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Taunton Vintage Bus Day 2024
We welcome you to the 2024 Taunton Vintage Bus Day that has returned to the former Bus Station in Taunton after an absence of some seven years. This time the event was organised by the Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust and was filmed by the independent transport videos cameras on a very warm Sunday 2nd June 2024. Our cameraman had the pleasure of travelling to and from the event on board former Royal Blue 1482 (RDV 433H), a 1970 Bristol RELH6G ECW C45F coach.
On arrival at Taunton we filmed the bus and coach arrivals and departures at the former Bus Station that had been ‘re-opened’ especially for the event. A total of five bus routes were operated as well as an ‘express’ route to Wiveliscombe and back and a ‘Blackdowns Mystery Tour’. As usual a good number of bus companies were represented at this event. These included Alexander, the Bristol group of companies, Brighton Hove & District, Cumberland, Devon General, King Alfred, Maidstone & District, North Western, PMT, Royal Blue, Stockport Corporation, Thames Valley, Wilts & Dorset, Southern and Western National, some local independents and the list goes on! Filming locations included the Bus Station, Castle Green, Castle Way, Tower Street, Fore Street and Corporation Street. Apart from the preserved buses running in service we have also included the contemporary vehicles of First Buses of Somerset and the National Express coaches that pass through the town. This we believe gives an interesting comparison of modern day vehicles with those of the past.
The first ride out for our cameras is on board former Southern National 1075 (BFJ 175L), a 1973 Bristol VRT/SL6G with ECW H75F bodywork for a ride to Bishops Lydeard railway station and return operating route 218. More filming is completed back in Taunton town centre. Probably the highlight of the programme is a ride on recently restored ‘Bristol – Leyland’ owned by Dr. Mike Walker. C4019 (KHW 630) is a Leyland Titan PD1A with an ECW H56R body and is the sole survivor of 50 of these buses operated by Bristol Tramways from 1948. The Leylands were bought new for Bristol city services because Bristol Commercial Vehicles were unable to supply enough new buses at the time. We have placed a camera in the cab of C4019 to see the driver (Stuart Turner) in action, as well as one in the lower saloon for the passenger’s experience whilst operating a route 203 journey to Wellington via Sheppy’s Cider Farm and return to Taunton. We leave Taunton in the style we arrived in, as we travel back to Dorset on board 1482 (RDV 433H), the former Royal Blue RELH.
We hope that you have enjoyed your ride and visit to this excellent running day event.
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| Filmed : | 2024 |
| Duration : | 89 mins |
| Price : | Within UK - £16 |
| Rest of world - £18 | |
| Format : | DVD -R |
| Picture Aspect 16:9 | |
| Order Ref : | D463 |
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