In September 1987 Western Scottish took delivery of it’s last batch of ‘brand new’ Double Deckers. These were to be six Alexander RV bodied Volvo B10MD’s and were to be registered E862-7RCS. As it turned out E862-3RCS were diverted to Fife Scottish as their FRA909-10 (E909-10KSG) and never saw use with Western. The remaining four vehicles were originally numbered V864-7 (E864-7RCS) and had CH45/35F seating. The whole batch were received from Alexander’s in Western’s Black, Red, White & Grey bus livery but subsequently V864 was re-numbered to V164, re-seated to CH42/28F (reclining seats) and re-painted into Scottish Citylink livery for use on their 501 service. V865-7 however remained in Western livery and were allocated to the 04 – Ayr – Kilmarnock – Glasgow service.
The batch would receive numerous fleet-numbers and liveries during their time with Western and even managed to adorn Stagecoach stripes after the latter company purchased Western in July 1994. Changes recorded (up until the Stagecoach sale) were:
V164 (E864RCS)
09/87 – Repainted into Scottish Citylink livery
09/87 – Re-seated to CH42/28F with reclining seats
11/87 – Allocated to Kilmarnock depot
08/89 – Re-allocated to Thornliebank depot
11/89 – Re-allocated to Paisley depot
07/90 – Re-numbered V994
10/90 – Re-allocated to Largs sub-depot
10/90 – Re-painted into Western Black, White, Red & Grey coach livery
10/90 – Re-seated to CH41/25F
11/90 – Re-allocated to Ayr depot
04/91 – Front “Via” blind removed and aperture overpainted.
11/91 – Re-numbered V894
12/93 – Re-painted into Western Black, White, Red & Grey coach livery
12/93 – Re-seated to CH41/29F
V865 (E865RCS)
11/87 – Allocated to Ayr depot
02/89 – Received “Thompson Directories” all-over advert
05/90 – Re-painted into Western Black, White, Red & Grey coach livery
07/90 – Re-numbered V995
11/90 – Re-allocated to Largs (Ardrossan sub-depot)
01/91 – Re-allocated to Ayr depot
11/91 – Re-numbered to V895
V866 (E866RCS)
11/87 – Allocated to Ayr depot
01/89 – Re-allocated to Kilmarnock depot
07/90 – Re-numbered V996
08/90 – Re-painted into Western Black, White, Red & Grey coach livery
11/91 – Re-numbered V896
02/94 – Re-seated to CH43/33F
V867 (E867RCS)
11/87 – Allocated to Ayr depot
06/88 – Re-seated to CH41/29F
06/88 – Re-numbered V167
06/88 – Repainted into Scottish Citylink livery
08/89 – Re-allocated to Thornliebank depot
11/89 – Re-allocated to Paisley Depot
02/90 – Re-allocated to Ayr depot
07/90 – Re-numbered V997
08/90 – Re-painted into Western Black, White, Red & Grey coach livery
05/91 – Front “Via” blind removed and aperture overpainted.
11/91 – Re-numbered V897
08/93 – Re-painted into Western Black, White, Red & Grey coach livery
08/93 – Re-seated to CH43/33F
Pictured above is freshly repainted V167 (E867RCS) in Western’s last Black, White, Red and two-tone grey Coach livery complete with traditional Western garters. Our thanks to former Western Engineering Director, David Toy, for allowing us to use his picture.
Would loved to have seen this in the traditional red and cream livery.