The coach station, originally conceived, constructed and operated by a consortium of coach operators coming together under the banner of London Coastal Coaches Ltd, is now owned and operated by Transport for London. TfL are keen to celebrate the history of the coach station and also to demonstrate the continuing development of the facilities within the coach station to meet the needs of the much larger and complex vehicles now using VCS and the people who travel within them. The imposing 1930s’ Art Deco building on the corner of Buckingham Palace Road and Elizabeth Street is still at the heart of the operation providing the main passenger entrance with areas containing public facilities for enquiries and booking, seated waiting areas and a range of cafes, shops and snack bars. This building and the canopy behind covering a significant part of the coach departure area are Grade 2 listed by Historic England.

TV&GWOT are assisting TfL in organising the event by encouraging the owners of preserved coaches to bring their vehicles to this iconic and nostalgic setting to celebrate its 85th Anniversary.

To mark the occasion, TV&GWOT, in collaboration with the Bus Archive at the Kithead Trust, have drawn on the LCC records to compile a 32-page book celebrating the first 85 years of VCS in pictures.  It includes many previously unseen images spanning the early LCC operations; construction and opening of VCS; and operational views through subsequent decades covering vehicles, passenger facilities and activities ‘behind the scenes’.  The VCS site expansion in the 1960s is followed by a section ‘Wheels to the West’ showing the subsequent design changes in coaches serving the West Country through to the present day.  Priced at just £6 it can be bought on the day from the TV&GWOT stand in the waiting area, or by post for £7.50 (including p&p) by - Sending a cheque payable to ‘TV&GWOT’ to Ledger Farm, Forest Green Road, Fifield, Maidenhead SL6 2NR, or - Paying by Paypal (including any postal / delivery instructions in the notes)

The TV&GWOT year ends in May 2017 but for the suggested minimum donation of £22, new Supporters at VCS will receive benefits for the current year and through to May 2018.  The current issue of our magazine To and Fro’ will be included and back-numbers will be available.

Vehicles on display will be parked in Lanes 1-4 which are at the eastern end of the coach departure area and nearest to the main passenger entrance and facilities. The display area will be cordoned off from the operational area to allow free circulation of the public around the preserved coaches.
Further information: colinbillington@tvagwot.org.uk.

VCS 85th ANNIVERSARY ENTRIES

A selection of vehicles from the above list will be on show each day. All are expected to appear on one of the days and we have several reserve vehicles if anyone has to withdraw.

Photographs taken at the 75^th anniversary event by Colin Billington 

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

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