Ayrshire buses

Long before Stagecoach, Arriva or First Bus, Ayrshire Independents fought it out with Western SMT on the local and long-distance routes within the county.

Ayrshire was unusual in the fact that many small bus operators formed themselves into associations to compete against a much larger company.

They not only survived, but prospered for the best part of eighty years.

This book shows many of these operators from the 1960s through till the 1990s and looks back at a way of life that has changed out of all recognition today.

David Devoy uses but a few of his 40,000 images of Scottish buses to illustrate the changing buses and operators found in Ayrshire.

There are many fine views of buses from the fleets of A1 Service, AA Motor Services and Clyde Coast Services taken over many years that record the scene for future generations to enjoy.