The story of McGill’s Buses brought to book

The story of Scotland’s largest independent bus operator is celebrated in a new book.

McGill’s Bus Services operates throughout the west of Scotland, with its headquarters in Greenock, and David Devoy’s book charts and highlights the firm’s substantial growth in recent years.

The present company was founded in 2001, taking on the name of a previous operator which had existed between 1933 and 1997.

From an initial fleet of 33 vehicles, McGill’s now has a huge network that sees its vehicles travel throughout not just Inverclyde, but East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, North Ayrshire and Glasgow itself.

Devoy’s book is largely photographic, but the introductory text concisely sets the scene as to how the company name was brought back from the dead, and transformed from a loss-maker into a hugely profitable business.

It’s an interesting insight, as he charts how the firm went from a small number of buses, to become a regular sight all over the west of the country today, with McGill’s having bought over four other independent operators, and how it has now opened additional depots, now having operational bases in Greenhock, Barrhead, Inchinnan, Coatbridge and Johnstone.

Read some sample pages here: McGill’s Buses

McGill’s has a distinct blue and white livery, and as you look through the pages, you’ll see a clear evolution in buses you will recognise from the 1990s, into the state of the art vehicles we have to day. From minibuses to double deckers, they’re all featured here.

The author clearly knows his stuff, writing with authority and passion – as you would expect from someone who works in the industry for FirstBus in Glasgow, and has been photographing buses for some 44 years.

As ever, some of the best photos show the buses in context, whether they’re on a main street or at Glasgow Airport.

The information text is ideal for those who love their motor vehicles, with details of where the vehicles were built and by whom. There’s plenty of information that will keep the die hards happy.

McGill’s Buses, by David Devoy, from Amberley Publishing, £14.99. Click HERE for more details.

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