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Dundee Corporation - the double deckers from 1946 (by Dick Gilbert)

Last updated 23 August 2024

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This page is a profile of the Dundee Corporation double deck buses from 1946 up to the end of the halfcab era. In fact some other second-hand halfcab double deckers were acquired in the mid 1970s from Glasgow, Aberdeen (Grampian) and Edinburgh, but those are not shown here. Most of the pictures on this page were kindly supplied by George Bett, the majority having been taken by him, although he obtained some from other sources, including Dundee Corporation official pictures. However a few of the pictures below were sent to me in 2017 by John Hendy, from a collection he took in 1973.

If you spot any mistakes, please let me know and I'll try and put them right. A special tribute must be paid to Iain Drummond who kindly supplied much background material to help me get the facts straight, but who sadly passed away in Australia in September 2004.

A long way from home, these are ex London Transport STL-class AEC Regents. Ten were bought by Dundee in 1956 for replacement of tram services that were being closed down at the time. In this view at Dundee's Market Street storage area we see (from left to right) STL 2684 (HGC 217), STL 2687 (HGC 220) and STL 2685 (HGC 218) newly arrived from London in 1956, and all wearing LT Country Area green. DCT would shortly transform their appearance with a new livery, and a typical Dundee destination aperture arrangement, that would go a long way to disguise their origin. See below for a picture of the resultant changes.

Dundee Corporation Transport Department (DCT) traced its origins to a horse tramcar service in 1877, with steam trams following in 1887, and electrification shortly afterwards. After an experimental period of trolleybus operation from 1912 to 1914, motorbuses appeared in 1921 with four Thornycroft single deckers. Double deckers first appeared in 1931, and from 1935 the Corporation standardised on vehicles of AEC and Daimler manufacture only. This included the acquisition in 1955-56 of forty ex London Transport STLs and RTs, which were to replace the last trams in 1956. In 1961 Dundee became the first municipality to order significant deliveries of 36-foot single deckers (AEC Reliances). Dundee Corporation Transport was absorbed into the control of the new Scottish regions in 1975, and became Tayside Regional Transport, changing their livery from the familiar green to a striking blue and white.

Renumbering of vehicles took place on several occasions, and this has frequently led me into confusion! So the batches listed below are in date order of delivery, rather than in fleet number sequence.

My thanks again to George Bett and John Hendy for letting me use their pictures.

DAIMLER CWD6   -  81-83 (Total 3)   -  later renumbered 112-114

Daimler No.83 (YJ 8107), rebodied and renumbered as 114, and seen in Dock Street, Dundee some time after 1961.

In service: May 1946

Chassis: Daimler CWD6/DD

Body: Duple H30/26R, rebodied around 1958/59.

Notes: All withdrawn in late 1966.

DAIMLER CVD6   -   35-54 (Total 20)  -   Some renumbered variously in 1966

No. 40 (YJ 9044) in 1973 after conversion to a tree-lopper and training bus T1. Photo by kind permission of John Hendy.

Daimler No. 49 (YJ 9053) at Shore Terrace. Photo by kind permission of the Dundee Buses Past & Present Flickr collection.

No. 50 (YJ 9054) at Dock Street bus park in the 1950s.

In service: Feb-Aug 1947

Chassis: Daimler CVD6, with 8.4 litre Daimler engine.

Body: Northern Coachbuilders H30/26R.

AEC REGENT III   -   55-64 (Total 10)   -   some renumbered 108-114

No. 58 (YJ 9131) renumbered as 108, enters Dock Street, Dundee on driver-trainer duties in the 1960s.

Wearing its original number 60, AEC Regent YJ 9133 is seen at Dock Street bus park on 1 July 1956 alongside some more modern compatriots.

In service: Sept-Nov 1948

Chassis: AEC Regent III O961, with AEC A204 engine.

Body: Metro-Cammell H30/26R.

Notes: Some renumbered 108-114 in 1967. All withdrawn between 1966 and 1968.

DAIMLER CVD6   -   115-124 (Total 10)

No. 121 (ATS 901) seen in Dock Street around 1957 with its original body......

.....and the same bus in Dock Street after receiving its new Alexander body. (Both photos: George Bett)

No.116 (ATS 906) at Maryfield garage, probably in the early 1970s. (Photo: unknown). Maryfield depot has now been purchased by the Dundee Museum of Transport

In service: June-Nov 1949

Chassis: Daimler CVD6, with 8.4 litre Daimler engine.

