Loch Katrine and the Trossachs: a bus driver's collection.

Headed notepaper, showing A. Richards as the Coach Manager (telephone Callander 15!). Some of the regular drivers pictured below.

Headed notepaper, showing A. Richards as the Coach Manager (telephone Callander 15!). Some of the regular drivers pictured below.

I have in my collection a set of photographs, postcards, etc. relating to the tourist services at Loch Katrine. The items were collected by Andrew Richards (1884 - 1960), who was a driver, and in later years coach manager in the Trossachs region. As the seller of this collection wrote, "This material represents Andrew Richards' lifelong love of his home area, his driving profession, and also an interest in Loch and River Clyde steamers."

The Captain at the helm of the Sir Walter Scott steamboat that still carries passengers on Loch Katrine.

The Captain at the helm of the Sir Walter Scott steamboat that still carries passengers on Loch Katrine.

Loch Katrine and the Trossachs were well served by both cars and coaches.

A montage of some of the staff and their vehicles of the Motor Coach Services.

A montage of some of the staff and their vehicles of the Motor Coach Services.

Two more of the drivers.

Two more of the drivers.

Coaches of all sorts....

The four-in-hand that regularly served Inversnaid Hotel. The coaches ran between Stronachlacher and Inversnaid.

The four-in-hand that regularly served Inversnaid Hotel. The coaches ran between Stronachlacher and Inversnaid.

One of the coachmen was James Campbell, "the last survivor of the red coat and white hat drivers...."

Newspaper cutting in Richards' collection.

Newspaper cutting in Richards' collection.

Other jaunts included a trip on the Loch in a rowing boat.

The upper photo titled

The upper photo titled "A view from the Hotel window at Inversnaid." The lower one shows the Hotel Boatman.

Perhaps a trip to see Rob Roy's Cave.

Rob Roy's Cave on Loch Lomond.

Rob Roy's Cave on Loch Lomond.

Below is a fine old photograph of the Brig o' Turk, which he states on the back "is to be widened and the dangerous approaches improved..."

The old Brig o' Turk.

The old Brig o' Turk.

It looks as if this car failed to cope with some dangerous approaches....

An old postcard, photographer and place unacknowledged.

An old postcard, photographer and place unacknowledged.

Other interesting sights include this photo of "the last thatched cottage at Brig o' Turk."

The last thatched cottage in Brig o' Turk. A photo by Hamich Mair, Callander.

The last thatched cottage in Brig o' Turk. A photo by Hamich Mair, Callander.

But essentially, this collection is a celebration of the work of a Trossachs driver.

Untitled photograph, photographer unknown.

Untitled photograph, photographer unknown.