We welcome you to the 2026 Taunton Vintage Bus Day with the strap line “A Grand Day Out” as the excellent programme of the day proclaims!
Like the 2025 event, it was organised by the Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust and was filmed by the independent transport videos cameras on Sunday 31st May 2026.
A total of ten routes were operated which included a ‘Western National Mystery Tour’. Our filming locations included Fore Street, Castle Green and Castle Way.
As last year the buses operated from stops along The Parade as the former bus station is still having its construction work done that will transform it into a ‘transport hub’.
Apart from the preserved buses running in service we have also included the contemporary vehicles of First South West where we see the new battery-electric Yutong E10 single-deckers and Yutong U11DD double-deckers in the new Firstbus corporate livery of deep purple and light grey as well as the National Express coaches that pass through the town.
This we believe gives an interesting comparison of modern day vehicles with those of the past. As usual a good number of bus companies were represented at this event.
These included the Bristol group of companies, Devon General, Eastern National, King Alfred, Royal Blue, Hants & Dorset, Wilts & Dorset, Southern National, Western National and even West Yorkshire, some local independents and the list goes on!
We take two rides on this programme for your enjoyment.
The first ride is on route 205 to Wiveliscombe on board former Bristol Omnibus (Bristol Joint Services) C7246 (FHU 59D), a 1966 Bristol Lodekka FLF6B with an ECW H70F body.
We have put a camera on the front bulkhead window, over the bonnet to capture the road ahead and the sounds of the Bristol BVW engine complete with a 4-speed gearbox, which gives a maximum speed of 37 mph – which was perfectly adequate for a city bus that plied the streets of Bristol.
We also have another camera in the lower saloon for the experience of the passengers.
Our cameras return from Wiveliscombe to Taunton for more filming in the town and at Castle Green where the buses were laying over between duties or just on display to be inspected by the many enthusiasts and members of the public.
Our second ride is on the Taunton Town Service – route 272 operated by 1936 (VDV 753), an open-top Bristol Lodekka LDL6G, built in 1957 with an ECW H70RD body but converted to open top in 1973 from the Western National fleet.
This interesting circular route passes the current First South West depot.
Again we have a camera on the front bulkhead window and one in the lower saloon for your travelling experience. We complete our filming on Fore Street and Castle Green as the buses begin leaving for home and some views of the new First South West buses giving quite a comparison of bus design of what went before them!
Produced by - Independent Transport Videos
Duration - TBC minutes
Region - 0 (worldwide) PAL
Aspect Ratio - 16:9 Widescreen
DVD only
Released - July 2026
