We've left Airdrie behind and travelled a short distance south to Chapelhall, where a local operator, McKees, had this ex Yelloways AEC/Harrington parked up.
A quick diversion now (see the map) to Carfin Colliery, where this rare shunter was to be found (Photographer unknown, my collection).
Back on track, following the M8 towards Edinburgh, we now visit Salsburgh, home of Golden Eagle Coaches (Irvines). The company's buses could be found on service (above) and at the depot (below).
Another company called Irvines had a dealership in Salsburgh, with various buses for resale.
Eastern Scottish also served Salsburgh.
Galloways, with an Airdrie to Bathgate service, had its depot at Harthill, to the east of Salsburgh.
Wilsons, a local contractor, had a yard in Harthill.
A trip to the south now finds us in the village of Forth, where PT Tennant had this ex "Tracky" Tiger Cub.
On the way to Bathgte, we cross the Edinburgh to Carstairs route at West Calder, where this mechanical signal box was still in use in the late 1970s.
The two erstwhile railway stations at Bathgate, Upper and Lower, photographed by Ben Brooksbank in 1962.
Both of those stations have long closed, but Bathgate is now served by a reopened line and station. The LNER once had a loco shed here.
Eastern Scottish was once the main bus operator in Bathgate.
Eastern Scottish later became SMT, a Firstbus subsidiary.
Bathgate independents included Galloways of Harthill and Davidsons.
Now we head to Livingston, a new town, served by various bus operators. First is the largest of these.
Stagecoach also have a presence.
EM Horsburgh is the largest independent in Livingston.
Passenger Travel of Whitburn also ran services.
There's a convenient Wetherspoons beside Livingston bus station, the Almond Bank.
Polmont is our next stop. The LNER served the town.
9053 is seen at Polmont shed.
Once a popular pub, the Whyteside Inn has now been demolished.
The Black Bull is still open, but no cask beer these days.
Now for a preserved railway. We come across the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway at its normal southern terminus at Birkhill. Ex NBR 65243 "Maude" is the motive power to take us to Bo'ness.
Here's a general view of the facilities at Bo'ness in 1999.
In the adjacent exhibition hall, NBR 256 "Glen Douglas".
There are also some narrow gauge exhibits.
Finally, for this post, a small bus operator in Bo'ness, Masons Coaches, with an ex LCBS Bristol.
We'll head towards Edinburgh in the next post, with plenty to see en route.
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