Dundee Buses in the 20th Century: First and last

Continuing our theme of Dundee Buses in the 20th Century here's another two great photographs showing the first trolley bus in 1912 and the last double decker bus Tayside bought in 1989.

Dundee was the first Scottish city, and one of the first in Britain, to operate a trolley bus service. It ran from 5 September 1912 until 13 May 1914, although at that time they were actually known as "railless trolley cars". Two trolley buses, numbered 67 and 68, operated the short 1.25 mile experimental route between Strathmartine Road and Forfar Road. Instead of being guided by rails they had solid wheels which allowed them greater freedom of movement as long as they didn’t stray too far from the pair of overhead power lines. The trolley buses were nicknamed "The Stouries" because of all the dust from their solid wheels on the generally poor road surface in dry weather. The experimental service only lasted for 20 months due to a combination of low demand and damage to the road surface. Trolley buses 67 and 68 saw further service in Halifax after the war. Pictured is a front view of trolley bus, or car, number 67 at the east end of Clepington Road with its driver and conductor looking on. COURTESY OF THE EVENING TELEGRAPH, DUNDEE (ORDER REFERENCE DMOT19). COPIES CAN BE PURCHASED AT ALBERT SQUARE, DUNDEE, ANY BRANCH OFFICE OR BY TELEPHONING 01382 575 002. ANOTHER VIEW OF THIS TROLLEYBUS IS ALSO AVAILABLE (ORDER REFERENCE DMOT20).

Pictured in Panmure Street, near Dundee High School, in 1996 is Alexander bodied Volvo Citybus fleet number 105 G105PES, the final bus of fifteen that entered service in November 1989. Although Tayside bought more single deckers this was numerically their final double deck bus. This is also the final Tayside Buses livery and fleet name style with a greyhound leaping between the two words. COURTESY: TAYBUS VINTAGE VEHICLE SOCIETY (TVVS) PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION. Click here to view the Taybus website

  

Dundee Buses in the 20th Century: Thorneycroft Daring DD

To help illustrate recent bus reminiscences in The Courier, here's a photograph of a Thorneycroft Daring double-deck bus.

These photographs formed part of our very successful exhibition that took place in October/November 2010. Once we are able to secure suitable premises we hope all 100 images will be back on display.

Five Thornycroft Daring DD buses, bodied by Metro-Cammell, were added to Dundee’s existing fleet of fourteen Leyland Titan double-deck buses in 1932. Numbered 49-53 these 48 seat buses remained in service in the city until 1947. Pictured on the far left at Dundee’s Lochee Road/Bell Street Central Garage and Depot is Thornycroft bus number 53 TS9869 along with a collection of other buses and a classic car. COURTESY: GEORGE BETT COLLECTION.

  

Dundee Buses in the 20th Century: Thorneycroft Cygnet

To help illustrate recent bus reminiscences in The Courier, here's a pictures of Dundee's last Thorneycroft bus purchased - the Cygnet.

These photographs formed part of our very successful exhibition that took place in October/November 2010. Once we are able to secure suitable premises we hope all 100 images will be back on display.

The first four single-deck buses bought by Dundee in 1921 were Thornycroft Js. Having tried both Leyland and Daimler buses one more Thornycroft single-deck bus was bought for the fleet in 1933, this time the Cygnet. With dual-purpose seating for 29, and bodied by Pickering, number 65 TS9864 could also be used as a coach and had a sliding roof. It was renumbered 8 in 1936 and finished its service days in West Hartlepool. COURTESY: GEORGE BETT COLLECTION.

  

Dundee Buses in the 20th Century: AEC Q

To help illustrate recent bus reminiscences in The Courier, here's a couple of pictures of Dundee's AEC Q buses, bodied by Weymann.

These photographs formed part of our very successful exhibition that took place in October/November 2010. Once we are able to secure suitable premises we hope all 100 images will be back on display.

In August 1935 this AEC Q, bodied by Weymann, was demonstrated in Dundee and subsequently purchased by them in September 1935. Number 1 YJ2803 is pictured in the City Square when new and it is certainly attracting quite a lot of attention. This bus had 38 seats and a sliding door whereas numbers 2 YJ2800 and 3 YJ2801, bought in September 1936, only had 37 seats and an open entrance/exit. COURTESY OF THE EVENING TELEGRAPH, DUNDEE (ORDER REFERENCE DMOT12). COPIES CAN BE PURCHASED AT ALBERT SQUARE, DUNDEE, ANY BRANCH OFFICE OR BY TELEPHONING 01382 575 002.

Following the purchase of AEC Q number 1 YJ2803 in September 1935, AEC Q numbers 2 YJ2800 and 3 YJ2801 arrived in September 1936. The engine is mounted sideways behind the driver/front axle and its position is indicated by the long bench seat. Also visible in this rare interior view of number 2 is the open door configuration it shared with number 3 rather than the sliding door which featured on bus number 1. COURTESY: GEORGE BETT COLLECTION.

  

Museum receives more funding for feasibility study

Dundee Museum of Transport is delighted to have received a five-figure sum from the Dundee Historic Environment Trust supported by Historic Scotland to fund a full feasibility study of the former Tram Depot in Forfar Road, Dundee. This money is in addition to that already received from Destination Dundee for the same purpose.

James F. Stephen Architects will now carry out the full study on behalf of the Museum and we hopefully move ever closer to acquiring the premises and already some further concern have been raised about its deteriorating condition.

 

Temporary home for transport museum

Dundee Museum of Transport (DMofT) has been very fortunate to secure temporary premises in the West End of the City. This will give us much needed space as we continue to work towards acquiring the former Tram Depot in Forfar Road, Maryfield.

The owner of the premises, which was formerly used as a laundry, has generously offered us the premises without charge and this will allow DMofT to create an office and storage area.

We urgently need volunteers to help us clear the site on the corner of Roseangle and Greenfield Place and prepare it for the Museum to move in, hopefully before the WestFest in June 2011. To get in touch and volunteer your services please visit our contact page.