Usual shot of the service pool lineup outside the control room. From left: 1940 All-Leyland Titan TD7, W. Alexander & Sons R266 (WG9180); 1948 Guy Arab III / Metro-Cammell, Edinburgh Corporation 739 (ESG652); 1950 AEC Regent III / Park Royal, St. Helens Corporation D67 (BDJ67); 1979 Seddon Pennine VII / Alexander AT, Western SMT S2936 (DSD 936V); 1943 Guy Arab II / Duple 'Utility,' Plymouth Corporation 249 (CDR 679 - presented as AA Motors DT No. 15); 1980 Guy Victory II / Alexander, China Motor Bus LV36 (ESF 647W, originally CH9399); 1960 Daimler CVG6 / NCME, A1 Motor Services (RAG578); and 1961 Leyland Titan PD3A / Alexander, Western SMT D1684 (RCS382).

Strathtay Scottish Leyland Olympian / Alexander RL, SO19 (D819 EES), complete with Irish style headlights, waits to take up a service to Dunfermline.

Very much back in action this season is Glasgow Corporation 1928 Leyland Titan TD1, 111 (GE2446). This is believed to be the oldest Scottish double decker in preservation, and is also the only Scottish example of the type to have survived. 111 was doing the honours on the Internal Shuttle service here.

In stark contrast to Glasgow 111, Strathtay Scottish Alexander-Dennis Enviro300, 27549 (SP58 BZC) was also to be found on Internal Shuttles at one point. To my knowledge, this is the first time a modern vehicle has been used in this way, and I think it's a nice idea to provide a different experience for the visiting public.

Three representatives from the E&M Horsburgh fleet this year, in the shape of Leyland Olympian / Alexander, E321 MSG, Scania / Irizar, C18 EMH and Mercedes Vario / Plaxton Beaver, EH03 EMH.

E321 MSG is one of a decent number of Leyland Olympians acquired over the last few years from Lothian Buses for schools duties, and is the first I've seen sporting this striking new livery. Numbered 321 in the Lothian fleet, it was in use as a driver training vehicle until sold.

Munro's of Jedburgh sent this Wadham Stringer bodied, ex-MoD Dennis Javelin.

Volvo B7R / Plaxton Profile SV09 EHC is typical of new deliveries arising from Stagecoach's investment in its recently acquired Highland Coaches business.

Hispano bodied Volvo B7L BX03 OVZ is an ex- demonstrator now operated by the Arriva-owned McGill's company. Hispano bodywork is extremely rare in the UK.

One of three representatives of the First Scotland East fleet (comprising the remnants of the Eastern, Lowland and Midland Scottish companies, in old money), 37273 (SN57 JBX) is part of the first batch of Volvo B9TL / Wright Geminis for that fleet, and wears standard 'Barbie' livery.

Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse Urban 69410 (SN09 FBF) is one of the latest additions to the First Scotland East fleet.

Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini 37142 (SN57 HDC) has recently been given this allover livery in connection with the 'Homecoming Scotland' promotion.

Lothian Buses 170 (SN58 BYX) is one of four Eclipse 2 bodied Volvo B7RLEs currently in the fleet, and the only one of the type to wear Service 49 'Leader of the Pack' branding.

Whitelaws of Stonehouse are currently taking delivery of MAN NL273Fs with Wright Meridian bodywork, such as SN09 LVZ here.

Northumbria 251 (G251 SRG) is a Daf SB220 / Optare Delta, and is a welcome addition to the ranks of preserved buses.

Old meets New: 1966 Edinburgh Atlantean / Alexander 812 (EWS 812D) meets its modern counterpart, in the shape of Volvo B9TL / Wright Gemini 2 324 (SN09 CVE), complete with the Rainbow Lorikeets variant of the Zoom to the Zoo branding.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the appearance of Lothian Buses 285 (P285 PSX), a Volvo Olympian / Alexander Royale which has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment and come out the other side looking absolutely fantastic. As most enthusiasts will know, 2009 will mark the end of step-entrance bus operation in Edinburgh, and retiring with them is the traditional Madder and White livery worn by 812 and 285 here. 285, as the very last vehicle to be delivered in this colour scheme, has earned its place in history, and according to the notice displayed in the side window, it is to 'Remain Active' within the Lothian fleet. Interpret that as you will, but given the sterling efforts put into it in the few short weeks since I last drove it in service, its future seems secure.

Since we find ourselves discussing Edinburgh's buses, it seems a fitting place to set off on our fantasy tour. As you will see, as well as touring the country, we'll also be travelling in time to an extent! Kicking things off in style, we find ourselves aboard Edinburgh Corporation Transport 739, a 1948 Guy Arab / Metro-Cammell. Apparently on a 16 to Ardmillan, it seems more likely that 739 would be found on something like the 1 Circle, taking in Easter Road, Abbeyhill and the Old Town, and negotiating many low railway bridges along the way.

A fantasy tour, and here we have a fantasy bus. If Edinburgh had followed the example of the city at the other end of the A1 in the 1950s, the trams may well have been replaced by AEC Routemasters, such as RM910 here. The livery is as close an approximation to tramway colours as has appeared on a bus.

