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ROYAL BLUE LONG-DISTANCE COACH RUN – Friday 16 June to Sunday 18 June 2023 |
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The Royal Blue & Associated Motorways long-distance coach runs recreate the experience of bygone travel not just for the crews and their passengers but for bystanders too, whether out with the intention of seeing the coaches or surprised by the unexpected spectacle. Heads turn particularly when coaches return to the West Country, whether passengers taking in the stunning scenery or locals recalling the familiar sight of Royal Blue bringing coach-loads of eager holiday-makers. Such West Country Delights were at the heart of the TV&GWOT event for 2023 (from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 June). By popular request, coaches assembled at the capacious Salisbury coach station turning out onto the open roads through Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall reaching Penzance inthe far south west .before returning to Salisbury via Dorset. Importantly the specific routes were drawn from Royal Blue timetables from different eras, sometimes segments of express services are followed or in other cases seasonal variants are used (e.g. summer Saturdays only or winter season routing). Every stretch had to be pre-driven to ensure the original roads remain suitable for coaches to pass even with modern parking practices or traffic management schemes. The route from Salisbury is outlined in the map below. Day 1 of the Royal Blue & Associated Motorways Run began with a mass departure from Salisbury Coach Station recreating the typical mid 20th Century scene with coaches setting out for Exeter on the route used by non-stop Royal Blue services to the south west, and the diversion adopted on summer Saturdays to avoid Honiton. The run continued from Exeter on the route to Mevagissey, as far as Liskeard. Day 2 continued the Mevagissey service route from Liskeard as far as St Austell, and then the route to Truro (particularly used in the winter season), continuing on via Redruth and Camborne to Penzance. The run continued to Porthleven, to then follow the first part of route to Minehead, as far as Wadebridge. Day 3 continued the Minehead service as far as Bude, and then taking an earlier route to Exeter via Hatherleigh and Crediton. The final stage runs up the A30, as used by the ‘stopping’ Penzance to London services, to Salisbury. |
Re-live the 3-day tour
completed by 15 vintage coaches, taking in Wiltshire, Somerset,
Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. Climb aboard Royal Blue 1250 (dating
from 1951) to sample the ride. |
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Royal Blue Run 2023 v.4 – route outline. [Google Maps]
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COACH ENTRIES.
Coaches |
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The purpose of the Royal Blue & Associated Motorways runs is to
showcase these fine coaches in authentic settings offering an
opportunity for the public and photographers across the country to
enjoy the bygone scene.
Video Highlights from the 2023 Royal Blue Run (above) give a flavour with further insight from the 2021 highlights below: |
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PREVIOUS ROYAL BLUE RUNS Information about previous events can be found here. You can take a virtual trip on our 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 runs on our Blog and our Facebook page has video coverage from the 2018 and subsequent runs. |
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Background Our Royal Blue Runs were established in 2002 so that owners and their passengers can relive the pleasures of long distance luxury coach travel for which their carefully preserved vehicles were originally intended. The aim is to follow original Royal Blue routes as closely as possible and to travel at a leisurely pace redolent of the times. The runs also create a wonderful spectacle for innocent bystanders and dedicated photographers alike, thanks to the hard work and resources the owners have devoted to restoring and maintaining their fine coaches. A lot of work goes into planning the runs from selecting routes from the extensive Royal Blue network and researching the original drivers’ instructions and passenger timetables, preparing maps and outline routing, driving the routes to develop detailed instructions allowing for modern day features and constraints, organising refreshment stops, obtaining parking permissions, to identifying potential accommodation for a dozen or more coaches and their passengers. Despite all the preparations, final timings are hard to judge whether due to roadworks or things that might pique the interest of crews along the way. The coaches do not travel in close convoy so as not to inconvenience other road users. Some drivers have also been known on occasion to deviate from the intended route (unintentionally!). Overall the focus is on education and enjoyment and we hope that however you take part you share in the pleasure.
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(C) Copyright The Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust Company Registered in England No. 5035702. Registered Charity No. 1125980 |
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