The front-engined Volvo Ailsa first appeared in the Eastern Scottish fleet when VV773-782 arrived in 1978. They were allocated originally to Edinburgh New Street depot (VV773-778) and Musselburgh (VV779-782). As they were full-height (14ft 6in), unlike usual double deck purchases by the company, drivers were instructed to enter New Street depot by the lower, exit door, avoiding the normal entrance which had restricted clearance. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before some Ailsas did venture down the entrance ramp leading to the inevitable roof damage. After a few months in service, New Street’s allocation joined the other four at Musselburgh to avoid any further accidents. Two further batches of Ailsas were to arrive, in 1981 and 1984, while another 18 identical to VV773-782 arrived second hand from Clydeside and Central in 1988, along with 25 with Van Hool McArdle bodies from South Yorkshire PTE in 1986/7, taking Eastern’s total to 83. VV773 ended its days at Dalkeith depot in 1998 (as bus 1023 in the merged Midland/SMT/Lowland fleet) after a highly creditable 20 years in service. It was bought for preservation by the LBC and is the only surviving Eastern Scottish Ailsa.
