Rapson (Sandy Rapson) Buses and Coaches, Alness and Inverness 1985

Rapson (Sandy Rapson) Buses and Coaches, Alness and Inverness 1985 - 1997

4th March 2008

1306x813 Rapson_Alness_162EKH_IBS_Jul_86.jpg	1213x786 Rapson_Alness_162EKH_Railway_Tce_Invss_Sep_88.jpg	1359x847 Rapson_Alness_448GWL_IBS_Jul_86.jpg	1355x907 Rapson_Alness_448GWL_St_Andrews_Sq_Edin_Dec_85.jpg
1228x790 Rapson_Alness_9637EL_Longman_Rd_Invss_Mar_87.jpg	1258x828 Rapson_Alness_9637EL_Railway_Tce_Invss_Jan_86.jpg	1299x805 Rapson_Alness_A131MFL_Northern_NCT33_Ullapool_Pier_Jan_87.jpg	1228x790 Rapson_Alness_A131MFL_Ullapool_May_86.jpg
1336x910 Rapson_Alness_B924BGA_EBS_Dec_91.jpg	1321x847 Rapson_Alness_CKC345L_IBS_Mar_88.jpg	1261x843 Rapson_Alness_D677SEM_Castle_Rd_Invss_Dec_92.jpg	1243x843 Rapson_Alness_D677SEM_Chuch_St_Invss_Dec_92.jpg

Not to be confused with longer established family member RGH Rapson of Brora, A.H. (Sandy) Rapson came to the fore following the sale of Newton's Coaches of Dingwall to the Scottish Bus Group in November 1985. A network of express services was quickly established under the High Class brand which largely mirrored what Morris Newton had operated. In turn, the company saw an opportunity to launch competitive services against Highland from Easter Ross into Inverness and an eclectic variety of vehicles were acquired for these services and for some tendered services won from Highland Council.

In turn, Rapsons purchased Highland Scottish in August 1991 in conjunction with Scottish Citylink Coaches, and in March 1993, Rapson became the sole owner of the former SBG company. A true case of the wheel turning full circle.

For avoidance of doubt, any Rapson shots taken prior to November 1985 are labelled under the Brora company as it was not clear as to the division of the two business's prior to that date. RGH Rapson scans will be found in the collection named "Caithness, Sutherland and Ross-shire Buses and Coaches 1980's and 1990's" The end of the Newton business truly saw the Alness based business under Sandy Rapson become a separate business with a clear vision for the future.

These slides are taken on a variety of 100 and 200 ASA slide films and scanned with a Nikon Coolscan V ED film scanner.

Thanks for visiting - haste ye back.