Open top buses in Torbay

Devon General first operated open top buses in Torbay in 1919 but reintroduced open top buses on tourist routes in 1955. New buses were introduced in 1961 which were known as 'Sea Dogs' because of the names they were given, but these were later replaced by those of 'Warships'.

Two generations of open top bus in Torbay. Stagecoach Devon Scania 15329 John Hayes (left) and Devon General "Sea Dog" Atlantean 925 Admiral Blake.

History

One of the buses converted in 1955

A service of open top trams was introduced by the Torquay Tramways in 1907 on a network around Torquay that included Beacon Quay, St Marychurch and Babbacombe. The following year saw an additional route along Torbay Road which terminated near Torquay railway station, then in 1911 it was extended to Paignton.[1] The Devon General Omnibus and Touring Company started operations in south Devon in 1919 with two bus routes from Exeter to Torquay. These were operated with the usual open top buses of the era.[2] In 1922 Torquay Tramways bought Devon General, although it was operated as a subsidiary and the motor buses already owned by the tramway company were transferred to the omnibus company.[3] The tram network was closed in January 1934.[1]

In the 1930s a few seaside resorts started to see open top buses operated as tourist attractions on their seaside roads.[4] More resorts started such services in the years following World War II. In 1955 five old buses had their roofs removed for services in Torbay and one more was converted for Exmouth, another resort served by Devon General. They entered service on 19 June and a new sea front route was started on 19 July.[5] These proved a success and so a larger fleet of new buses were delivered for service in 1961. They were launched at a naming ceremony on 11 May 1961. These were 'convertible' buses that could operated as open tops during the summer and with roofs during the remainder of the year, although after the first winter they were usually stored during the winter as putting the roofs on caused some damage. It took half an hour to fit or remove a roof using the mechanism that had worked a bus washing machine which had recently been superseded. When not in use the roofs were stored on three mobile racks made from old bus chassis from which the bodies had been removed.[6][7]

Devon General was privatised in 1986 and became a part of Transit Holdings. This company preferred to operate minibuses and the open top fleet was reduced to just one vehicle. This was transferred to a new Bayline operation, which covered services in Torbay and Newton Abbot, in 1992.[8]

Bayline was sold to the Stagecoach Group in 1996,[9] and became part of the new Stagecoach in Devon operation in 2003.[8] Stagecoach brought a revival of large buses instead of minibuses, and a larger fleet of open top buses was established.[10]

Routes

The view from the top of a bus at Broadsands

The first route to be introduced in 1955 was the 12A from St Marychurch through Babbacombe, Torquay, Paignton and Goodrington to Broadsands. To reach Paignton's sea front at Preston the bus had to pass under a very low railway bridge. A licence for the route was only granted on condition that buses would come to a stop before passing under the bridge, the conductor would then have to instruct passengers on the top deck to remain in their seats and then stand at the top of the stairs to see that they did.[5]

From 1959 a second route was operated. The 12C followed the same route as the 12A from St Marychurch to Goodrington but then continued to Churston and Kingswear instead of turning down to the sea front at Broadsands.[11]

The larger fleet of "Sea Dogs" available for the 1961 season allowed two further routes to be added. One was the 12B, which was already operating with conventional buses between Brixham and Kingswear. The second was a new 12D which followed the usual route from Babbacombe to Goodrington then continued through Churston to Brixham.[7] Devon General routes were renumbered in 1975 which saw the sea front services numbered from 120, and additional buses allowed a Torquay to Dawlish Warren service to be offered the following year.[12]

Today just two seasonal services are operated by different operators, with a third offering a scenic tour from Torquay.

ServiceRouteOperator
22Paignton to St Marychurch (part route)Stagecoach South West
100Paignton to TotnesDart Pleasure Craft[13]
Sightseeing tourEnglish Riviera Sightseeing Tours

Seasonal open top services on route 22 operate from Paignton to St Marychurch but closed top buses operate all year round from South Devon College through Paignton and St Marychurch to Dawlish Warren.

