Buses and coaches are a big part of our national history.

From Paddington to Penzance, along the corridor tracked by the Great Western Railway, many famous bus companies both large and small have helped to shape and even define the communities they’ve served over the last century. Some remain to this day, while others have now passed into history.

Our Trust aims to keep alive the rich history and memories of these companies, by restoring and preserving surviving vehicles, developing an archive and providing access to them for the public.

We have in our care many historically important survivors, spanning the years from the 1920s to the present day. The majority are already restored to working order, while others are undergoing or awaiting restoration. Read more about the TV&GWOT vehicles.

The Trust organises regular vintage bus running days, where you’re able to ride on, and learn about, a range of vehicles which have contributed to the history of the areas served. Read more about TV&GWOT events.

We are keen to pass on to volunteers the specialist skills and knowledge needed to restore, maintain and drive these vehicles.

TV&GWOT has a thriving Supporters’ Group who support the Trust with donations, as well as their active involvement in different aspects of Trust activities.  Supporters receive a high quality quarterly magazine To and fro’ which includes original articles on the TV&GWOT heritage, reviews of events and news of upcoming opportunities.  Read more about the To and fro’ back catalogue. 

At our two bases, in Berkshire and South Devon, we have the use of extensive premises and workshop facilities, as well as significant archives, records and ephemera, which help us further in telling the story of road transport through the Thames Valley & Great Western corridor.

TV&GWOT is a registered charity which was established in 2008 “to advance the education of the public in the history of public road passenger transport and in particular in the history of those companies and types of vehicles operated through the Thames Valley and Great Western road transport corridors”.

Our defined operating area consists of ten local authority areas between West London and Cornwall, hence our strap-line “Fro’ Paddington to Penzance” reflecting the extent of the operations of the Great Western Railway Road Motors and successor companies from 1903 to the present day.

As a registered charity, TV&GWOT is required to provide public benefit, an obligation it discharges enthusiastically.  The Annual Report is a public document and the 2023 demonstration of the depth and breadth of public engagement is available here.

TV&GWOT applied successfully to be part of the 2023 Heritage Compass Programme - a Business Support Programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and designed to grow resilience and invigorate the heritage sector across England.  Heritage Compass provides training, mentoring and peer learning for organisations such as TV&GWOT to develop essential skills in business planning, audience development, leadership and change management.