Jump behind the wheel with these time warp photos of much-loved buses in Dundee in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
The bus livery has changed multiple times.
And that’s not to mention the changing face of Dundee passengers – from the flares of the 1970s and the shoulder pads of the 1980s to the shell suits of the 1990s.
The DC Thomson archives team has looked out a varied and interesting selection of photographs for this memory-jogging tour.
The background imagery highlights vanished views from those decades including the NCR factory at Camperdown, Shore Terrace bus stance and Tayside House.
Not everything has changed.
Many of the bus routes are still in operation.
Grab yourself a cuppa and enjoy having another browse back through the ages.
Some of these photographs have not been seen for years.
Will these awaken any memories for you?
1971
A water main burst in Dundee city centre in June 1971.
The 33 service to Fintry was driving through the flood water which caused damage to several shops and closed half of Reform Street to traffic for several days.
1971
Elizabeth Brindley made headlines in June 1971 when she became Dundee Corporation’s first female bus driver at the age of 26.
She was one of three bus conductresses who were trained as drivers.
1971
Workers leaving the NCR factory by bus in September 1971.
The American firm announced it was paying off 1,200 Dundee workers and the cutbacks were blamed on “reduced demands for business equipment”.
1973
People queue at the 6, 7 and 8 bus stand at Shore Terrace in May 1973.
Shore Terrace is fondly remembered not just for the buses but also for the City Arcade which was directly underneath the Caird Hall.
1976
Passengers alight from the new number 9A City Centre bus in November 1976.
The Alexander’s bus was on hire to Tayside Regional Council which took control of services when village and city were lumped together in May 1975.
1977
The 22 service to Menzieshill ploughs through flooding in February 1977.
The colour of the buses changed from two-tone green to two-tone blue with a white relief band after Dundee Corporation was consigned to history.
1977
A Michelin bus visited Abertay Tyre and Battery Ltd in Broughty Ferry in June 1977.
Michelin ran this replica vintage bus as a promotional vehicle.
1978
A single deck articulated Volvo Bus outside Tayside House in March 1978.
The 60-foot £80,000 bus was a visitor from Stockholm City Transport Department.
1979
A bus heading up Reform Street in the snow in January 1979.
These were the days before pedestrianisation.
The move to a “bus-free city centre” was agreed in 1995.
1981
Dundee United supporters preparing to board a bus for Glasgow in May 1981.
United were playing Rangers in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden.
The game finished 0-0 but Rangers won the replay 4-1.
1983
The bus and fire engine from Kerr’s Miniature Railway in Arbroath did a brisk trade in the grounds of Kerr’s Balfield Dairy in Dundee in November 1983.
The charity rides raised £130 for Children in Need.
1984
Do you remember the Bus Shop?
You could grab your bus ticket and timetable from the shop in the Keiller Centre and leave with some fresh fruit and vegetables from Nicky Orr’s next door.
1987
Driver Billy Spiers with Nancy Rattray of Downfield and Anne Clancy of Kirkton at the launch of the “Wee Bus” service in April 1987.
The 23-seat buses provided a service “where the larger ones cannot reach”.
A unique feature of the service was the “hail and ride” system which allowed passengers to board or alight the bus anywhere it was safe to do so.
1987
Strathtay conductress Agnes McIntosh offers a helping hand and a smile to a Dundee shopper who was carrying a couple of bags in August 1987.
Strathtay had taken on an additional 70 drivers and conductors.
1988
A bus in Dundee with a message for cost-conscious travellers in February 1988.
Tay bus passes delivered “fantastic savings and unlimited travel”.
A six-monthly pass was £80 for adults and £40 for children and pensioners.
1988
Primary seven pupils at Kellyfield Primary School in Dundee visited the Tayside Public Transport Depot in Dock Street in April 1988.
The children were shown an anti-vandalism video before a tour of the depot.
1988
The Oor Wullie Special was in Dundee in May 1988.
A WLT 900 Routemaster was in the ownership of Clydeside Scottish.
1988
Drivers, conductors and inspectors at the Seagate bus station in July 1988.
Can you recognise anyone you know?
1988
Could you be a foster family?
The £55,000 “Tayside Information Bus” took the message across the region in September 1988 to to counter the decline in fostering households.
1990
These Dundee supporters were all smiles in February 1990.
Dundee laid on free buses from Dens Park to Love Street for a league match against fellow relegation strugglers St Mirren.
They watched a 0-0 draw and Dundee were eventually relegated.
1990
Tayside Public Transport held an open day at Dock Street in September 1990.
Kids enjoyed a bouncy castle, balloon race and miniature bus ride.
1991
Dundee Bus Station was busy during the Dundee Fortnight in July 1991.
Many coaches were packed with holidaymakers off on day-trips and short breaks.
1995
An open-top bus operated in Dundee from June-September 1995.
The one-hour tour started and ended at Crichton Street and took in Discovery Point, the Unicorn, Camperdown Park, the botanic gardens and the two bridges.
1995
Tour operators were Guide Friday.
The guided tour cost Dundee tourists between 50p and £1.50.
Open-top tours later returned to the city in 2024.
1995
A Tayside double-decker outside Dundee High School in December 1996.
It was painted in its new colours which were blue and cream.
1996
Parents fought to save Rockwell High in Dundee from closure in 1996.
The message was also taken to the city’s bus fleet with a poster campaign on the side of local services urging the council to “let parents choose”.
1997
Travel Dundee replaced Tayside Buses in 1997.
This was one of the new “low-step buses” which were part of the fleet.
It’s the final image in our gallery of Dundee buses.
We’ve reached the end of the line.
Conversation