PRESERVATION UPDATE
The Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust attracted thousands of residents, enthusiasts and visitors to south Devon for its 12th Kingsbridge Vintage Bus Running Day for 7ft 6in-wide vehicles on 21 September.
They enjoyed rides on 42 buses and coaches dating from the 1930s to the 2000s operating 22 different routes and tours at the event, supported by local operator Tally Ho, which made its local facilities available.
The running day helped raise funds for the RNLI by celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Salcombe lifeboat, operating early and additional services for a royal visit by the Duke of Kent for the unveiling of sculptures in Kingsbridge and Salcombe.
Making its first appearance at the Kingsbridge event since the TV&GWOT’s Colin Billington purchased it from Ron Greet last year was preserved Western National 2015 (HOD 66), a 1949 petrol-engined Beadle- Bedford aluminium integral built by Beadle of Dartford and incorporating Bedford O-type running units.
It was withdrawn from south Devon in 1958 and sold to the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company for further service on the Rame Peninsula in Cornwall, and subsequently did school work for Willis of Bodmin, …
