AEC Reliance

Macbraynes operated throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and were a quite unique company, operating ships and lorries as well as buses. Their buses sported the iconic red, cream and apple green livery. Adornments included a Highlander brandishing his claymore, on either side, and ‘Royal Route’ garters above the front wheel arches. Across the boot door was emblazoned ‘MacBraynes for the Highlands’.

198 CUS is an AEC Reliance with a Duple Donington Mk 2 body. This type of coach was the main heavy duty vehicle from 1960 onwards, replacing the Maudsley Marathons of 1940s vintage (See GUS926 also in the GVVT Collection). They were used on trunk routes such as Glasgow-Campbeltown, Glasgow-Tyndrum-Fort William, Glasgow-Inverness, and Fort William-Inverness although they could turn up on virtually any mainland route.

198 CUS , fleet number 63, was used on tours during its first year. Thereafter it spent much of its time on the Glasgow Campbeltown route , and operated extended tours from Glasgow in the summer There is also evidence that it was allocated to Ardrishaig garage later in its life and worked the Oban – Ardrishaig route, one of the first motor coach routes to be operated by MacBraynes in 1913.

In 1969 It was decided to split MacBraynes shipping, road haulage and bus divisions into separate undertakings. The company ships amalgamated with those of CSPco to form Caledonian – MacBrayne. The company’s bus and coach services were transferred to the Scottish Bus Group in stages during 1970–72, in reality most going to Highland Omnibuses. MacBraynes No.63 became Highland Omnibuses B64. It eventually passed into preservation in 1985.