As a result of ongoing works at Lothian’s Central depot, the bus company took the decision to throw open the doors of its Marine garage instead where visitors got the chance to look behind-the-scenes at operations in this busy location.
As well as getting see pieces of Edinburgh’s transport history up close and personal, visitors were also treated to a host of events and activities.
Scottish Vintage Bus Museum provided the old buses on display, while Lothian’s brand-new double deck electric buses were also on show, bringing visitors right up to date with the story of Edinburgh’s buses.
5. 1982 Leyland Atlantean Walter Alexander Body
The Leyland Atlantean bus served Edinburgh from 1965 to 1999. To mark the retirement of this iconic bus, Lothian Buses held a special event on January 3, 2000, when the six remaining buses were brought out of storage for one last running day, on service 4. With this vehicle selected to run the final journey that day. It was then used as a school bus in Wales and then a party bus in Glasgow, before being bought by its current owner and restored to it former glory. | National World Photo: Neil Johnstone
6. 1960 Leyland Tiger Cub
Owing to a number of low bridges, Edinburgh Corporation bought 100 of these Tiger Cubs between 1959 and 1961, to replace the older buses on the busy 1 Circle route. Most of the first batch were sold to Ulsterbus in 1966, since bridge clearances had been improved. As part of the second batch however, this vehicle continued on other services in Edinburgh until withdrawal in 1978. | National World Photo: Neil Johnstone
7. Crowds
Visitors to the doors open day at Lothian's depot at Seafield were treated to bus display from Lothian, East Coast Buses, Lothian Country, Eve Coaches, Lothian Motorcoaches, Edinburgh Bus Tours, and Lothian support vehicle. | National World Photo: Neil Johnstone
8. 1957 Leyland PD2
This vehicle was one of the last batches of 300 similar buses, bought between 1954 and 1957 as part of the tram replacement fleet. It entered service in January 1957 from Central Garage, but was soon transferred to Leith Garage, returning in 1970. In 1974 it entered the LRT training fleet and continued in this role until its sale in 1986. | National World Photo: Neil Johnstone