English-based coachbuilders: Northern Counties and East Lancs. Like the 1981 delivery of Mk IIIs with Alexander bodies, the chassis used the Voith automatic gearbox, and had a longer wheelbase, allowing for a seating capacity of 84 (these vehicles replaced the two batches of long-wheelbase Fleetlines). They were also the first vehicles new to Tayside to feature moquette seat covers.

Tayside received two batches of East Lancs-bodied Ailsas in 1983, which were the only Ailsas to be bodied by East Lancs. 62 entered service in the first batch on the Douglas–Charleston route, where it remained until displaced by new Volvo Citybuses in 1989.

In common with most of the later Ailsas, 62 was converted to single door configuration in the early 1990s, receiving an ‘invisible’ conversion (compare this view of sister vehicle 63 before conversion with this one of 67 later in life). It also lost its moquette seats in favour of blue vinyl coverings.

After Tayside Public Transport was bought by National Express Group in 1997 and became Travel Dundee it embarked on a fleet renewal programme that saw all remaining Ailsas withdrawn within a couple of years. The East Lancs–bodied Ailsas were withdrawn before the older Alexander-bodied Mk IIIs, and most were sold initially to operators in the north-east of Scotland. 63 went, along with many others, to Watermill Coaches of Fraserburgh.

By 2004 most of the Watermill Ailsas had been run into the ground, as can be seen in this photograph of 62 with two of her sisters. 62 was more or less complete and was acquired for preservation, along with sister vehicle 84, which was used for spares.

Restoration

Work so far has involved removal of the floor and a large amount of work cleaning and rustproofing the chassis. In the long term, a restoration to original condition is planned.