THAMES VALLEY TRACTION Co. CENTENARY REVIVAL – 10 JULY 2022

The Thames Valley Traction Co. Ltd was first registered (in Maidenhead) on 10 July 1920.  

TV&GWOT planned a centenary celebration in 2020 but a COVID lockdown thwarted that, then in 2021 a ‘plus 1’ event was a lonely occasion as legal restrictions precluded passenger rides. Insufficient visiting vehicles given competing events and Covid impeding the organising team, meant an event giving public rides was not feasible in 2022 either.

However, on Sunday 10 July 2022, Trust Supporters made a tour using vintage TV buses from its own collection to visit former Thames Valley Traction Co. depots and destinations.

A companion 36-page A5 Souvenir Booklet has input from renowned TVTCo. historian Paul Lacey, documenting the origins of the company in 1920 and growth in the fleet and patronage over subsequent decades. A detailed record of the routes as they developed from July 1920 through to December 1971 is catalogue, with illustrations from the Paul Lacey Collection. In addition the Trust’s work preserving its unique collection of TV vehicles is presented, complemented by photographs from the Trust’s archive showing the locations visited on the Tour, the basis for some ‘then’ and ‘now’ photographic comparisons.

While stocks remain copies of the booklet are available to purchase for £5 each including p&p. 

EXETER – MINEHEAD, EXCURSION – 2 APRIL 2018

On Easter Monday, 2^nd April 2018, the Trustees of TV&GWOT and the Devon  General Omnibus Trust (DGOT) arranged an excursion for TV&GWOT Supporters and Members of the Devon General Society to re-create the joint Western National and Devon General Service No. 217 which ran between Exeter and Minehead, via Tiverton and Dulverton.

The origins of this route go back to the 1920s.  It was jointly operated from July 1928, numbered 13A by the National Omnibus & Transport Co. (becoming 217 after the formation of Western National in 1929), and numbered 46 by Devon General (subsequently being changed to 53 in 1930). Both companies operated the route under the same number, 217, from June 1955.

A 24-page booklet was produced to complement the trip and share the experience more widely.  Based on extensive original research and with photographs and material from the archives, it illustrates the evolution of the services through to the present day.

A route description is included updating the Coaching Spotlights that accompanied Greenslades’ Silent Guide in the 1930s.  In combination with period advertisements, it demonstrates how travel and life in general have changed over the decades.

Three vehicles were used on the excursion, representative of the operations in different decades and of the Western National and Devon General fleets:

	Devon General 1946 AEC Regal, Registration No. HTT487, Fleet No. SR487
	Western National 1951 Bristol LWL5G, Registration No. LTA772, Fleet No. 1613
	Western National 1962 Bristol SUL4A coach, Registration No. 270KTA, Fleet No. 420.

Pictures are on TV&GWOT’s Facebook page.

While stocks remain copies of the booklet are available to purchase at the discounted price of £3 each including p&p.  

(C) Copyright The Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust

Company Registered in England No. 5035702.  Registered Charity No. 1125980