An example of a Scottish country bus to 1950s design. The Alexander ‘dual-purpose’ 41 seat body is designed to be suitable for both service bus work and coach duties such as tours.
The Alexander companies ran almost 300 Tiger Cubs, new between 1954 and 1964; the last ran in 1979. They ran all over their area which covered much of the East coast north of the River Forth as far as Inverness; also Perthshire, Stirlingshire and northern Glasgow.
This bus is a 1960 Leyland Tiger Cub, with a Leyland O.350 diesel engine of 5.7 litres capacity developing 105 bhp, with an Albion 5 speed “constant mesh” gearbox (colloquially known as a “crash” box) requiring double-declutching by the driver. It was originally registered OMS 253.
PD177 was delivered new to Kelty depot in 1960, and operated on rural routes in Fife until 1975. Subsequently it was used by a farmer to transport raspberry pickers in the Dundee area. It was purchased by the present owners in 1990 in a very run-down condition from a dealer at Carnoustie, and has been thoroughly restored over the years since. It is now presented in original livery.
As it was when rescued for preservation.
Photographs
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- Registration
- WSK 509 (Originally OMS 253)
- Chassis type
- Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/2
- Chassis number
- 604197
- Body type and seating
- Alexander C41F
- Body number
- 6093
- Date new
- September 1960
- Original operator
- Walter Alexander & Sons (PD177)