Looking for an old Scottish Bus Handbook

[GusB]

This is perhaps a bit of a long-shot, but I'm looking to obtain a copy of the "Scottish Bus Handbook" that was published (I think) by Capital Transport. I have the 1989 edition with a Strathclyde Volvo Citybus on the front cover and I have "Bus Handbook 10", which was the next edition. The one I'm looking for was earlier than 1989 and I'm fairly certain that there was a photo of a Strathtay P-type Leyland Tiger (ex-Northern) on the cover.

So far my internet searches have been fruitless* - the results I get are either for books that I already have, or for books that aren't really relevant. Does anyone have a copy of this book and would you be able to provide me with the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) - it might make it easier to search using that. I realise that it might just be a rare book and that nobody's willing to sell one, but I refuse to believe that there's no record of it on the internet!

* They weren't entirely fruitless - I've managed to buy copies of much earlier books that I once had but seem to have lost over the years. Knowing my luck, the originals will magically appear shortly after delivery of the replacements!

 

[oldman]

The National Library of Scotland's catalogue lists two editions published by Capital Transport, one in 1988 (159 pages) and a 2nd ed. in 1989 (176 pages). Both are edited by Iain MacGregor. There are later editions from other publishers. For the 1988 edition ISBN-10: 0904711927 ; ISBN-13: 9780904711929.

Abebooks lists it with this cover image (blue and yellow Kelvin Scottish, not a Strathtay tiger), but unfortunately says not available.

 

[TheSel]

I have this (image below) under a subtly different name 'Major Bus Operators - Scotland'. Dated 1985 it says it's the Second Edition. ISBN 0 904711 71 4

 

[GusB]

The National Library of Scotland's catalogue lists two editions published by Capital Transport, one in 1988 (159 pages) and a 2nd ed. in 1989 (176 pages). Both are edited by Iain MacGregor. There are later editions from other publishers. For the 1988 edition ISBN-10: 0904711927 ; ISBN-13: 9780904711929.

Abebooks lists it with this cover image (blue and yellow Kelvin Scottish, not a Strathtay tiger), but unfortunately says not available.

I came across the same listings for the 1st edition. I'm fairly certain that I'm not misremembering the cover photo, but I dare say it's possible that it was changed at some point. Either way, I'll keep an eye out for copies for sale online

I have this (image below) under a subtly different name 'Major Bus Operators - Scotland'. Dated 1985 it says it's the Second Edition. ISBN 0 904711 71 4

I don't think that's the one, but I'll take a note of it anyway. It wouldn't hurt to have a copy.

Many thanks for your help

 

[Ken H]

this sort of of stuff needs scanning and putting somewhere safe before its lost for ever. Wayback Machine perhaps? Happy to help if anyone needs assistance.

 

[JKP]

I came across the same listings for the 1st edition. I'm fairly certain that I'm not misremembering the cover photo, but I dare say it's possible that it was changed at some point. Either way, I'll keep an eye out for copies for sale online


I don't think that's the one, but I'll take a note of it anyway. It wouldn't hurt to have a copy.

Many thanks for your help

I have an earlier edition of Major Bus Operators Scotland dated 1984 with a black and white photo of a Lothian Atlantean on the front cover. My only other issue is that with the Kelvin Fleetline as mentioned by TheSel and the 1988 edition with a blue and yellow Kelvin Metrobus on the front cover as already mentioned above by oldman.

 

[Craig Ailsa]

Is this the one? It’s the back cover of the 1988 edition with the Kelvin Metrobus on the front.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2025 ==

Didn’t mean to attach the picture twice by the way!

 

[Trainman40083]

I only have 1986 and 1997 editions.

 

[GusB]

Is this the one? It’s the back cover of the 1988 edition with the Kelvin Metrobus on the front.View attachment 187280

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2025 ==

Didn’t mean to attach the picture twice by the way!

It must be that one. I clearly remember the photo, just not that it was on the back of the book! Thanks for posting this.

 

[GCH100]

There where Major Bus Operators Scotland Books published in 1984 and 1985, then the name changed to Scottish Bus Handbook from 1988, they are hard to find in mint condition as they tend either to fall apart or get marked by spotters. The 1984 1st edition has a Lothian Leyland Atlantean on the front in a black & white shot. The reason books where done in both 1984 and 1985 is because of changes in the Scottish Bus Group when all but one operator had its operations changed and new subsiduaries where formed so if you want to see operators fleetlists before that happened the 1984 book is the book to get.

By the way Major Bus Operators only had major operators in them where as the Bus Handbooks had most BUS independent operators in them as well, hence the word bus, not coach operators. Before this time if you want to go further back you are looking at Fleetbooks for the 1970's and 1980's The last editions where for Eastern Scottish operators 1981, and Western Scottish operators 1980. Before that in the 1960's you are looking at Ian Alan ABC's which are relatively a lot easier to find and often without spotter markings in them.

 

[nesw]

I understand that the publisher Capital Transport is retiring at the end of the year.

 

[GCH100]

I understand that the publisher Capital Transport is retiring at the end of the year.

This is perhaps not too suprising as they have been publishing books since the 1970's thats 50 years or there abouts, so if he started publishing at 18 he would be 68 now, and I would suspect he would start publishing at a much older age. I will miss them though as they always do a good well reseached book with reasonably good photographs and maps and other such diagrams. Others will no doubt try to take over the market place that it leaves, but wether they will be any good remains to be seen.

Sorry this is off topic, so back to the subject in hand Scottish Fleet Books. The other option for fleetlist and fleet histories of the Scottish Bus Industry is of course the PSV Circle, their guides can be bought online at various sellers secondhand, or some of the more recent ones from the PSV Circle themselves, then there is also the Scottish Bus Groups own Fleetbook that was published in around 1985, that will be found secondhand on sites like Ebay.