Taunton Heritage Bus Running Day - May 8th 2016
Sunday 8th May the sun was out for the 4th Annual Taunton Heritage Bus Running Day, an event which has grown year on year since it was first conceived in 2012. The 2016 event provided between 45 an 50 buses, local trade stands, bus related sales stalls, a collection of Heritage Cars (located in Goodlands Gardens), Somerset Museum was also open to the public featuring a display of model trams. The buses operated routes to Wellington, Monkton Heathfield, Corfe, Stoke St Mary and also provided a 'town circular' giving free rides to the general public and enthusiasts. The Wellington route also provided a stop at Sheppys Cider, which had opened especially for the event to allow passengers a stop for refreshments and local produce. Crowds flocked to the Castle Green area of Taunton, where buses were lined up prior to departing on their assigned diagrams, additional parking was provided in the adjacent bus station with open access to the public. The Bus Station and Bus Garage were kindly opened by First, Buses for Somerset. The 2016 event proved to be the biggest event yet, with Taunton now cementing the future of Heritage Bus operating in the South West. Castle Green provides the ample room needed to operate such an event, and with partnerships forming from local business's year on year, the event is thriving.
Double Deck Buses
Barton 851 (851 FNN), 1960 AEC Regent V / Northern Counties Bath Services 8089 (OHY 938), 1952 Bristol KSW / ECW Bath Services L 8515 (969 EHW), 1959 Bristol LD / ECW Bristol C3386 (JHT 802), 1946 Bristol K / ECW Caerphilly UDC 36 (LNY 536D), 1966 Leyland PD2 / Massey Damory Coaches 5070 (GEL 686V), 1980 Bristol VR / ECW Devon General (LRV 992), 1956 Leyland PD2 / Metro-Cammell (open top) Huddersfield JOC 178 (JVH 378), 1955 AEC Regent III / E. Lancs Huddersfield JOC 217 (CCX 777), 1945 Daimler CWA6 / Duple Scout Motor Services RTC 822 (Originally Rawtenstall Corporation 18), 1953 Leyland PD2 / Leyland Stockport 65 (HJA 965E), 1967 Leyland Titan PD2 / Neepsend Western National 353 (FTT 704), 1945 Bristol K6A / ECW Western National 1056 (OTA 290G), 1969 Bristol VR / ECW Western National 1075 (BFJ 175L), 1975 Bristol VR / ECW Western National 1122 (VDV 122S), 1978 Bristol VR / ECW Western National 1168 (FDV 780V), 1979 Bristol VR / ECW Western National 1936 (VDV 753), 1957 Bristol LDL / ECW (open top) Western National 1969 (468 FTT), 1960 Bristol FLF / ECW |
Single Deck Buses and Coaches
Badgerline 1212 (YHY 592J), 1971 Bristol RELL / ECW Bere Regis & District (CLJ 413Y), 1983 Bristol LHS / Plaxton Bournemouth 44 (JLJ 401), 1949 Leyland Tiger PS2 / Burlingham Bristol Tramways 207 (MHU 49), 1949 Bedford OB / Duple Carmel Coaches (LOD 495), 1950 Albion Victor / Duple Chapman Bros (MRL 765), 1950 Austin K8 / Tiverton Crosville CRG 103 (AFM 103G), 1969 Bristol RELH / ECW Crosville KA 244 (LFM 320), 1949 Leyland Tiger PS1 / Weymann Crosville TA 5 (JFM 575), 1948 AEC Regal III / Strachans Exeter Corporation 66 (EFJ 666), 1938 Leyland Tiger TS8 / Cravens Hawkey’s, Newquay (100 VRL), 1964 AEC Reliance / Harrington Mendip Mule 864 (TDL 564K), 1971 Bristol RELL / ECW (open top) North Western 206 (CDB 206), 1950 Bristol L5G / Weymann Royal Blue (Western National) 1420 (EDV 502D), 1964 Bristol MW / ECW Thames Valley S 302 (GFM 882), 1948 Bristol L6A / ECW Warrington Corporation 92 (KED 546F), 1968 Leyland Panther Cub West Riding 725 (EHL 336), 1953 Leyland PS2 / Roe Western National 1613 (LTA 772), 1951 Bristol LWL / ECW |
The important shot to obtain in 2016 was this shot of Station Road, a scene which will see much change in the coming year. Vintage buses have been operating this route under the former Taunton Station avoider bridge since it was first put into place. Next year which see a whole different scene here with the upcoming bridge replacement/ refurbishment. Perhaps next year we will have this same bus travelling over the top!
Taunton Bus Garage:
Countryside Delights (Turning back the clock):
One of the joys of living in Somerset is within 10 minutes of leaving Taunton you can be in some idyllic countryside settings, having previously memorized the bus routes from previous years I was able to get to a few locations to illustrate the coach days out of days gone by.