Body: Barnard H30/26R, rebuilt by Alexander as H33/28R in 1959 and 1960.

AEC REGENT III  -   138-146 (Total 9) - four later renumbered 150-153

AEC Regent No. 144 (AYJ 374) in the early post-war livery. Photo by kind permission of the Dundee Buses Past & Present Flickr collection.

AEC Regent No. 145 (AYJ 375) in Perth Road, Dundee in the 1950s.

David Craig says "The view of this bus would have been taken in the late 1960s. The bus is bound for Happyhillock on route 39. The 39 was diverted from Craigie to Happyhillock on 26.2.1967. The bus is in post 1961 livery and is passing the Perth Road frontage of the Art College which was completed in 1964."

Built: 1949-50

Chassis: AEC Regent III 9612E, with AEC type A208 engine.

Body: Barnard H30/26R.

AEC REGENT III   -   147-149 (Total 3)

No. 147 (BTS 117) seen in Perth Road, Dundee in the late 1950s.

David Craig writes "This view was not taken in the 1950s as the bus is in post 1961 livery. The box which is visible above the near side side light used to display the vehicles depot running number was not introduced until the mid 1960s. Prior to that a plate was used."

No. 148 (BTS 118) in Princes Street in the 1960s. Photo by kind permission of the Dundee Buses Past & Present Flickr collection.

In service: Sept 1950

Chassis: AEC Regent III 9612E, with AEC type A208 engine.

Body: Brockhouse H30/26R (built on Park Royal frames).

DAIMLER CVD6   -   125-134 (Total 10)

No. 126 (AYJ 378) in 1973 after becoming training bus T2. Photo by kind permission of John Hendy.

No. 127 (AYJ 379) photographed by John Hendy in 1973 immediately after withdrawal from service and still in its final livery. The bus was put aside for preservation and still survives today.

Here is the same bus photographed by George Bett in the late 1970s at a Dock Street depot Open Day, by this time restored to early post-war livery.

No. 131 (BTS 471) at Maryfield depot in the 1960s. Maryfield has now been purchased by the Dundee Museum of Transport. Photo by kind permission of the Dundee Buses Past & Present Flickr collection.

Built: 1950-51 (No.125 entered service in Dec 1950, the remainder in Jan-Mar 1951).

Chassis: Daimler CVD6DD, with 8.4 litre Daimler engine.

Body: Croft H30/26R

DAIMLER CVD6   -   70-79 (Total 10)

No.70 (CTS 629) in 1973. Photo by kind permission of John Hendy.

No. 72 (CTS 631) seen in Dens Road, Dundee in the late 1950s.

No. 78 (CTS 637) photographed by John Hendy at Dock Street depot in 1973. It was withdrawn from service soon after the picture was taken, then relicenced in 1974 and finally withdrawn again for scrapping in 1975.

In service: March-April 1953

Chassis: Daimler CVD6, with 8.4 litre Daimler engine.

Body: Weymann H30/26R. Dundee's first 8 ft wide double deckers.

Notes: Four survived to 1975, becoming the last exposed-radiator Daimlers still working in a Scottish fleet.

AEC REGENT III   -   135-141 (Total 7)

AEC Regent No. 141 (CYJ 256) parked off duty at Shore Terrace, in Dock Street, probably in the early 1970s. (Photo: unknown)

AEC Regent No. 137 (CYJ 252) in Dock Street, Dundee in the late 1950s. (Photo: George Bett)

In service: July-Sept 1953

Chassis: AEC Regent III 9613E, 8 feet wide, with AEC type A218 engine.

Body: Alexander H32/26R.

** Jim Wilson kindly sent me the following information regarding the fate of No.141 and Edgar of Pitkerro. "AEC Regent fleet No. 141 (CYJ 256) is listed as sold to Edgar of Pitkerro. This is in fact the address of the owner of Edgar Plant Hire, who had premises in the old Maryfield goods yard until recently. He used to buy buses to hire out to farmers during the berry/potato picking season. I can remember seeing this bus parked at Pitkerro as he had a small yard at the side of his house. I cannot give any further information as to its subsequent disposal but I'm sure he had it until the late 70s. Incidentally he used this alongside an ex Alexanders Leyland Tiger PS. I cannot recall which one, but I think it was one of the CMS-registered batch. This bus had been converted to an O.600 engine and was sold to preservationists, possibly from Fife, in the early 80s. I remember seeing it being towed away behind a cut-down Bristol Lodekka tow bus which I think had been borrowed from Stagecoach". Thanks Jim.

