The first Lathalmond event we've actually had the bus running at!

This year the Metrorider got there ... after spewing half its oil over the front of the engine between Glasgow and Gretna, the doing the rest of the journey at 40 mph max. Sigh!

Arriva Scotland West held an Open Day at their Inchinnan Depot to mark the entry into service of their latest new buses. Peter took the Metrorider along.

This year, instead of running the free service to the Transport Museum, E186 BNS ran an excursion to Carmunnock via the Cathkin Braes.

Part of the Presidential Weekend (based in Edinburgh) was a trip to Blantyre Depot and then to the GVVT at Bridgeton. We took the Metrorider through to Blantyre to join the tour there.

After parking as shown, we were asked "Was it you that brought these two minibuses in?"

"Ehh, no. That other one is yours actually!"

I drove LA1204 over to Lathalmond for a change, but was able to find a driver looking for a bus to take the Metrorider through. I only took the one photo of it at the rally, so here it is.

E186 BNS turned out in lovely sunny weather for the Parade of wheels this year. About 15 minutes before the parade started, the heavens opened. It kept raining until about 10 minutes after the parade ended.

Talk about raining on our parade!

Having spent all day (till 8pm) on the Saturday before the Lathalmond Spring Running day, we just managed to get the bus reassembled and get through for the day. Here's the photos to prove it!

E186 BNS in disgrace... not going to Kirkby Stephen 2008 due to a blown compressor gasket. Seen here sitting in Bridgeton instead!

Having taken off a loose panel, some rather problematic bits of rust showed up behind it. Metroriders were notorious for problems with corrosion at the back end. Just lately, we've been having a bit of bother with ... um ... corrosion at the back end.

After reassembling the back end (3 months later...), the compressor has packed up. With a lot of dismantling, we got it out for repair, then moved onto various other bits of restoration while the bus was immobile.

On 10 Nov 07, Peter took the bus for a run to show it to his Uncle and brought it back in the muckiest state it's been since we bought it - typical Scottish weather!

This year I managed better than last year - at least I got one photo of my own!

The Lathalmond Rally this year was a right washout on Saturday. The Sunday was better apparently, but the rain never stopped for a minute on Saturday.

Thankfully we managed to get out with some of the Bridgeton Irregulars pushing! Whoever thought an automatic gearbox was a good idea should be made to drive across a field with one!

While we were in Edinburgh with the bus, we took Aunt Alice and Brian for a short excursion to Penicuik and back. Brian kindly took these photos.

A photo of E186 BNS at Parade of Wheels 2007 while I was away in France missing it.

Stagecoach Western held an Open Day at Kilmarnock Depot to celebrate 75 years of Western SMT. E186 BNS was one of many vintage buses in attendance.

E186 BNS at Lathalmond, and on return to Bridgeton

I took the Metrorider out to do some quick route learning for Edinburgh-based Bod, who's driving one of the buses on the Transport Museum-Tall ship link this Saturday (5 May).

The next selection were taken at my first experience of the Kirkby Stephen Rally, in April 2007. The GVVT sent 4 buses (SCS 335M, NMS 358 , FVA 854 , E186 BNS) plus DSG 169 from Lathalmond.

Umpteen jobs of the "minor niggle" type have been attended to recently, including a blown exhaust which counts as a "slightly bigger niggle". These photos show some of the work in progress.

Being too busy driving the Metrorider on the Open Day, I managed to forget to take any photos of it. Consequently all the photos here are taken by other people and appear here with their permission. Thanks everyone!

I passed my PCV on the 7th September, and on the next trip to Bridgeton I was able to take GM47 out on a trip. These two photos show us getting ready to go.

Peter got a couple of photos of the bus on Sunday to make up for my lack of photography on Saturday. Here they are!

I only got the one photo on Saturday. Fortunately Peter got a few more on Sunday. They appear in the Sunday collection (obviously).

I missed the Biggar rally, but Peter took the bus down, and here's his photos.

We went out for another trip on a lovely sunny day. Here's the photos

The Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust was well represented at the Glasgow Parade of Wheels in 2006. These photos show GM47 before it left Bridgeton.

On Saturday 17th June 2006, the Bo'ness Steam railway was having a running weekend, and wanted vintage buses to come along. Bridgeton sent 4 buses, one of which was E186 BNS, as seen here.

GM47 went to the Lathalmond Spring Running Day, showing off its new Strathtay paint to best effect. These photos show it before it left and once it got there.

On the way back from Lathalmond, our unlucky front bumper came off second best in a slight argument with a rock.

We took the bus out for a run to celebrate Peter's passing of his PCV test. These are the photos from then.

A photo collection showing the from the start of the sanding work on the offside right through to the application of the final coat of orange waiting to dry.

Also some of the first of a set of replica trim caps being tried out, and looking good.

On Sunday 12 March 06, the museum was shut as a result of excessive snow making it inaccessible. There was enough snow left at Bridgeton on Monday 13th for these pretty pictures to be taken.

This is the bus as seen by folk on the Omnibus Society Glasgow Tour in March, which visited Bridgeton.

These photos show the most important bit - the engine, with some of the bits arrowed to show you which is which.

About a week after retrieving the bus from Arbroath, we spent a day cleaning it inside and out. Catriona came to see the bus and took plenty photos of the work in progress.

Having bought the bus, we had to get it to Glasgow. These photos show it at Arbroath, Auchterarder, and finally Bridgeton.

This batch of photos were taken on 17/11/05, on our trip to Arbroath Depot to assess 215 (E186 BNS) as a preservation prospect.

A couple of photos of E186 BNS in service as Strathtay 215.

The only photo of YT 352 I've got so far. E186 BNS in Barnsley, 6/6/00.

These photos show E186 BNS in Kelvin Central days as MM34 and MM89, and, following its withdrawal and sale, at Arbroath bus depot around July 1999, when the bus had been acquired "for spares" by Strathtay.

Assorted Strathclyde's Buses, GCT and KCB Metroriders in service.

I've credited the photographer where known. If any of the photos are yours and you don't want me to use them, please let me know. If it's OK for me to use them, get in touch and I'll credit you properly.

Cheers,
Kenneth.

These pictures show E186 BNS at the Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988 when it was new.