Events

Ten Devon General buses brought back memories at Newton Abbot on Sunday 6th September 2026, at our ‘Devon General Remembered’ running day. They were helped out by a modern Stagecoach electric double decker which stepped in to replace an unavailable preserved bus.

Mayor of Newton Abbot, Councillor Louise Cooke, launches Devon General Remembered at Newton Abbot with DGS Chairman, Sam Merrifield

The following vehicles took part:

• ETT 995 AEC ‘Light Six’ rebuild, from 1937/1953
• MTT 640 Leyland Titan, from 1951
• NTT 661 AEC Regent III, from 1952
• VDV 798 AEC Reliance, from 1957
• VDV 817 AEC Regent V, from 1957
• 872 ATA, Leyland Atlantean, from 1959
• 932 GTA Leyland Atlantean convertible open top, from 1961
• CTT 513C AEC Regent V, from 1965
• VOD 88K, Bristol LHS, from 1972
• VDV137S, Bristol VRT, from 1977
• YX75KXT, ADL E40EV, from 2026

The buses provided free trips from Highweek Way, recreating as far as possible local routes around the town and out to Chudleigh, Combeinteignhead, Ideford, Ipplepen, Sandygate, Teignmouth and Torquay (Lawes Bridge). An open topper ran a circular tour around Newton Abbot and a link service ran to and from the railway station. A sunny day saw a great turnout of passengers for the bus services, with a total of 2,295 passenger journeys made. We would like to thank all the bus owners who brought their vehicles along, our enthusiastic team of volunteers that made it all happen, our sponsor Newton Abbot Town Council, and our supporters Stagecoach South West and Teignbridge District Council. We are grateful to Stagecoach South West for providing their bus at short notice.

Here are some images from the day, provided by Paul Jenkins and Richard Nardi:

ETT 995 Highweek Way Newton Abbot

MTT 640 Newton Abbot Railway Station

NTT 661 Highweek Way Newton Abbot

VDV 798 Highweek Way Newton Abbot

VDV 817 Teignmouth

872 ATA Highweek Way Newton Abbot

932 GTA Highweek Way Newton Abbot

CTT 513C Highweek Way Newton Abbot

VOD 88K Highweek Way Newton Abbot

VDV 137S Highweek Way Newton Abbot

YX75KXT Highweek Way Newton Abbot

Posted 9th September 2026

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If you would like more information about our events, please contact our Events Officer: events@devongeneral.org.uk

36 members, family and friends enjoyed the Society’s 2026 summer outing on Sunday 14th June, touring old Devon General routes in East Devon, with the option of a trip on the Seaton Tramway. Transport for the day was the Devon General Omnibus Trust’s preserved 1957 AEC Reliance VDV 798 (SR798).

A souvenir booklet was produced for the participants, which can be downloaded here:

The tour started at Exeter St Davids Station, and then after pick-ups in the city centre and at Sowton Park & Ride, headed for Honiton via Ottery St Mary, following the Service 4 route (Exeter – Honiton – Axminster). A broken down car blocking the road in Ottery St Mary caused an hour’s delay before the Police arrived to move it, but omitting the planned break at Honiton helped recover some time. From Honiton the tour followed the route of Service 52 (Exeter – Honiton – Seaton), passing the closed Seaton Junction station.

A lunch break was scheduled at the Colyton terminus of the Seaton Tramway, after which many of the participants chose to travel on the tram to Seaton. The line follows much of the trackbed of the Seaton branch, which closed in 1966. The Tramway kindly laid on a relief tram for the 3pm departure so that between the two trams everyone had the opportunity to travel on the upper deck and admire the view on what was a sunny, warm and breezy day. In the meantime, SR798 made its way to Seaton to await the arrival of the tram passengers.

With everyone back on board, the tour resumed by following the Service 48 (Lyme Regis – Seaton – Sidmouth) route to Sidmouth Triangle and then the Service 9 (Sidmouth – Newton Poppleford – Exeter) route back to Exeter.

VDV 798 at Exeter St Davids

VDV 798 at Colyton Station

Seaton Tramway at Colyton Station

VDV 798 at Seaton

VDV 798 at Sidmouth

VDV 798 at Sidmouth

Thanks to Terry Bennett and Martin White  for the photos.

Posted 17th June 2026

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