Discover Taunton's History with a Vintage Bus Journey
A fleet of thirty meticulously preserved vintage buses, ranging from 1934 to 2006, will be offering free services throughout Taunton and its surroundings, starting from the former Taunton Bus Station. This nostalgic event, organized by the Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust (TV&GWOT), is scheduled for Sunday, June 2, beginning at 10 am and concluding with the last bus at 5:45 pm.
Participants will have the opportunity to explore various interesting stops along the route, including Wellington's Sheppy's Cider Farm, Rumwell Farm Shop, and Bishop's Lydeard, home of the West Somerset Railway.
Travelers can also look forward to journeys extending to Stoke St. Mary, Corfe, Wiveliscombe, and an intriguing 'Mystery Tour' to the Blackdown Hills.
The event will also feature a frequent town service throughout the day. Detailed programmes, priced at £7, can be purchased at the County Classics Motor Museum in North Street, Taunton, or online with postal delivery through the TV&GWOT website for an additional £1.
The programme promises an engaging historical journey, showcasing a schoolboy's memories from the 1960s and the story of a 65-year-old Taunton double-decker bus being restored to its original state. Information stands from TV&GWOT and the Somerset Bus Partnership will be available at Castle Green.
Event organizers have extended their gratitude to Somerset Council, NHS Somerset, and Taunton Council for allowing the use of the former Bus Station and Castle Green.
A highlight of the vintage fleet will be the Western National Bristol FLF6G No. 1969, originally built in 1960, which previously appeared at Taunton's 2014 vintage bus event. Another notable vehicle is one with a 1936 Cumberland chassis, rebodied after the war. Taunton's very own No. 300, a Ford Transit 16-seater, which replaced the traditional double-deckers in 1985, will also be making an appearance.
In addition to organizing the vintage bus day, the TV&GWOT also manages an annual long-distance coach run spanning three to four days. In 2009, this event featured a preserved express coach from Western National, which provided Taunton's bus service from 1929 to 1983, preceding today's Buses of Somerset.