The first 36-foot BET body was effectively a lengthened version of the previous shorter style, with the same short window bays and a well-rounded rear dome. 327 NMP was a 54-seat Park Royal-bodied AEC Reliance, which began life in 1962 as a demonstrator at a time when longer single-deckers had only recently been authorised. Hutchison of Overtown bought it in 1963 and sold it to Coastal Coaches of Northern Ireland in 1967. I have no photographic reference of its time with Hutchison so the livery is simply a best-guess (12-Jan-25).
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Tags: Hutchison's Coaches AEC Reliance Park Royal 327 NMP
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Garelochhead Coach Services ran an interesting and varied fleet of buses and coaches on local services between Helensburgh, Garelochhead, Kilcreggan and Coulport; and on contract work for the Royal Naval bases on the Gareloch and Loch Long. It acquired four former Trent Willowbrook-bodied Leyland Tiger Cubs in the latter part of 1968. NVR 158 (fleet number 75) was the last to be withdrawn at the end of 1975 (12-Jan-24).
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Tags: Leyland Tiger Cub Willowbrook NRC 158 Garelochhead Coach Services
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Very few ex-London Transport AEC Swifts/ Merlins saw further service in Scotland. A1 Service had a Swift and AA Motor Services had at least one example of the longer Merlin (both were actually Swifts but London Transport designated the longer version as Merlins). AA member Dodds of Troon also prepared Merlin AML 645H for use by Garelochhead Coach Services (fleet number 137) in May 1977, finishing it in a darker green than that normally used by the latter. After withdrawal in December 1980, it passed to Trevor Wigley of Carlton (dealer) for scrap. Thanks to David Devoy’s Scottish Bus Archives Flickr site for background information (11-Jan-24).
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Tags: AML 645H Gsrelochhead Coach Services AEC Swift MCW Metro Cammell Weymann
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The rear-engined AEC Swift was offered in two lengths. London Transport bought both and designated the longer, 36ft version as Merlins. The Merlins proved to be too long for London conditions and both versions suffered from a maintenance system designed for a different type of bus, leading to premature withdrawals. Many found overseas buyers, with the shorter Swift proving to be particularly popular in Malta, but home market sales were extremely limited. In Scotland, A1 Service acquired a solitary Swift; and AA Motor Services and Garlochhead Coach Services both took at least one Merlin each. Graham’s Bus Services of Paisley had experience of rear-engined single-deckers, with at least one Daimler Fleetline, so may have been another potential customer - but it wasn’t to be (11-Jan-24).
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Tags: Graham's Bus Service AEC Merlin MCW Metro Cammell Weymann
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After many years of double-decker only operation, A1 Service relaxed its rules in 1977 to enable T&E Docherty to acquire former London Transport AML 88H, a 42-seat dual-door AEC Swift, for use on the Broomlands community route that the company had developed on behalf of the association. When this route subsequently became part of the general cycle of A1 duties, the Swift was used across the A1 network. As far as I can determine, it remained in dual-door form throughout its stay with A1, which proved to be twice as long as the six or seven years that it had been with its original owner (10-Jan-24).
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Tags: A1 Service AEC Swift Park Royal AML 88H
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