Looking for a German Classic: Maybe their Alexander Y-Type

In Britain enthusiasts will happily roll off their favourite coaches that have become classics like the Bedford OB Duple Vista, the Burlingham Seagull or the Harrington Cavalier. For us Brits though looking abroad to mainland Europe it's a bit harder to find so many vehicles that readily stick in the mind as real crackers, designs that looked good then and still do now. The Integral Setra built by Kassbohrer of Germany did not turn quite so many heads as it slowly evolved over a number of years into this beautiful sleek temptress, but as well as a lovely coach I also see it rather like an up-market equivalent of our versatile Alexander Y-Type from the Sixties as it could perform any number of functions from the humble dual-entrance service bus to luxury touring coach. The Swiss Post office's own Regie fleet employed over one-hundred of the S213 UL working as service buses in the tourist areas where their large windows and coach-like appearance made them more attractive than the usual Mercedes O405 widely found elsewhere on the system. Also a small coach-specification fleet of S215 HM coaches slowly started to arrive from 1986 onwards employed on the prestigious longer distance express services like Brig to Sas-Fee, Chur to Bellinzona and this one Lugano to St.Mortitz. Here St. Moritz based P26002 of 1987 picks up outside Lugano Station as it prepares to leave for distant home passing through a bit of Italy on the way. Like many this service passing through beautiful scenery often has to be cancelled during the winter months because of the snowy conditions.