Taunton Heritage Bus Running Day - 14th May 2017

The 5th Taunton Heritage Bus Running day in Taunton held on the 14th May 2017 resulted in the biggest gathering of buses and visitors to the event yet. The market town of Taunton is well suited to an event of this size, and photographically the towns buildings, and local countryside provide an excellent backdrop to record these former work horses providing pleasure rides for the general public. Several improvements to the 2017 event were added, these were mainly health and safety related. Viewing from the Bus Station was from behind designated barriers as in previous years crowds ambling around the Bus Station parking area had become a concern for the drivers and volunteers trying maneuver buses in and out of parking spaces. More double deck buses were provided for the Bishops Lydeard, Wellington and Town Circular routes to provide more capacity on these routes. Buses to and from Wellington also called at Sheppys Cider in both directions allowing passengers to alight and enjoy some light refreshments before continuing their journey. We would like to extend our thanks to all those who give their time free of charge to arrange this event which has very much become an major event in Taunton's calendar each year.

Double Deck Buses
Barton 467 (JNN 384), 1948 Leyland PD1 / Duple
Bath Services L 8515 (969 EHW), 1959 Bristol LD / ECW
Bournemouth 159 (8159 EL), 1960 Leyland PD3 / Weymann
Bournemouth 230 (ORU 230G), 1969 Leyland Atlantean / Alexander
Bristol C3386 (JHT 802), 1946 Bristol K / ECW
Bristol 8579 (869 NHT), 1931 Bristol FS Lodekka / ECW (open top)
Caerphilly UDC 36 (LNY 536D), 1966 Leyland PD2 / Massey
Damory Coaches 5070 (GEL 686V), 1980 Bristol VR / ECW
Devon General DL 640 (MTT 640), 1951 Leyland PD2 / Leyland
Huddersfield JOC 217 (CCX 777), 1945 Daimler CWA6 / Duple
London Transport RML 2451 (JJD 451D), 1966 AEC Routemaster / Park Royal
London Transport RTL 1163 (LYF 104), 1951 Leyland PD2 / Park Royal
London Transport RT 1599 (KLB 721) 1950 AEC Regent III with a Park Royal Body
Scout Motor Services (RTC 822) (Originally Rawtenstall Corporation 18), 1953 Leyland PD2 / Leyland
Southern National 3307 (AFJ727T) - Bristol LH6L
Stockport 65 (HJA 965E), 1967 Leyland PD2 / Neepsend
Western National 353 (FTT 704), 1945 Bristol K6A / ECW
Western National 994 (LTA 813), 1950 Bristol KS 5G / ECW
Western National 1121 (VDV 121S), 1978 Bristol VR / ECW
Western National 1411 (AFJ 706T), 1978 Bristol VR / ECW
Western National 1936 (VDV 753), 1957 Bristol LDL / ECW (open top)
Western National 1969 (468 FTT), 1960 Bristol FLF / ECW
Wilts & Dorset 4413 (BFX666T), Bristol VR

Single Deck Buses and Coaches
Bristol 508 (THU 354G), 1969 Bristol RESL / ECW
Bristol Tramways 207 (MHU 49), 1949 Bedford OB / Duple
Bristol Greyhound (AFM103G), ECW 17479 Series 2
Crosville KA 244 (LFM 320), 1949 Leyland Tiger PS1 / Weymann
Crosville TA5 (JFM 575), 1948 AEC Regal III / Strachans
Davey Coaches (new to Chapman Bros) MRL 765, 1950 Austin K8 / Tiverton
East Kent (GFN 273), 1952 Leyland / Beadle integral (rebuild of 1938 Leyland TD5)
Eassons (JPO 55P) - Leyland Leopard
Exeter Corporation 173 (JFJ 873), 1949 Daimler CVD6 / Weymann
Mendip Mule 864 (TDL 564K), 1971 Bristol RELL / ECW (open top)
Royal Blue (Western National) 1420 (EDV 502D), 1964 Bristol MW / ECW
Standerwick D81 (FV 4548 – new to W Salisbury, Blackpool), 1934 AEC Regal / Leyland
Soudley Valley (KDD 38) - AEC Regal III, 1950 Thomas Harrington Ltd FC33F
Thames Valley S 302 (GFM 882 – new to Crosville), 1948 Bristol L6A / ECW
Warrington Corporation 92 (KED 546F), 1968 Leyland Panther Cub / E Lancs
Western National 420 (270 KTA), 1962 Bristol SU / ECW
Western National 1613 (LTA 772), 1951 Bristol LWL / ECW
Western National 3307 (AFJ 727T), 1979 Bristol LH / Plaxton
Western National 603 (675COD), Bristol SUS4A
Yelloway (WDK 562T), 1979 AEC Reliance / Plaxton

Bus Routes:
203: Taunton - Wellington
218: Taunton - Bishops Lydeard
224: Taunton - Stoke St Mary
270: Taunton - Corfe
272: Taunton Town Circular Service
280: Taunton - West Monkton