DAIMLER CVG6   -   160-169 (Total 10) - Later renumbered 170-179

The last of the batch, No. 169 (DYJ 440) enters Albert Square, Dundee in 1956.

The bus on the left of this fine line-up photographed in Dock Street depot by John Hendy in 1973 is No.171 (DYJ 432) which was to become a driver trainer the following year.

In service: Jan 1955

Chassis: Daimler CVG6/DD, with Gardner 6LW engine.

Body: Metro-Cammell H32/28R, Dundee's first batch of tin front Daimlers. All were reseated to H33/28R by Jan 1969.

Notes: All were transferred to Tayside Regional Council in May 1975.

DAIMLER CVG6   -   180-204 (Total 25)

No. 190 (ETS 970) parked off duty at Shore Terrace, Dock Street, probably in the early 1970s. (Photo: unknown)

No. 183 (ETS 963) at Coldside, Dundee in the late 1950s. (Photo: George Bett)

Built: 1955

Chassis: Daimler CVG6DD, with Gardner 6LW engine.

Body: Metro-Cammell H36/28R, except 202 which was H37/28R when new. By the late 1960s all the others had also been changed to H37/28R.

AEC REGENT STL   -   170-179 (Total 10)

No. 176 (HGC 226), previously London Transport STL 2693, on 7 April 1963 at Maryfield Garage (originally a tram depot). It is not immediately recogniseable as an ex London bus, now wearing a DCT livery and sporting a Dundee destination window arrangement. Compare with the photo at the top of this page. Maryfield depot has now been purchased by the Dundee Museum of Transport

Built: 1945-46, acquired by DCT in 1955

Chassis: AEC Regent II STL (18 STL 20) O661 chassis, with AEC A173 7.7 litre engine.

Body: Weymann H30/26R.

Notes: Acquired in 1955 from London Transport (via Birds Commercial Motors, Stratford) for Dundee tram replacement. All had originally been in London country area green livery, working from Luton and Watford depots, and were the first AEC buses to be produced after the war. This delivery represented 50% of the last batch of STLs to be built, STL 2682-2701 (HGC 215-234), and they were also the last STLs in passenger service with London Transport. All were withdrawn from Dundee service in 1964.

AEC REGENT RT   -   211-240 (Total 30)

RT1433, 1423 and 1421 newly arrived in Dundee from London, in the Dock Street parking area 1956.

No. 233 (KGK 762), previously RT1503, seen in service at Blackness Avenue, Dundee in 1957.

No. 223 (KGK 735) passing D.M.Brown's department store in Dundee's High Street, probably in the 1960s. Photo by kind permission of the Dundee buses past and present Flickr collection.

David Craig writes "These buses were popular with drivers. One former driver told me that on one particularly steep approach to a roundabout, racing gear changes were achieved that were never possible with a Daimler."

Built: 1949-50, acquired by DCT in 1956

Chassis: AEC Regent RT O961/1 chassis, with AEC A204 6-cylinder 9.6 litre engine.

Body: Cravens H30/26R.

Notes: Acquired in 1956 from London Transport (via Birds Commercial Motors, Stratford) for tram replacement, reportedly at £1750 each. All were withdrawn late 1968 or early 1969.

DAIMLER CVG6DD   -   205-210 (Total 6)

No. 205 (FTS 209) in Albert Square, Dundee when new in 1956. (Photo: George Bett)

The same bus, No.205 (FTS 209) in the Dock Street depot around 1975. (Photo: unknown)

William Coupar writes; "The shot of the Park Royal Daimler from 1956 is interesting because it is running on the short lived Service 15 which replaced the Lochee trams in 1956 and ran from Douglas to Lochee. It only ran for two or three years. Although I can distinctly remember those buses being introduced new on that service in 1956 this is the only photograph I have ever seen of a Service 15 bus in operation.

Built: June 1956

Chassis: Daimler CVG6DD, with Gardner 6LW engine.

