A huge thank you to Jordan Adam for showing me some photos he took of K1 GRT including a very much needed cab shot of it.

New in 1992, K1 GRT was part of a fleet of Mercedes-Benz O405 single deckers, but this member of the fleet was going to be a one-off in more ways than one. The obvious difference is that it was the only artic of the fleet, also it was the only articulated bus Alexander had bodied, the only step-entry articulated Mercedes-Benz O405G for UK operations, and finally one of just two Alexander Cityrangers ever produced, the other was a rigid demonstrator which survived until 2006, that was K473 EDT.

The bus didn't spend all its life in Aberdeen, it was a used as a demonstrator for a few years for various Firstbus fleets when Grampian and Badgerline formed to make the big giant company. The bus was seen in Leicester, Northampton, Leeds, Huddersfield and perhaps a few other places. The bus wore a few liveries during its demonstrating life, as instead of the green it wears, it was red or blue instead, however by this time the original livery this bus wore was revised once under First Group ownership. Whilst here in Leeds K1 GRT was trialled on the guided busway up on Scott Hall Road with the regular Alexander Strider bodied Scania fleet as the bus gained guidewheels as this was one of only very few artics to have such, and the bus had received Superbus stickers on all sides. Despite being branded for the Superbus service, K1 GRT was also snapped on the route 2 from Roundhay to Corn Exchange. Only a handful of Wright Fusions were allocated to the Scott Hall Road runs but that fleet ended up on route 1 shortly after and no artics were ever to work on the route 2 again. Out of all the places K1 GRT demonstrated at, Leeds was the only city to have artics for a long period of time. Saying that as Leeds no longer has any artics, Aberdeen still has a few Wright Eclipse Fusions built in 2005, the rest of the fleet including some Wright Fusions from Glasgow have all being scrapped without one being saved for preservation, would be nice for W2 FAL to be saved, would make a good photo opportunity if alongside K1 GRT.

Later on, K1 GRT was repainted into the Barbie 2 livery before it got withdrawn as this bus was also the only articulated bus to ever be seen in such livery. But a few years later, no.1 was restored back in her original livery and now owned by the Aberdeen & District Transport Preservation Trust but doesn't see much outings due to technical difficulties. However besides being mainly a static display as a result of the reliability issues, K1 GRT does however see some outings and has performed faultlessly whilst ferrying passengers on running days.

Grampian Regional Transport was a keen customer though of the Mercedes-Benz O405 as they were all bodied by Alexander, Wright and Optare. This was all before Badgerline and GRT merged to become the transport giant we all recognise to this day as First Group.

The Alexander Cityranger was an extremely rare type which sits on the Mercedes-Benz O405 chassis. The body was based on the Alexander PS however the boxy shape of the body is almost identical to the Strider which was released a year later with a fair few differences. So now this is the sole Alexander Cityranger in existance, but unbeknown to many is that SBS Transit in Singapore operated a batch of Alexander PS bodied Mercedes-Benz O405 rigids so these aren't as unique as you'd think but still very. Later, Wrightbus produced their very own Cityranger body for the Mercedes-Benz O405 as only rigids were produced. The body was roundabouts a standard Wright Classic body but like with Alexander's and Optare's offerings had a Mercedes-Benz O405 front end.

K1 GRT is also the only O405G artic to ever enter service in the UK, not including the LF versions which worked with TWM and Metro in Belfast. And further more this was Alexander's only articulated bus they've ever had to release, no other manufacturer has ever made an articulated bus which was made to be a one-off product.

The bus has many similarities to the FTR brand which again used tram-style artics which were to be branded as transport for the future just like K1 GRT although K1 GRT was not a tram like bus. Also K1 GRT had visual announcements on board just like the FTR service had, but the screens proved unreliable - just like the FTR's which often didn't work, appeared discoloured or just kept cutting out when going over imperfections in the road. K1 GRT was most likely the reason behind First's long term affair with buying new articulated buses for their larger fleets but technically it isn't the oldest artic within the First fleet, as First Mainline had older Leyland DABs on the Meadowhall runs, as like with K1 GRT, one of that fleet remains in preservation, artics in preservation are currently a bit of a rarity although with many being built from the early 2000s, a few more are getting preserved.

