Torbay Vintage Bus Running Day
Sunday 5th September 2010
Photographs and captions by Bob Brimley. Added to website 9 September 2010
Bob Brimley writes:
I attended this event where a good selection of Devon General and other operators vehicles were on display and in service running
on a selection of routes around Torbay.
Here is a selection of photographs from the day. Be sure to note the THEN and NOW comparison at the bottom.
1. RRU 903 a 1955 ex Bournemouth Leyland Tiger Cub/Park Royal alongside 100 VRL 1964 AEC Reliance/Harrington Grenadier.
2. 8159 EL a 1960 ex Bournemouth Leyland Titan PD3 with Weymann dual door body.
3. OD 7497 a 1934 ex Devon General AEC Regent 0661 with Short body converted to open top in 1955.
4. ATA 563L a 1973 ex Devon General series 2 Bristol VRT/ECW approaching the rally bus stop on Torquay seafront.
5. VDV 137S a 1978 ex Devon General Bristol VRT with convertible open top ECW body on Torquay seafront.
6. Ex Bournemouth Leyland PD3/Weymann prepares to reverse at Broadsands viaduct.
7. Ex Devon General AEC Regent/Short alongside ex Bournemouth Leyland PD3/Weymann at Broadsands viaduct.
8. CTT 23C a 1965 ex Devon General AEC Reliance with Park Royal BET style body lays over at Hesketh Crescent terminus.
9. Selection of vehicles running on rally services during the day.
10. HTT 487 a 1946 ex Devon General AEC Regal/Weymann picks up passengers on Torquay seafront.
11. Line up of ex Devon General vehicles at the rally site. CTT 513C a 1965 AEC Regent V/Park Royal, CTT 518C a 1965 AEC Regent V/Willowbrook & CTT 23C a 1965 AEC Reliance/Park Royal.
Whilst at the Torbay Vintage Bus Running Day, I had the opportunity to create a THEN and NOW photo of ex Western National 1957 Bristol
LDL6G VDV 752. (Fleet No 1935)
Converted to open top in 1970, given the name 'Admiral Boscowan', and painted in the reverse cream & green livery 1935 currently carries
as part of Quantock Motor Services Heritage Fleet, where she still works regularly on service 400 (Exmoor Explorer) alongside sister vehicle
VDV 753 (1936).
On nationalisation she was painted poppy red & cream and given Devon General fleetname as per the then photo.
The location for both photos is Palk Street on Torquay's harbourside, which is now closed to through traffic.
Thanks to John Dawkins for driving VDV 752 on the day and providing the before picture of her.
Webmaster's note: To see this vehicle in service on Exmoor on this website, look at picture 30 on
THIS PAGE.