This says it all. 17th August 2013 Copyright Roger Salter
Saturday 17th August was 110 years to the day that the first Great Western Railway bus service was launched from Helston to The Lizard.
Unfortunately the weather was not the best which Cornwall could offer, the rain intensity increasing as the cavalcade arrived at the Lizard.
The Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust celebrated the inaugural service of the GWR bus with a cavalcade of historical buses along the original route. The 1927 GWR Guy bus was brought from Maidenhead specially for this event. The bus which originally operated from Penzance depot later became a hoilday home at Perranporth and suvived mechanically intact until rescued by Colin Billington in 1997. Since then it has been completely restored to its original condition.
It came to Cornwall in for the centenary in 2003 at which time the body was just a skeleton and again in April 2011 when it was displayed at the Penzance Vintage Bus Running Day.
The Cornwall Bus Preservation Society’s 1978 Bristol VR double decker, which was painted in GWR livery for the centenary of this famous bus service in 2003, also taking part was one of First Kernow’s modern low floor buses, which has been specially painted in traditional GWR livery.
First, who operate this route today are the successors to the GWR, operating both buses and railways, the latter under the First Great Western franchise, in Cornwall.
This information obtained from the web press release. Every congratulation to the Thames Valley & Grate Western Omnibus Trust for the display.
We are most grateful to Roger Salter for the pictures which follow.
Unfortunately the weather was not the best which Cornwall could offer, the rain intensity increasing as the cavalcade arrived at the Lizard.
The Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust celebrated the inaugural service of the GWR bus with a cavalcade of historical buses along the original route. The 1927 GWR Guy bus was brought from Maidenhead specially for this event. The bus which originally operated from Penzance depot later became a hoilday home at Perranporth and suvived mechanically intact until rescued by Colin Billington in 1997. Since then it has been completely restored to its original condition.
It came to Cornwall in for the centenary in 2003 at which time the body was just a skeleton and again in April 2011 when it was displayed at the Penzance Vintage Bus Running Day.
The Cornwall Bus Preservation Society’s 1978 Bristol VR double decker, which was painted in GWR livery for the centenary of this famous bus service in 2003, also taking part was one of First Kernow’s modern low floor buses, which has been specially painted in traditional GWR livery.
First, who operate this route today are the successors to the GWR, operating both buses and railways, the latter under the First Great Western franchise, in Cornwall.
This information obtained from the web press release. Every congratulation to the Thames Valley & Grate Western Omnibus Trust for the display.
We are most grateful to Roger Salter for the pictures which follow.
The star of the show waiting in Station Road, Helston prior to the journey to the Lizard on Saturday 17th August 2013. Copyright Roger Salter.
A kerbside view of this beautifully restored vehicle in Station Road, Helston. 17th August 2013. Copyright Roger Salter
The 1927 GWR Guy bus which was brought from Maidenhead specially for this event. Seen here outside the former Helston station alongside the platform a little of which remains. 17th August 2013 Copyright Roger Salter
The Cornwall Bus Preservation Society’s 1978 Bristol VR double decker, which was painted in GWR livery for the centenary of this famous bus service in 2003, Copyright Roger Salter. This picture as above alongside the former platform at Helston. 17th August 2013. The person 'saluting from the top deck is none other than Roger Winnen.
One of First Kernow’s modern low floor buses, which has been specially painted in traditional GWR livery for this event. Same location as above. 17th August 2013. Copyright Roger Salter
The 'stars' take a photocall at the Lizard. 17th August 2013. Copyright Roger Salter