Vehicles

First buses

Devon General's first buses were AEC YC type with roofless double-deck bodies typical at the time. A second-hand AEC B-type was bought from the London General Omnibus Company in 1920 but was rebuilt after a few months. The Torquay Tramways purchased six AEC K-type double deck buses in 1921 which were transferred to the Devon General fleet the following year. Double deck buses delivered from 1929 were fitted with roofs and by 1932 the open top buses had been sold or rebuilt as single deck vehicles.[14]

FleetRegistrationChassisNameIn serviceOperator
1T 6942AEC YCSir Francis Drake1919– ca.1928Devon General
2T 6944AEC YCSir Walter Raleigh1919– ca.1927Devon General
3T 6946AEC YCSir John Hawkins1919–1926Devon General
11LF 8399AEC B1920–1921Devon General
13TA 1004AEC K1921–1926Torquay Tramways
14TA 1005AEC K1921–1926Torquay Tramways
15TA 1006AEC K1921–1926Torquay Tramways
16TA 1168AEC K1921–1926Torquay Tramways
17TA 1169AEC K1921–1926Torquay Tramways
18TA 1170AEC K1921–1926Torquay Tramways
71T 8328AEC B1926–1932Devon General
72T 6946AEC YC1926–1932Devon General

Devon General

927 Sir Francis Drake

The six old buses rebuilt to open top form in 1955 were 21-year-old AEC Regent Is with bodies by Short Brothers.[15] These were replaced by nine Leyland Atlanteans with convertible Weymann bodies in 1961. These were all given the names of historic sailors and known as "Sea Dogs".[6][16] In 1976 two AEC Regent Vs with Willowbrook bodies had their roofs removed and were added to the open top fleet.[17]

The Sea Dogs were replaced in 1978 by nine new Bristol VRTs with 74 seat Eastern Coach Works convertible bodies.[18] Two of the VRTs were allocated to Southern National when Western National's Somerset and Dorset operations were divested in 1983[19] but five continued to operate at Torbay until the end of the 1990 season.[20] After this a limited open top service was operated with just one bus.[21]

FleetRegistrationChassisNameIn service Comments
203OD 7490AEC Regent1955–1961
205OD 7492AEC Regent1955–1961
210OD 7497AEC Regent1955–1961Operating for Nostalgic Travel in Newton Abbot.[22]
218OD 7505AEC Regent1955–1961Initially based at Exmouth.
219OD 7506AEC Regent1955–1961
224AUO 90AEC Regent1955–1961
507507 RUOAEC Regent VPrince Regent1976–1978Operating with Chepstow Classic Buses[23]
508508 RUOAEC Regent VRegency Princess1976–1978Preserved[24]
925925 GTALeyland AtlanteanAdmiral Blake1961–1977To Western National Admiral Hardy in 1977 (see below).
926926 GTALeyland AtlanteanSir Francis Drake1961–1975To Western National (see below).
927927 GTALeyland AtlanteanSir Martin Frobisher1961–1978To Southern National as Admiral Hardy,[25] now operating with by Chepstow Classic Buses.[23]
928928 GTALeyland AtlanteanSir Humphrey Gilbert1961–1983
929929 GTALeyland AtlanteanSir Richard Grenville1961–1983
930930 GTALeyland AtlanteanSir John Hawkins1961–1983
931931 GTALeyland AtlanteanSir Thomas Howard1961–1983Preserved by Rubicon Classic Travel, Bristol[26]
932932 GTALeyland AtlanteanEarl Howe1961–1983
933933 GTALeyland AtlanteanSir Walter Raleigh1961–1982
934VDV 134SBristol VRTGolden Hind1978–1983Became Southern National Thomas Hardy in 1983[19] now preserved near Bristol by North Somerset Coaches.[27]
935VDV 135SBristol VRTTriumph1978–2001Renamed Exeter in 1987,[20] now used by a catering company in Leicestershire.[28]
936VDV 136SBristol VRTRevenge1978–1991Renamed Torbay in 1987,[20] it is now used for cutting trees by East Yorkshire Motor Services.[29]
937VDV 137SBristol VRTVictory1978–1983Transferred to Western National, now preserved by West Country Historic Omnibus and Transport Trust.[30]
938VDV 138SBristol VRTWarspite1978–1992Renamed Illustrious in 1987,[20] now in service with East Yorkshire Motor Services.[31]
939VDV 139SBristol VRTRenown1978–1992Renamed Ark Royal in 1987.[20] Sold to East Yorkshire Motor Services but exported to Italy in 2009.[32]
940VDV 140SBristol VRTInvincible1978–1992Sold to East Yorkshire Motor Services but exported to Italy in 2009.[33]
941VDV 141SBristol VRTIllustrious1978–1983Transferred to Western National, now preserved by Cornwall Bus Group.[34]
942VDV 142SBristol VRTHermes1978–1983Became Southern National Lawrence of Arabia in 1983,[19] now operating with Chepstow Classic Buses.[35]

