Scottish Bus Photos
a....Focus on: Hutchison Coaches, the final fleet
24th April 2007
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As most people will know by now, First Glasgow takes over the bus operations of 90-year established Hutchison Coaches (Overtown) from the 1st of July 2007. It is my intention over the next week to photograph each and every bus in the fleet and display it here as a reminder to people for years to come


































556 was new at the beginning of 1999. It is the only vehicle in the fleet to have carried the 'S' prefix
556 was new at the beginning of 1999. It is the only vehicle in the fleet to have carried the 'S' prefix
 A nearside view of CLY which was new in 2003 and was one of four Scanias bought that year, 2 of which were coaches. It has been used on the same shift since new with regular drivers, though on one particular day when a non-regular driver had it, it sustained some damage leading the the odd panel!
A nearside view of CLY which was new in 2003 and was one of four Scanias bought that year, 2 of which were coaches. It has been used on the same shift since new with regular drivers, though on one particular day when a non-regular driver had it, it sustained some damage leading the the odd panel!
A rear view of 27 shows to good effect the new vinyls and fleetnames which were applied recently as the red stripes had faded to a shade of pink. The paintwork is kept in good condition on this bus thanks to Andy's regular polishing of it
A rear view of 27 shows to good effect the new vinyls and fleetnames which were applied recently as the red stripes had faded to a shade of pink. The paintwork is kept in good condition on this bus thanks to Andy's regular polishing of it
 A rear view of 556 in Overtown. Its normal allocation is on route 3 & 5 between Coltness and Motherwell
A rear view of 556 in Overtown. Its normal allocation is on route 3 & 5 between Coltness and Motherwell
 A rear view of 736. It has no regular route it is operated on, most drivers choosing to avoid it at all costs!
A rear view of 736. It has no regular route it is operated on, most drivers choosing to avoid it at all costs!
A rear view of 94 in Overtown. Although 3 of this type were bought new in 1998, they weren't the only new vehicles that year. Two Plaxton bodied Volvo B10M's were also purchased
A rear view of 94 in Overtown. Although 3 of this type were bought new in 1998, they weren't the only new vehicles that year. Two Plaxton bodied Volvo B10M's were also purchased
 A rear view of CLX. A notable point about Hutchisons vehicles is that none of them carried adverts on the sides since this livery was introduced in 2001
A rear view of CLX. A notable point about Hutchisons vehicles is that none of them carried adverts on the sides since this livery was introduced in 2001
 A rear view of HXW shows it still retains its roller blind at the back, though to gain access to change it, you would need to carry an allan-key to loosen 4 bolts! This is why it has never been used
A rear view of HXW shows it still retains its roller blind at the back, though to gain access to change it, you would need to carry an allan-key to loosen 4 bolts! This is why it has never been used
A rear view of HXX in Overtown goes to show that having a regular driver on a regular service with same bus does justice to the bodywork
A rear view of HXX in Overtown goes to show that having a regular driver on a regular service with same bus does justice to the bodywork
 A rear view of ZPG in Overtown showing it has all round LED destination screens. This bus was the most easily recongnisable in the fleet, due to developing a whistleing noise from the rear in the last few months of operation with Hutchison. It still makes this same noise today under First ownership!
A rear view of ZPG in Overtown showing it has all round LED destination screens. This bus was the most easily recongnisable in the fleet, due to developing a whistleing noise from the rear in the last few months of operation with Hutchison. It still makes this same noise today under First ownership!
 Another bus new in 2004 was Volvo B7RLE SF04ZPG which was one of the first vehicles ever to be delivered with LED destinations screen. It was initially used on service 3 which was operating to Carluke at the time in competition with McKindless
Another bus new in 2004 was Volvo B7RLE SF04ZPG which was one of the first vehicles ever to be delivered with LED destinations screen. It was initially used on service 3 which was operating to Carluke at the time in competition with McKindless
Due to being fitted with destination screens, R27 and R28 can regularly be found working a shift on the Glasgow Express or simply operating morning or afternoon duplicate services, for which R27 had been doing that day, hence the Wayfarer being present
Due to being fitted with destination screens, R27 and R28 can regularly be found working a shift on the Glasgow Express or simply operating morning or afternoon duplicate services, for which R27 had been doing that day, hence the Wayfarer being present
 HXW was the first of 4 Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE's in 2004. It was delivered with standard roller blinds, but for use on a competitive service it was fitted with an LED destination to match two further vehicles delivered two months after the initial ones arrived. It still retains roller blinds on the side and rear
HXW was the first of 4 Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE's in 2004. It was delivered with standard roller blinds, but for use on a competitive service it was fitted with an LED destination to match two further vehicles delivered two months after the initial ones arrived. It still retains roller blinds on the side and rear
 HXX was delivered at the same time as HXW. It retained its roller blinds when similar types had LED's. It has been used on service 1 since new and has had only 2 regular drivers in that time
HXX was delivered at the same time as HXW. It retained its roller blinds when similar types had LED's. It has been used on service 1 since new and has had only 2 regular drivers in that time
On Saturday the 16th July, First took the 4 Glasgow Express B10M/Plaxton coaches to Larkfield to have the inevitable cash vault fitted. The bus is in the garage when this photo was taken, prior to being taken into the wash after a hard day
On Saturday the 16th July, First took the 4 Glasgow Express B10M/Plaxton coaches to Larkfield to have the inevitable cash vault fitted. The bus is in the garage when this photo was taken, prior to being taken into the wash after a hard day
 P813OET was originally HCO514 from new until earlier this year it received this registration to allow a coach in the fleet to receive the private plate. It was the first of several Optare Excels to be purchased by the company. It has been used on service 7 almost all its life, but on some occasions it wonders onto other routes, such as the 6 which it is displaying in this photo. When you scroll away from the Overtown destination and number 7, you would think it was a new blind as it has seen very little movement over the years!
