For the third release of the 1:76 scale model, we move eastwards to bring you the yellow and black coach as run by Eastern Scottish.
The original company was the Scottish Motor Traction Company Limited, formed in June 1905. This became “S.M.T.” in June 1939, later becoming
Scottish Omnibuses Ltd in April 1949 as a subsidiary of the British Transport Commission. It became Eastern Scottish Omnibuses Ltd in June 1985, although Scottish Omnibuses Ltd had traded as Eastern Scottish in the 1960s.
The bus and coach company was based in New Street in Edinburgh and operated an area throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians. On the coach side of the business, it operated tours and private hire as well as a coach service to other major towns and cities in Scotland and England, including London.
Here we see our coach heading back to Edinburgh from London as Coach No. 5, registered HSG 564N from 1974. The Eastern Scottish name features on the front of the coach and is also printed on to the black and silver waistline behind the driver and the passenger doors. The address of the Scottish Omnibus Company, New Street, Edinburgh is printed on the near side behind the front wheel. The light and airy feel of the coach comes from the large number of windows and there are also three skylights along the centre of the roof. A rear offside window is painted in white – from the inside – offering privacy to passengers using the onboard facilities.
Inside the coach, the floor and seating are both bright red, while the driver’s seat is pale green. Luggage racks, interior panelling and the panelling surround the driver are all finished in beige.
The model is yet another bright addition to the Scottish Motor Group series.
A 1:76 (OO) scale model of the Alexander M Type in the Eastern livery. The vehicle comes on a plinth, with a clear display lid and Oxford Diecast packaging wrap.