Western National

937 Victory (in winter configuration)

From 1971 Devon General became part of Western National but services around Torbay continued to operate in the old name and buses were sometimes moved between the fleets for short term loans or on a more permanent basis. Two rare Bristol LDLs in the Western National fleet had their tops removed from 1972/3 for operation at Penzance[36] and one of these was swapped in 1975 for Sir Francis Drake,[37] and the other in 1977 for Admiral Blake.[14] When the nine "Warship" VRTs were ordered for Devon General, two more were ordered for Western National. Both Atlanteans and VRTs also operated seasonal services at Weymouth.[19] Western National's usual livery for open top buses was white and green, although Sir Francis Drake retained its red and white scheme.[36]

FleetRegistrationChassisNameAt TorquayComments
925925 GTALeyland AtlanteanAdmiral BlakeNow operating with Devonian Motor Services.[22]
926926 GTALeyland AtlanteanSir Francis DrakePreserved in Eastleigh.[38]
1935VDV 752Bristol LDLAdmiral Boscawen1975–1978Now with Quantock Motor Services.[39]
1936VDV 753Bristol LDLSir Humphry Davy1977–1978Now with Quantock Motor Services.[39]
943VDV 143SBristol VRTArk RoyalSold to Badgerline in 1993, exported to Italy in 2010.[40]
944VDV 144SBristol VRTVanguardSold for scrap in 2001.[41]

Stagecoach

18306, new for 2017 season

By 1996, when Devon General was sold to the Stagecoach Group, the open top fleet at Torbay had been reduced to just one vehicle, but the new owners quickly boosted this by drafting in additional Bristol VRs from other parts of the group. The first two (936 and 937) came from Sussex Coastline in 1996[10] and three more (932 to 934) arrived in 1998 from Bluebird in Scotland but came without their roofs.[42] A heritage vehicle, in the shape of Leyland Titan PD1 LRV 992 was also sent from Portsmouth to Torbay and was often used on scheduled services alongside the Bristol VRs.[43]

Most of the Bristol VRs were withdrawn after the 1999 season, although 936 and 937 were sold to Dart Pleasure Craft to operate services in connection with their boats on the River Dart.[44] Eight Scania N113s were then transferred from London. Their roofs were removed on arrival but five (numbers 15322 – 15326) were done in such a way as to be convertible back to roofed buses.[45] and they generally operate in this form, open top services being in the main provided by 15327–15329.[22] They are all named and, like the Leyland Atlanteans of 1961, are named after British sailors. The Scania's were withdrawn from use on 3 November 2013 (The closing day of Devon Cliffs holiday park), 15329 being the last in service. They were replaced by an Alexander ALX400-bodied Dennis Trident 2.

