Torbay Classic Bus & Coach Gathering

 

 

Oldway Mansion, once the impressive home of the Singer family of sewing machine fame was the venue of the 2001 Torbay Classic Bus and Coach Gathering.  The event took place in mid May, the weather could have been better but apart from a short spell of drizzle it kept dry which was a relief to all those who attended especially the stall-holders with their offerings of transport postcards, time tables and all the other bits and pieces associated with the bus scene.

 

Organised by the Devon General Society, the event was sponsored by the bus company Stagecoach Devon.

 

The vehicle collection spanned over 50 years of development with busses and coaches attending which were mainly of Westcountry origin.  The Society which put on this excellent and well attended event was formed in 1982 to promote the interest in the former Devon General company and its successors, also to stimulate the preservation of all aspects of the Companies past for the benefit of future generations.  The organisation currently has over 250 members and publishes a bi-monthly newsletter and holds quarterly meetings, normally held in the county town of Exeter.

 

From mid-morning to mid-afternoon a number of busses were operating free rides from the venue along a five mile route along Torquay seafront to the Strand and then returning along the same route, whilst another would be running along Preston and Paignton Seafronts to Roundham head and return the same way.  All of these free rides were very well supported and most departed with full seats.  It was very pleasing to ride again on one of the Leyland Atlantean open-deckers which I well remember frequently travelling on in the 1960`s when it operated during the summer months on the number 12 route from the Strand, Torquay to Brixham via Paignton and back.  If I remember correctly this was one of nine such vehicles which were supplied to Devon General for use in the summer season, they were fitted with glass fibre roofs for normal use during the winter periods.

 

Pictured below are some of the vehicles which attended with a brief description, these are a rich part of our transport history which will take many of you back to the days when we were all a little younger.

 

1946 A.E.C. "Regal" Mk V Weymann 35 seat Bus. This is an early post-war Devon General Single Deck Bus, this particular example was exchanged for a double-decker with Leicester Corporation in 1952 who ran it until 1965 when it was purchased for preservation. Since purchase by the present owner a full body off restoration has been carried out for PCV standards.

 

 

 

1950 Daimler CVD6/Weymann 35 Seat Bus. This is one of six purchased by Exeter City Transport primarily for country services. Sold in 1966 it was immediately purchased for preservation. The present owner has fully restored it and especially brought it back to its native county from Solihull for the weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1961 Leyland "Atlantean" / Metro-Cammell 75 seater. 932 GTA is one of nine convertible open top busses all of which were named after famous seadogs, purchased by Devon General for use in Torbay. Sold in 1983 to East Yorkshire Motor Services and used in Bridlington until 1989 when acquired for preservation. Now fully restored and brought down to Torbay from Stoke-on-Trent for the weekend

1953 BRISTOL LS6G / Eastern Coachworks 39 seat Coach registration OTT 98.This was one of the last Royal Blue Coaches built with the traditional roof mounted luggage rack. In daily use on express services until sold in 1969. Sold into preservation in 1972 and now owned by the Dorset Transport Circle

Three of the various busses running on the Torquay Tour with departures every 30 minutes during the event at Oldway.