Body: Park Royal H37/28R.

DAIMLER CVG6   -   241-270 (Total 30)

Daimler No. 267 (FYJ 807) in Dock Street, Dundee, around 1957. (Photo: George Bett)

William Coupar writes: "The service 27 to Camperdown on one of the later Daimler MCW buses and the service 25 to Kirkton are also rare because they also fall into the short period between the tram replacement in October 1956 and the comprehensive route renumbering in I think 1959, which put in place the route numbering which ran for the next 25 years."

David Craig wrote "Again, as William Coupar stated, the service 25 to Kirkton didn't last long either. It ran from 21.10.1956 - 10.1.1959. This photograph (and of No. 205 above) of the tin fronted Daimlers are also of particular interest as they all have the original long front wings before they were trimmed c.1960 to resemble the shorter wings of the later fibreglass fronted models."

Daimler No. 246 (FYJ 786) turning from High Street into Crichton Street, heading for Shore Terrace, around 1975. (Photo: unknown)

Built: 1957

Chassis: Daimler CVG6, with Gardner 6LW engine.

Body: Weymann H37/28R.

Notes: All were transferred to Tayside Regional Council in May 1975.

DAIMLER CVG6   -   271-280 (Total 10)

Daimler No. 278 (HTS 278) in the High Street, Dundee, around 1959. When these buses were delivered in 1958, the last pre-war vehicles in the fleet were withdrawn, being the eight 1938 Daimler COG5 single deckers, Nos. 24-31 (plus, as David Craig points out, the sole remaining Dickson-bodied COG5, No. 23). (Photo: George Bett)

William Coupar writes; "The service 27 to Camperdown on one of the later Daimler MCW buses and the service 25 to Kirkton are also rare because they also fall into the short period between the tram replacement in October 1956 and the comprehensive route renumbering in I think 1959, which put in place the route numbering which ran for the next 25 years."

No.276 (HTS 276) waits outside St Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in High Street for its next turn, probably in the early 1970s. (Photo: unknown)

Jim Wilson says; "The picture of 276 shows it wearing the final DCT livery for crew operated buses, with the broad white band around the lower deck windows. Although not dissimilar to the livery of the 1950s (it had white around the upper deck windows as well) by the time the 70s had arrived there was just a small white band above the windows, as shown in the picture of 101 below. The HTS-registered batch of CVG6s were the last buses to be repainted prior to the handover to Tayside Regional Council and, as far as I know, these were the only native buses given this treatment - although I do stand to be corrected if anyone else knows otherwise."

"Some of the ex-Edinburgh PD2/20s also had this version, but these were painted by Edinburgh prior to delivery. The next repaints were the KTS batch of CVG6s which received the two tone blue and white TRC livery, with the white band in the same place, so I don't know if the HTS batch was used as some sort of "dummy run". This however firmly places the picture as 1974 or early 1975."

"Behind the bus you can see a white shed. This was used as a "buckie" by the police, and was a bit controversial as, hidden from view on the wall behind it, is a plaque commemorating William Wallace as well as Admiral Duncan, who won the battle of Camperdown (which is where Camperdown area of the city takes its name from). The shed was removed in the 1980s and there is now a statue of Admiral Duncan in its place."

Derek Simpson adds: "Buses 187 and 204 were also given the "broad white band" treatment. 273 was the first halfcab turned out in Tayside blue with 198 and 203 following later."

Built: 1958, and all entered service on 24 Aug 1958

Chassis: Daimler CVG6, with Gardner 6LW engine.

Body: Metro-Cammell H37/28R.

Notes: These buses had automatic chassis lubrication, and were the first Dundee buses to have flashing indicators. All were transferred to Tayside Regional Council in May 1975.

DAIMLER CVG6   -   96-102 (Total 7) - four later renumbered 103-106.

No. 101 (KTS 101) in the Dock Street depot, around 1975. (Photo: unknown)

No. 105 (KTS 99) on the left, with other post-war Dundee buses, at Dock Street bus park on 9 April 1975. (Photo: George Bett)

Built: 1960

Chassis: Daimler CVG6, with Gardner 6LW engine and preselective gearboxes.

Body: Alexander H37/28R.

Notes: All transferred to Tayside Regional Council in May 1975.

TOTAL 210  ( with 3 survivors - Nos. 127, 137 and 184)

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