FleetRegistrationChassisBodyNameAt TorbayComments
932UWV 605SBristol VRTEastern Coach Works1998–1999Scrapped in 2000[46]
933UWV 608SBristol VRTEastern Coach Works1998–1999Exported to the United States in 2000[47]
934UWV 609SBristol VRTEastern Coach Works1998–1999Exported to Egypt in 2002[46]
935VDV 135SBristol VRTEastern Coach WorksArk Royal1977–2001Used by a catering company in Leicestershire until 2016[28]
936UWV 604SBristol VRTEastern Coach WorksIllustrious1996–2000Operated by Dart Pleasure Craft until 2016[46]
937UWV 614SBristol VRTEastern Coach WorksInvincible1996–2000Operated by Dart Pleasure Craft until 2016; now preserved[46]
15322J822 HMCScania N113DRBAlexander RHSir Alexander Cochrane2000–2010Now a mobile children's play centre in Glasgow as of 2014
15323J823 HMCScania N113DRBAlexander RHSir James Saumarez2000–2010Sold to City Sightseeing in Paphos, Cyprus
15324J824 HMCScania N113DRBAlexander RHSir John Borlase Warren2000–2011Scrapped in 2011
15325J825 HMCScania N113DRBAlexander RHSir Philip Bowes Vere Brook2000–2011Last operated with 2-Way Travel in Scunthorpe until 2020
15326J826 HMCScania N113DRBAlexander RHEdward Pellow2000–2010Sold to Farm Bus of Staffordshire, then scrapped in 2017
15327J827 HMCScania N113DRBAlexander RHSir Home Popham2000–2010Scrapped in 2010
15328J828 HMCScania N113DRBAlexander RHSir Sidney Smith2001–2012Scrapped in 2014
15329J829 HMCScania N113DRBAlexander RHJohn Hayes2000–2013Scrapped in 2014
15665WA10 GHGScania N230UDADL Enviro4002019–presentTransferred from Stagecoach Yorkshire after losing its roof in a crash in Sheffield[48]
17701ML02 RWODennis TridentAlexander ALX400hop2222014–presentTransferred from Stagecoach Manchester
18186MX54 LPNADL TridentADL ALX400Swash Buckle the Pirate Parrot2016–presentTransferred from Stagecoach Manchester
18303WA05 MGXADL TridentADL ALX400Chirpy the Cricket2017–present
18304WA05 MHJADL TridentADL ALX400Cango the Kangaroo2017–present
18305WA05 MHEADL TridentADL ALX400Porter the Penguin2017–present
18306WA05 MHFADL TridentADL ALX400Gary the Rabbit2016–present
18307WA05 MGYADL TridentADL ALX400Freddie the Frog2017–present
19571WA59 FWTADL Enviro400ADL Enviro4002018–presentWithdrawn with accident damage as of 2020

Independent operators

Wallace Arnold kept an open top Leyland PD3 at Torquay for many years. It was used on local tours and shuttle services in connection with its longer distance operations.[49] It even travelled to Lisbon on one occasion.[50] Dart Pleasure Craft, trading as 'Rail River Link' started services in 2000 using Bristol VRTs (two of which were obtained from Stagecoach Devon). More recently Devonian Motor Services and English Riviera Tours have introduced a wider variety of bus types on new routes. One of Devon General's former "Sea Dogs" is in the Devonian fleet.

OperatorFleet no.RegistrationChassisNameComments
Dart Pleasure Craft[22]1UWV 614SBristol VRTFrankieNew to Southdown Moor Services. Withdrawn 2016
Dart Pleasure Craft2UWV 604SBristol VRTNew to Southdown Motor Services. Withdrawn
Dart Pleasure Craft3WTU 467WBristol VRTNew to Crosville Motor Services. Withdrawn 2016
Dart Pleasure Craft4VDV 138SBristol VRTFormer Devon General bus, withdrawn 2016
Dart Pleasure Craft10Y812 TGHVolvo B7TLOpen top from 2017
Dart Pleasure Craft12Y827 TGHVolvo B7TLOpen top from 2017
Devonian Motor Services[22]925MSJ 499Leyland AtlanteanAdmiral BlakeFormer Devon General "Sea Dog"
Devonian Motor Services934GJZ 9571Leyland AtlanteanBlack Prince
Devonian Motor Services935A146 OFRLeyland OympianWhite Lady
English Riviera Sightseeing Tours[22]BYX 304VMCW MetrobusSold
English Riviera Sightseeing ToursJTD 395PDaimler FleetlineSold
English Riviera Sightseeing ToursFFY 403Leyland PD2/3In service
Wallace Arnold[49]BUF 425CLeyland PD3Uncle WallyNo longer at Torbay

See also

Sources

  • Folkard, Leslie (2007). Devon General: a fascinating story. Devon General Society. ISBN 978-0-9555514-0-6.