While in Edinburgh, be sure to catch an open-top tour on Waverley Bridge - an attraction as popular today as it was in the late 1960s when Atlantean 900 entertained the tourists.

Having completed your tour of the city centre, hop on a service bus and visit some of the outlying areas. 801 is the very first Leyland Atlantean in the fleet, and paves the way for over 30 years of this being the dominant vehicle in the fleet, replacing older Leylands, Guys and Daimlers.

Underfloor engines are now becoming the order of the day on the single deck fleet, as exemplified by this Leyland Tiger Cub / Weymann, new in 1960.

We now wait in St. Andrew Square Bus Station to head off on the next leg of our tour. W. Alexander & Sons (Fife) Leyland Leopard FPE88 pulls up and we leave the madder & white of Edinburgh behind for the bright red and cream dominating the Kingdom of Fife. Arriving in Dunfermline, we switch to a local service to Lochgelly on board that depot's FRD187, a 1964 Bristol Lodekka FS6G, representing the final few years of new half-cab buses in the area.

On the way, we hope not to need the services of the wrecker, constructed from the former FPE59, a Y-Type bodied Leopard.

Next, we find ourselves aboard PD177, a 1960 Leyland Tiger Cub / Alexander. It seems to be headed for some sort of naval stores depot. Can't think why anyone would want to go there...

...so we'll get off in Wellwood and visit the premises of Rennies of Dunfermline (not to mention time-warping by 40-odd years!) Now acquired by Stagecoach, and run at arms length from the main Fife company, vehicles from the main fleet such as Leyland Olympian / Alexander, 14722, are appearing in the Rennie's blue and white livery.

Time to leave Fife and head north on board FPE194, one of the last Leyland Leopards, and also carrying one of the last original style Alexander T-Type bodies.

Dundee is the destination, and our first journey in that fair city is aboard Tayside Public Transport 273, a 1979 Ailsa Volvo / Alexander, resplendent in that undertaking's 2-tone blue and white livery.

Spectres of the Scottish Bus Group remain here, too, in the form of Strathtay, which came into existence (as Strathtay Scottish) in the mid 1980s. Leyland Tiger / Alexander TE 438, however, started life further north, in the Highland fleet.

Surely no Tiger broadcast this much information to the travelling public of the day... A real enthusiast's bus, this!

Much of the Strathtay fleet was comprised of batches of vehicles annexed from neighbouring SBG fleets; Leyland Leopard / Alexander A, CRS 66T began its career as W. Alexander & Sons (Northern) NPE66.

The time has come to leave Dundee and head north again, and we do so in style aboard ST18, a Citylink liveried Leyland Tiger with the high-spec Alexander TC coach body.

Arriving in Aberdeen, we transfer to NLO16, an ECW bodied Leyland Olympian.

NLO16 has recently received 'Best Bus Around' vinyls, providing a 'deregulation snapshot' of the Northern Scottish fleet.

While in Aberdeen, we conveniently encounter a wormhole and emerge in 1952, just in nice time to take a hurl in PC1, a brand new Leyland Royal Tiger with Alexander 'Coronation' coach body. We are truly spoilt with the opulence of the interior.

Returning to the twilight years of the Scottish Bus Group, we board Leopard NPE102 to head to the most northerly point on our journey.

In the Scottish Highlands, we have one objective...

...and that is to treat ourselves to a journey on board NCME bodied Albion Lowlander AL41, formerly with Western SMT. Western took Lowlanders with both NCME and Alexander bodies; the former is by far the neater design.

This photograph represents the official repatriation of AL41 to Scotland, following 27 years in preservation in the south of England. Here, the former and new owners exchange documents - and, no doubt, reminiscences - following an epic three day journey from its old to its new home.

AL41 provides an excellent counterpart in preservation to Western liveried N1795 (UCS659), retained as part of the Stagecoach heritage fleet.

On with the tour, then, and we find ourselves returning south via Perth, where a fledgeling Stagecoach is operating Routemasters in competition with the Scottish Bus Group (though not in Alexander azure blue as depicted here; this is very much a modern addition!)

Passing through Auchterarder, we pay a visit to the depot of Docherty's (Midland) who operate this Leyland Tiger on wedding hires.

Continuing south, we arrive in the industrial heartland of 1950s Lanarkshire, and are rewarded with a spin on Central SMT Guy Arab K24.

Back in the 1980s, we change to Ailsa Volvo AH23 for the journey into Gkasgow city centre.

At Buchanan Bus Station we find ourselves lost in a sea of colour, including the bright livery of Kelvin Scottish. (Ok, tehnically this is cheating, because this is an ex LRT national in the pseudo-Kelvin livery of WJC Coaches, but you get the idea ;o)

By far the largest step back in time on our tour takes us onto Glasgow Corporation Transport 111, where we climb the open staircase and take a pew on the upper deck and survey the city in all its shipbuilding glory.

Leaving Glasgow, we are conveyed into Ayrshire by 1961 Western SMT Leyland Titan D1684. At this time, Western operates a number of excursions south of the border...

...including one to Blackpool, where, between ice-creams and donkey rides, the opportunity to sample Leyland Titan / MCW, 501 along the prom is too tempting to ignore!