XSA 620: Facts and Figures

Registered in Aberdeenshire as XSA620 in 1963. One of very few 'new' buses to Burnetts Motors of Mintlaw. A Plaxton 'Highway' bodied bus with an AEC Reliance 2MU3RA Chassis, fitted with a 470 Diesel Engine. Built with the coach body of the 'Highway' series  but we believe she should have been fitted with Coach Seats however Burnetts appear to have specified bus seats.

XSA is a typical Plaxton bus of that era, having a wooden body frame and a sleek body style incorporating lots of curves, even with an orange sun roof in the front dome. Numbered No.7 in the Burnetts fleet and wore an attractive livery of Maroon, Red and Ivory that followed the lines of the vehicle very well. She wore this livery until they were purchased in 1967 by W Alexanders (Northern). After 1967 two different versions of the Northern Livery were applied between 1967 and when withdrawn in 1978 and consequently sold for preservation in 1979. During her time at Northern she was allocated the fleet number AC 145 and remained allocated to Peterhead Depot until the late 70's when moved to Stonehaven Depot.

In 1979 AC145 was bought for preservation by a Mr Hatton of Liverpool, was driven down to the The Mersey and Calder Preservation Group (now the Merseyside Transport Trust) crammed full of spare parts for her and other vehicles continued restoration. Travelling faultlessly to Burscough and went to shows and rallies in 'as withdrawn' condition for 2 years until sold to another member of the Mersey and Calder Preservation Group. Then repainted into Burnetts livery at this time. She was bought by George Mitchell and Robert Smith of the Angus Transport Group in 1995, and after a viewing and some minor repairs was brought back on the back of a low loader to Angus.

AC145 was initially going to be a medium to long term restoration as the group had other vehicles on the road at the time. But after a failed MOT on another vehicle it was decided to quickly repair and re-paint her back into the Northern livery she once carried in the 70's with Bluebird logos. Since 1996 until around 2003 she ran the Groups Basin Rambler Service until problems were encountered with the clutch after returning from an MOT. Having sat out of service until April 2007 when she was successfully MOT'd and put back on the Road. In this time AC145 has been rallied at a couple of Scottish Shows and has run the Basin Rambler once more. It is planned to repaint the vehicle soon, as the current paint job is 12 years old.

Above XSA in Burnetts livery as No.7 circa 1960's ©	Above NAC145  in her current livery 2006 ©
Above: NAC 145 in early Northern Livery location unknown ©	Above: XSA at Mintlaw Depot in late livery. ©