References

  1. Oppitz, Leslie (1990). Tramways Remembered: West and South West England. Newbury: Countryside Books. pp. 31–38. ISBN 1-85306-095-X.
  2. Morris, Colin (2006). Glory Days: Devon General. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 16–19. ISBN 978-0-711031-28-9.
  3. Morris, Colin (2006). Glory Days: Devon General. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 23–25. ISBN 978-0-711031-28-9.
  4. Kraemer-Johnson, Glyn (2007). "Beside the seaside". Classic Bus (91): 24–31.
  5. Folkard, p. 179
  6. Devon General "Sea Dog" Atlanteans. Torquay: Devon General Omnibus and Travel Company. 1961.
  7. Folkard, pp. 198 –199
  8. Lidstone, John G. (January 1993). "Fleet News". Buses. Ian Allan. 45 (454): 30. ISSN 0007-6392.
  9. "Devon companies sold by Transit Holdings". Buses. Ian Allan. 48 (492): 7. March 1996. ISSN 0007-6392.
  10. Lidstone, John G. (September 1996). "Fleet News". Buses. Ian Allan. 48 (498): 40. ISSN 0007-6392.
  11. Folkard, p. 191
  12. Folkard, pp. 239–240
  13. "Buses". Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  14. Folkard, pp. 267–272
  15. Folkard, pp. 276–277
  16. Folkard, p. 292
  17. Folkard, p. 294
  18. Witton, A.M. (1978). Buses of South-West England and the Channel Islands (2nd ed.). Manchester: A.M. Witton. pp. 56–57. ISBN 0-86047-122-5.
  19. Curtis, Martin S. (1998). "Some open-topers I have known". Buses Yearbook. Ian Allan Publishing: 97–104.
  20. Spencer, Barry W.; Druce, Colin (February 1991). "End of an era in Devon". Buses. Ian Allan Publishing. 43 (431): 66–68. ISSN 0007-6392.
  21. Billington, Colin (2006). West Country Bristol VRs. Colaton Raleigh: West Country Historic Omnibus and Transport Trust. p. 25.
  22. "Devon". The Open Top Bus Site. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  23. "Wales". The Open Top Bus Site. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  24. "Vehicles in Preservation". Devon General Society. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  25. Folkard, p. 243
  26. "Avon". The Open Top Bus Site. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  27. "Illustrated History for VDV134S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  28. "Illustrated History for VDV135S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  29. "Illustrated History for VDV136S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  30. "Illustrated History for VDV137S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  31. "Illustrated History for VDV138S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  32. "Illustrated History for VDV139S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  33. "Illustrated History for VDV140S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  34. "Illustrated History for VDV141S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  35. "Illustrated History for VDV142S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  36. Morris, Colin (2008). Western National Omnibus Company. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 78–84. ISBN 0-7110-3174-6.
  37. Folkard, p. 240
  38. "Hampshire". The Open Top Bus Site. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  39. "Vehicle fleet hire". Quantock Motor Services. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  40. "Illustrated History for VDV143S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  41. "Illustrated History for VDV144S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  42. Lidstone, John G. (August 1998). "Fleet News". Buses. Ian Allan. 50 (521): 47. ISSN 0007-6392.
  43. Lidstone, John G. (October 1999). "Fleet News". Buses. Ian Allan. 51 (535): 47. ISSN 0007-6392.
  44. Lidstone, John G. (July 2000). "Fleet News". Buses. Ian Allan. 52 (544): 55. ISSN 0007-6392.
  45. Lidstone, John G. (September 2000). "Fleet News". Buses. Ian Allan. 52 (546): 51. ISSN 0007-6392.
  46. "Illustrated Fleet History – Devon General". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  47. "Illustrated History for UWV608S". Bristol Commercial Vehicles Enthusiasts. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  48. "Double-decker bus crashed into Sheffield hospital roof". BBC News. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  49. Lidstone, John G. (August 1997). "Fleet News". Buses. Ian Allan. 49 (409): 49. ISSN 0007-6392.
  50. Lidstone, John G. (April 2002). "Fleet News". Buses. Ian Allan. 54 (565): 50. ISSN 0007-6392.
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