Interestingly First Group was very keen on buying unique types, such types were all of articulated variety including the Wright Fusion bodied Volvo B10LA in 1998/1999 and the tram-styled Wright StreetCar bodied Volvo B7LA in 2005-2007. No other company bought these buses although they did open the gateway for Wrightbus to market the Eclipse/Solar Fusions to other operators in the UK like Dublin Bus, Nottingham City Transport and Go-North East. Saying that though all but one batch of the Wright Eclipse Fusions produced were for First fleets, interestingly all but one Solar Fusion was not ordered for First Group. So I do believe Grampian Regional Transport did start a small craze with articulated buses in the UK, but it wasn't the oldest articulated bus to work with First Group, as in Sheffield until 2001, First South Yorkshire had a fleet of older Leyland DABs.

Aberdeen started buying their first batch of articulated buses in the shape of Wright Eclipse Fusions which were the first of their type and the first buses to ever be built with any Wright Eclipse body.

Finally this bus is probably the closest thing I've seen in many ways to my favourite bus MVG's no.30 which I have since uploaded for my own 30th birthday, both are articulated Mercedes-Benz O405 with some differences, both have 3 doors, both were technically demonstrators but kept their original liveries whilst doing demonstration work, both had guide wheels at some point during their demonstrating lives and both have the operator and fleet number incorporated into the registration plate. However when back here in Leeds, K1 GRT's side stickers for Superbus reminded me of Duobus 30's Interspar adverts.

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Requested by Jordan Adam

First Aberdeen seems to look after their buses really well, and these Volvo B7LAs are no exception as no.2 was the first Volvo B7LA for the UK in 1999, a year after the first Volvo B10LA entered service with First Manchester although many would criticise the vertical engine which means less seats whereas the Volvo B10LA would have a normal row of seats at the back, the vertical engine's negative feedback was a reason for Volvo's rigid alternative being the Volvo B7RLE with a much raised floor than the B7L and certainly no shower cubicles!

However despite the Volvo B7RLE's popularity in 2003 onwards, Volvo made no alternatives for UK operators for the Volvo B7LA, as they were available right up until 2007 despite Volvo selling low entry B12BLEAs to Australia. Sadly when Euro 4/5 became reality, Volvo stopped selling artics for the UK as it was down to the likes of Scania and Mercedes to carry on producing artics for the UK until 2010.

The only Volvo B7LA without the affectionately named shower cubicle is the Wright StreetCar as the vents were over the rear window although in place of the shower cubicle was a box, which still was reducing the already restricted seating arrangement. Plus there's the Austrian city of Linz with their Volvo B7LAs that don't feature the vertical engine at the back but those buses are trolleybuses and infact as far as I know the only low floor trolleybuses Volvo has made.

The shower cubicle still can be seen on Volvo's low floor vehicles on today's market which is Volvo's hybrid range which includes the double deckers mostly seen in London.

The design of the interior at the rear wasn't the only downside, the wheelarches partially covering the centre and rear wheels was not that much favoured as a few operators had them removed off the buses which featured them, like First Manchester's sole Solar Fusion, People's Bus' ex Dublin Bus based Wright Volvo B7LA and numerous operators who operated Wright Solar rigids as this was a pain when you want to take off wheels for some reason or give them a check over, so the 2005 built Wright Eclipse Fusions never featured them however the StreetCars did which is one reason why the Volvo B10LA was one of the best designed internally and externally but in terms of technicality, it was very high maintenance which is one reason why they've become very rare as most in the UK are now scrapped as all are now out of use.

However the only difference which I like with the Volvo B7LA is the absence of (what seems to be) the wheelchair/pram area seen on the Volvo B10LA at the rear section which is never used for that purpose as the seats there tip up needlessly whereas the Wright Eclipse Fusions only have normal forward facing seating.

But this was also the first production model of the Wright Eclipse Fusion which is sadly now withdrawn along with the other W-FAL batch, sadly none have been earmarked to be preserved to join K1 GRT.

Artics are still working in Aberdeen in the shape of 2005 built Wright Eclipse Fusions on the 1/2 routes alongside tri axle double decker Enviro500s from Glasgow.

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New in 2019, Lothian over the months have received an on-going batch of these unique Enviro400 XLBs based on the Volvo B8L.

