I have found that some but not all of my earlier 'Blogs' whilst having retained the text have lost some images. I do not know why so I have decided to repeat the 'Blogs' in a slightly revised form which hopefully will retain the the content in its entirety.
I recently had a short break staying at the Alexandra Hotel in Oban. The tour company was ‘Highland Heritage’ (HH) with whom I have no connection other than as a satisfied customer.
It perhaps seems odd that a blog titled Rails, Roads and Runways is starting an article with a ship.
However the raised bow identifies it as a vehicle ferry and I suspect that the buses shown in the article all arrived on it at one time or another. (As did I).
‘Caledonian Macbrayne’s ferry MV ‘Isle of Mull’ was built for the service which runs several times a day from Oban to Craignure (Mull).
Built in 1987 by Ferguson Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow on the River Clyde. The 4,719 ton vessel has room for up to 70 cars and 962 passengers.
Operating it requires a crew of 28.
'West Coast Motors' (WCM) is a company which started in 1923 in Campbeltown where they are still based. Operating across Argyll and Bute and as far away as Glasgow, the company has a fleet of approximately 200 vehicles.
Expansion has come naturally and by take overs. one of the most recent being of ‘Fairline Coaches’ of Glasgow in November 2013.
L200 WCM
Which was YJ05 PYO earlier in its career. A VDL SB4000 with Van Hool Alizee T9 bodywork.
Operated by ‘WCM' waiting at Craignure (Mull) ferry terminal.
FX03 GKV
A Mercedes-Benz (M-B) 1223L with Spanish built Ferqui bodywork.
Previously operated by ‘Bowman’s of Craignure’ on Mull who were taken over by ‘WCM’ in June 2013.
The M-B 1223L sometimes called the ‘Atego’ which I believe is a truck chassis. Also seen at the ferry terminal.
SP05 CXX
A VDL Bova shown to illustrate the queue formed for its services. It had already gone down considerably at this point.
This vehicle is another that came from ‘Bowman’s.
It must have seemed galling to the queueing masses because this empty double decker was sat 30 feet away. There was a festival taking place on the island over next 2 days and maybe ‘WCM’ had not appreciated how many passengers they were going to get on that particular crossing.
YT11 LSE
A Scania 230UD Omnidekka.
It’s funny how some buses seem to follow you around. As soon as I saw the registration, I knew I had seen it before. Pictured below it is seen in all white working for ‘Nottingham City Transport’ in September 2013.
It would appear to have been a ‘Scania’ demonstrator because before coming to Nottingham it worked for both ‘Newport Bus’ and ‘Brighton and Hove’ in the white livery.
The front of the bus is pure ‘WCM’. The back however is a superb illustration of the many coloured properties on the seafront in the town of Tobermory, the biggest on the island.
Branded as the ‘Tobermory Topper’.
YN55 RDV
A Scania N94UD with East Lancs part open top bodywork. Maybe it should be branded as the
‘Tobermory Open Topper’......!
It previously worked in and around Minehead for ‘Quantock Motor Services’ of Wiveliscombe in Somerset.
‘WCM’ have a small depot in Craignure just up the road from the ferry terminal and when I asked one of the drivers if I was OK to walk round and take a few pictures, he was most obliging.
SSU 727 (Previously YN54 DDA).
A ‘M-B’ 814D Vario with Plaxton Cheetah bodywork.
SP04 EUZ
A Bova Futura which again came with the ‘Bowmans’ business.
YX04 FYF
Another M-B 1223L/ Ferqui combination which once more came from ‘Bowmans’.
SH53 GHB
Mull can be "a wild and lonely place”. (A quote from Private Frazer in ‘Dad’s Army’ ) and support in case of a breakdown is essential.
Here it is....!
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