McFarlane, Donald

Donald McFarlane advertised his business in 1849 as minbus keeper and driver at 59 West Blackhall Street. By 1858 he had obtained the contract for the mail between Greenock and Largs/West Kilbride with his offices at 1 Jamaica Street. In 1860 his stables were listed as being at 25 West Blackhall Street.

In 1866 Donald McFarlane advertised his new bus service, which he called City 'Bus. It ran every hour from 9am to 9pm from Finnieston in Greenock to Rosneath street in Port Glasgow. The fares were from 1d to 4d according to the distance.

In July 1873 the Greenock Police Board opened a short section of tramline in Greenock, to Rue End Street. At the same time the Vale of Clyde Tramways Company opened the first section of a line from Greenock to Gourock. The Vale of Clyde Tramways Company operated both lines. In the same month the Vale of Clyde Tramways Company bought the two operating omnibus services in Greenock, Donald McFarlane's City 'Bus and James King's Gourock service, the service started by James Orr. The Tramways Company promptly closed both services down.

Donald McFarlane retained the hiring business, which he passed on to his son, Albert. Donald died in 1882 and Albert was no longer running the business in 1892/3

The spelling BLACKFALL on the token is an error.

McFarlane, Donald
	Source	(Smith)
	Filename	MFD.002
	Value	2d
	Add Desc.	Dd_Mc-Farlane Coach Proprietor 2d & Funeral Undertaker, 25 West Blackfall St Greenock May 1866
	Size (mm)	25
	Manufacture	Brass
	Notes	Greenock - Scotland Picture courtesy of ebay seller "Cobwrightfortishe"