These buses stand out to the current Lothian fleet with these being their first tri-axle double deckers. Like with some of the ex-London fleet, these buses have dual doors because of their size as these buses have 100 seats (making this the biggest bus I've ever taken on).

This is also Alexander Dennis' first tri-axle Enviro400 as on its debut date, it caused confusion with the enthusiasts (myself included) as everyone thought it was a new Enviro500 which we all thought were tri-axle Enviro400s, right?

Some more of these large buses are on order for the Airlink services to replace the slightly new Wright Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TL.

Sadly when months old, the Enviro400 XLBs were blasted for having lack of space for buggies despite their size and sure enough they do indeed have less space than on a typical new ( or newish) double decker as there are spaces on either side, but the Enviro400 XLBs don't have such.

But despite the very few flaws, the bus has three sky-lights upstairs, a glazed staircase and comfy seating with dual screens upstairs and downstairs.

It is said that Stagecoach have already placed an order for these buses for their Cambridge guided busway routes as these Lothian examples are the only ones of their type so far at the date of upload.

These are also the first Volvo B8Ls in the UK aswell, the Volvo B8L can be found in Far East Asia with Wright and MCV bodies although those buses are shorter than Lothian's buses which are longer than a standard 12m single decker which that is rare for a double decker.

Would love to see these great buses in Leeds at some point (as long as they have sufficient WC/buggy space that is...)

Just to let you know, unauthorised use of my photos and drawings is strictly prohibited. All my work is done using MS Paint, I don't copy and paste images off Google and use on my work unless stated otherwise.

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New in 2019, Lothian received their second fleet of Enviro400 XLB bodied Volvo B8L double deckers for the Airlink service replacing near-new Wright Gemini 3s.

These buses differ from the standard Lothian City branded vehicles with different seating, blacked out windows and offside luggage racks whilst wearing this rather stunning livery.

The Airlink service seems to have a regular upgrade of new buses as the recent fleet were Euro 6 engined Wright Gemini 3s which have now been transferred to other Lothian fleets.

The great thing about these buses is that on the screens, these buses display departure times just like actual departures screens at airports, as far as I know no other airport bus service has this feature.

Although still a rare breed, since the last upload from last year, the Enviro400 XLB has since seen success with Stagecoach Cambridge although as far as I know there's been no other orders for this type as of yet.

Unauthorised use is not allowed as your uploads with my work being used without permission will immediately be reported. My work is all done using MS Paint with no other software being used as I have never used such for my work since the beginning.

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I am to post bus drawings more often on Twitter throughout 2021, and the link to my Twitter account can be found right here where I also post about the odd random thing aswell > twitter.com/MetroRider30

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In November 2018, Xplore Dundee received their first batch of high-spec Enviro400 MMCs painted up in this very attractive livery and branded for the 22. Some other Enviro400 MMCs were branded for other services whilst still painted in this green livery which is so far unique to the relatively new ADL fleet.

Xplore Dundee is part of the National Express group as these buses are to a similar specification to the Platinum brand in the West Midlands, however the livery does remind me of the Leeds City livery as the fleet here are also painted in two tone green with some of the fleet carrying yellow front ends, but the livery was a lot more simpler than this one by far, had a lot of trouble with it getting the colour blending right.

These Enviro400 MMCs have been named mainly after famous people from Dundee, whereas 6692 is named after Frances Wright who was a lecturer, writer, freethinker, feminist, utopian socialist, abolitionist, social reformer, and Epicurean philosopher and born on rhe date of 6th of September 1795 but passed away 13th of December 1852.

The fleet continue to work the routes they were purchased for and still wearing the same branding and livery to this day.

Unauthorised use is not allowed as your uploads with my work being used without permission will immediately be reported. My work is all done using MS Paint with no other software being used as I have never used such for my work since the beginning.

For any general enquiries, like questions, requests etc, please send me an email as my email address is michaelwindle38@yahoo.co.uk.

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I also have a DeviantArt page right here www.deviantart.com/mspainted-by-michael if you are part of that group.

I am to post bus drawings more often on Twitter throughout 2021, and the link to my Twitter account can be found right here where I also post about the odd random thing aswell > twitter.com/MetroRider30

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