Then and Now

The below images were planned one year ahead of one another. The ongoing work on the Taunton NIDR project provided the opportunity in 2016 to record the changing scene in Station Road, Taunton. Although the Then & Now images were planned I couldn't of planned the amazing amount of similarities between the two photos. Firstly out of all the buses attending the event the chances of getting two heritage Barton buses at the same location was indeed rare. Both images were taken at 09:37, recording the first bus service (09:35 Taunton Station to Taunton Bus Station) one year apart. In the background the traffic lights are also showing exactly the same aspects! Saffolding was only taken down on the new bridge just one week before the 2017 image was taken. The changes to the former railway bridge are also noticeable, it's been lifted to a higher position, and shortened to allow for new brick piers. A new concrete deck replaces the former steel framework and a much cleaner appearance is also evident.

2016

2017

Western National 1969 (468 FTT), 1960 Bristol FLF / ECW

Bristol C3386 (JHT 802), 1946 Bristol K / ECW

Exeter Corporation 173 (JFJ 873), 1949 Daimler CVD6 / Weymann. Crosville TA5 (JFM 575), 1948 AEC Regal III / Strachans

East Kent GFN 273, 1952 Leyland / Beadle integral (rebuild of 1938 Leyland TD5)

Standerwick D81 (FV 4548 – new to W Salisbury, Blackpool), 1934 AEC Regal / Leyland. Scout Motor Services RTC 822 (Originally Rawtenstall Corporation 18), 1953 Leyland PD2 / Leyland

East Kent GFN 273, 1952 Leyland / Beadle integral (rebuild of 1938 Leyland TD5)

London Transport RML 2451 (JJD 451D), 1966 AEC Routemaster / Park Royal

Standerwick D81 (FV 4548 – new to W Salisbury, Blackpool), 1934 AEC Regal / Leyland

Scout Motor Services RTC 822 (Originally Rawtenstall Corporation 18), 1953 Leyland PD2 / Leyland. Exeter Corporation 173 (JFJ 873), 1949 Daimler CVD6 / Weymann

Crosville KA 244 (LFM 320), 1949 Leyland Tiger PS1 / Weymann

Bournemouth 159 (8159 EL), 1960 Leyland PD3 / Weymann Bournemouth 230 (ORU 230G), 1969 Leyland Atlantean / Alexander

London Transport RTL 1163 (LYF 104), 1951 Leyland PD2 / Park Royal

Wilts & Dorset 4413 (BFX666T), Bristol VR

Eassons (JPO 55P) - Leyland Leopard

Rail River Link (UWV 614S) Bristol VR (Open Top) . Western National 1411 (AFJ 706T), 1978 Bristol VR / ECW

Western National 603 (675COD), Bristol SUS4A

Western National 1121 (VDV 121S), 1978 Bristol VR / ECW Western National 994 (LTA 813), 1950 Bristol KS 5G / ECW

Bristol Greyhound (AFM103G), ECW 17479 Series 2

Western National 994 (LTA 813), 1950 Bristol KS 5G / ECW

Western National 1121 (VDV 121S), 1978 Bristol VR / ECW. Southern National 3307 (AFJ727T) - Bristol LH6L

Western National 994 (LTA 813), 1950 Bristol KS 5G / ECW

Mendip Mule 864 (TDL 564K), 1971 Bristol RELL / ECW (open top)

Yelloway (WDK 562T), 1979 AEC Reliance / Plaxton

Bristol Tramways 207 (MHU 49), 1949 Bedford OB / Duple

Volvo B10M-50 Citybus / Alexander RV, 38006 (D706DHY) - First Kernow

Standerwick D81 (FV 4548 – new to W Salisbury, Blackpool), 1934 AEC Regal / Leyland

Soudley Valley (KDD 38) - AEC Regal III, 1950 Thomas Harrington Ltd FC33F

London Transport RML 2451 (JJD 451D), 1966 AEC Routemaster / Park Royal

Crosville TA5 (JFM 575), 1948 AEC Regal III / Strachans. Thames Valley S 302 (GFM 882 – new to Crosville), 1948 Bristol L6A / ECW

Thames Valley S 302 (GFM 882 – new to Crosville), 1948 Bristol L6A / ECW

Crosville TA5 (JFM 575), 1948 AEC Regal III / Strachans. Thames Valley S 302 (GFM 882 – new to Crosville), 1948 Bristol L6A / ECW

Southern National 3307 (AFJ727T) - Bristol LH6L

Huddersfield JOC 217 (CCX 777), 1945 Daimler CWA6 / Duple

London Transport RT 1599 (KLB 721) 1950 AEC Regent III

From a different viewpoint:

Crosville TA5 (JFM 575), 1948 AEC Regal III / Strachans. Thames Valley S 302 (GFM 882 – new to Crosville), 1948 Bristol L6A / ECW

Southern National 3307 (AFJ727T) - Bristol LH6L

Devon General DL 640 (MTT 640), 1951 Leyland PD2 / Leyland

Southern National 3307 (AFJ727T) - Bristol LH6L