Thursday 7 April 2011

Our April meeting was the last of our Winter 2010/11 indoor sessions and we were entertained by a talk and slide show by Mr G Irvine Millar, former Inspector General of Ulsterbus Limited, author of books about buses and transport in Ulster, and transport consultant.  Mr Millar spoke about his life and career in the transport industry and a very enjoyable evening was had by all who attended.  We hope to invite Mr Millar back for another event next year.

The most iconic vehicles in the Swilly post-war fleet were eight 1951-3 Leyland Royal Tigers with centre entrance Saunders Roe bodies, which were to be found operating throughout the route system. Most were later converted to front entrance, and featured the succession of different liveries used by the Company, before their final withdrawal between 1975 and 1979. 75 is shown here, early in its life before departing from Pennyburn depot on a short-working to Newtoncunningham.  Photo by H. Cunningham, courtesy of G Irvine Millar.