P813OET was originally HCO514 from new until earlier this year it received this registration to allow a coach in the fleet to receive the private plate. It was the first of several Optare Excels to be purchased by the company. It has been used on service 7 almost all its life, but on some occasions it wonders onto other routes, such as the 6 which it is displaying in this photo. When you scroll away from the Overtown destination and number 7, you would think it was a new blind as it has seen very little movement over the years!
 R27VSM is one of a pair of such vehicles in the fleet, both of which are oddities in being DAF's in a mainly Volvo and Scania fleet. They are also odd in being the only second-hand vehicles in the fleet, both coming from MacEwan's in May 2000. This particular bus is the pride and joy of regular driver Andy who's name can be seen below the windscreen
R27VSM is one of a pair of such vehicles in the fleet, both of which are oddities in being DAF's in a mainly Volvo and Scania fleet. They are also odd in being the only second-hand vehicles in the fleet, both coming from MacEwan's in May 2000. This particular bus is the pride and joy of regular driver Andy who's name can be seen below the windscreen
R94HUS is a 39 seat Optare Excel purchased new in 1998 as part of a batch of 2 other similar vehicles
R94HUS is a 39 seat Optare Excel purchased new in 1998 as part of a batch of 2 other similar vehicles
 Rear of 52 which had a new engine fitted (Cummins ISBE or something?) making it one of the fastest Excel out of the lot by a long stretch!
Rear of 52 which had a new engine fitted (Cummins ISBE or something?) making it one of the fastest Excel out of the lot by a long stretch!
 Rear view of 49. It could have done with a rear end paint to tidy it up
Rear view of 49. It could have done with a rear end paint to tidy it up
Sisters SN03CLX and CLY pose for a photo at the end of a hard day. Due to having bonded glazing, their regular shifts seen them returning to depot in the early evening in case of any vandalisim which may occur. Buses with gasket glazing are considered quicker to repair
Sisters SN03CLX and CLY pose for a photo at the end of a hard day. Due to having bonded glazing, their regular shifts seen them returning to depot in the early evening in case of any vandalisim which may occur. Buses with gasket glazing are considered quicker to repair
 SN03CLX is a Scania L94UB witth Wright bodywork, new in 2003 with sister CLY. Like CLY, this bus has been used on a steady shift since new (which it is screened for) and also had very few regular drivers.
SN03CLX is a Scania L94UB witth Wright bodywork, new in 2003 with sister CLY. Like CLY, this bus has been used on a steady shift since new (which it is screened for) and also had very few regular drivers.
 T736JGB is on of two similar vehicles bought new in 1999. It wins my award for one of the slowest and most unpleasant buses to driver ever!
T736JGB is on of two similar vehicles bought new in 1999. It wins my award for one of the slowest and most unpleasant buses to driver ever!
The other half of the pair is 52 which is seen having the day off
The other half of the pair is 52 which is seen having the day off
 The spotless interior of 27. Just below the VanHool badge at the back is a CCTV camera though I'm not sure if it works or is simply a dummy one. This bus doesn't have air-conditioning but does have good forced air ventilation
The spotless interior of 27. Just below the VanHool badge at the back is a CCTV camera though I'm not sure if it works or is simply a dummy one. This bus doesn't have air-conditioning but does have good forced air ventilation
 The traditional Volvo cab layout of 303. It appears to have had a replacement indicator stalk at some point, as it does not match that of the window wiper stalk or the one which is its sister bus
The traditional Volvo cab layout of 303. It appears to have had a replacement indicator stalk at some point, as it does not match that of the window wiper stalk or the one which is its sister bus
The well kept interior of 303 is something which puts Hutchison ahead of the other competition in the area. Never a day goes buy when someone doesn't comment on how nice it is to travel on a warm and clean bus. The seats are certainly some of the comfiest ever fitted to a standard service bus with plenty of cushion. Wrightbus could learn something from Alexanders!
The well kept interior of 303 is something which puts Hutchison ahead of the other competition in the area. Never a day goes buy when someone doesn't comment on how nice it is to travel on a warm and clean bus. The seats are certainly some of the comfiest ever fitted to a standard service bus with plenty of cushion. Wrightbus could learn something from Alexanders!
 W49 is one of a pair new in 2000, both of which were the last Optares bought
W49 is one of a pair new in 2000, both of which were the last Optares bought
 X303JGE is an ALX300 bodied B10BLE and is one of a pair purchased new in September 2000. It carried an advert for Beaufort Van Centre which was part of the Anderson Group. The bus is parked in Overtown Garage prior to being taken out on Sunday 24th July for the Sunday shift of the number 1
X303JGE is an ALX300 bodied B10BLE and is one of a pair purchased new in September 2000. It carried an advert for Beaufort Van Centre which was part of the Anderson Group. The bus is parked in Overtown Garage prior to being taken out on Sunday 24th July for the Sunday shift of the number 1
X303JGE this time seen parked in Montgomery Street, Larkhall, the terminus used by the commercially run services. The subsidised evening service terminates further along Union Street in Larkhall. Sunday service number 1 takes in route 2 via Gowkthrapple and Craigneuk with the terminus at Milton Street, which is the terminus of the number 3. The 1 terminates in Forgewood and the 2 at Watling Street Monday-Saturday
X303JGE this time seen parked in Montgomery Street, Larkhall, the terminus used by the commercially run services. The subsidised evening service terminates further along Union Street in Larkhall. Sunday service number 1 takes in route 2 via Gowkthrapple and Craigneuk with the terminus at Milton Street, which is the terminus of the number 3. The 1 terminates in Forgewood and the 2 at Watling Street Monday-Saturday
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