The photograph that got away

When we were compiling the near 100 photographs for Dundee's City Buses in the 20th Century we were extremely lucky to have the support of many people who generously gave us permission to use their images.

This allowed us to cover most of the important developments ranging from Scotland's first trolley bus service in 1912 through to Scotland's first low floor double deck bus in 1998.

However one memorable photograph still managed to elude us. Taken to mark the start of the Tayway service towards the end of 1980 a Northern Scottish coach, a Tayside Ailsa bus and a British Railways diesel train were lined-up to mark the launch of this new joint service.

To date the only copy of the photograph we have is from the front of the inaugural timetable which isn't of a good enough quality for us to use.

If you have a copy of the original photograph taken for this event, or know where we could get a copy, please get in touch through our contact us page or leave a comment under this post.
 

Our first exhibition is now on in Dundee's Central Library

After months of planning Dundee Museum of Transport's first exhibition in the Wellgate's Central Library opened on Friday 22 October and runs until Saturday 6 November 2010.

Dundee's Lord Provost John Letford opened the exhibition by unveiling a special visitors book and said that the plans for a Transport Museum have the full support of Dundee City Council. Pictured below with Mr. Letford are Terry Small (left) and Jimmy McDonell (right).

In addition a restored Tayside Regional Council bus was on display in the City Square to publicise the exhibition and to hand out copies of the Museum's promotional leaflet to those hardy shoppers braving the heavy rain.

Many of the early visitors commented on how well the exhibition has been put together and wished the project well. Over the course of the next few weeks some of the items on display will be changed as the limited space meant that it wasn't possible to include everything at the same time. So a repeat visit will certainly be worthwhile.

  

Bus line-up link

Ten days ago we posted a picture of four buses parked in Maryfield Depot, the proposed home for Dundee Museum of Transport, and asked for the common link between all four.

From the front are Daimler CVG6 number 184 ETS964 (new 1955), AEC Regent III number 137 CYJ252 (new 1953), Daimler CVD6 number 127 AYJ379 (new 1951) and Ailsa 300 WTS272T (new 1979, converted 1983).

The link is that all four buses have been saved for preservation. Taybus Vintage Vehicle Society care for 184 (front) and 300 (rear), Dundee City Council care for 127 (third from front) and 137 is privately owned.

The Courier joins search for Dundee's Caird Hall clock

On Saturday 9 October 2010 Dundee's edition of The Courier newspaper publicised the Transport Museum's search for what happened to the Corporation Transport Department clock fixed to the side of the Caird Hall.

We have checked with Dundee City Council's Museum and Art Galleries division and they have no record of it having been transferred to their care. Could it really just have been disposed of when it was taken down?

The earliest dated picture we have of the clock in place is from September 1951:

This photograph is most likely from 1974 or 1975 and by this time the clock has been removed:

In fact the marks left by the clock are still visible today.

If you can help us in our search for the clock and its history please leave us a comment below or get in touch through our contact page.

  

What happened to the Corporation clock on the Caird Hall?

Over the past few months I've been trawling through literally hundreds of photographs of Dundee's city buses from 1912 to 1998 for our forthcoming exhibition.

It has been great seeing so many views from the past and hopefully you'll enjoy seeing a small selection of them in the Central Library from 22 October - 6 November 2010.

However one picture in particular got me thinking. There used to be a magnificent clock mounted on the side of the Caird Hall at the Crichton Street/Shore Terrace junction. But where is it now?

I'm guessing it may have been taken down when Tayside House was built, but was it simply disposed of or has it been put into safe storage?

If the clock still exists how about putting it back in the same place when Tayside House is demolished and the area opened up again?

If the clock had indeed been lost, then maybe a replica could still be created and put back in place?

Click on the 'comments' link below if you know anything about what happened to the clock and if you would like to see it restored to its rightful place.

  

Another Maryfield picture poser

Last Sunday we posted a picture of 8 Daimler buses outside the Maryfield Dock Street depot and asked which one had been saved for preservation. Well, the answer was number 161 PYJ461L as highlighted below.

Now, here's another great line-up but this time inside Maryfield. What do the four buses have in common?