Nostalgic look at the Western National

9:23am Thursday 24th April 2008

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DON'T drive yourself - mad, Take A Bus!

That's the giant poster on the side of a double decker on the cover of a new book relating the story of the 'Western National Omnibus Company' just out.

The company was formed in 1929 but in 1931 became a subsidiary of the Tilling Group and began operating closely with its sister company Southern National, and both had their headquarters in Exeter. Both also had 50 per cent interests in them owned by either the Southern Railway or in the case of WN, the Great Western Railway, primarily so that each could set up or maintain efficient road/rail connections with its related partner.

But they maintained their distinct identities until the creation of the NBC when Southern National was subsumed into Western National.

Their operations were predominantly centred in Cornwall and west Devon with the major services including routes such as Plymouth to Torquay and Seaton to Taunton. The fleet had about 600 vehicles in 1965.

Author Colin Morris provides a detailed account of the history, operations and fleet of the Western National from its origins through to nationalisation, in this follow-up book to last year's well-received account of companion operator Southern National.

It is a well researched account which also contains an amazing pictorial record in both colour and black and white of the great variety of vehicles operated over the years. This includes a picture of the forerunner of the bus company in 1899 when the Plymouth Motor Car Co had five Daimler seven seater vehicles. Another portrays the first double deck bus in the West Country in 1904. It is in this chapter, leading to the formation of the bus company, where the most interesting photos appear, throwing you back into a much different era than the more familiar buses in the more recent history. They mostly bear the GWRM logo until the formation of the bus company in 1929 when the vehicles passed over. One photo shows the use of trams in Taunton in 1904.

This colourful history of day outings, as well as the birth of regular services and official timetables, leads into the formation of WN in 1929 at the national HQ in London. One poster announces 'Raising the curtain' on the WN coach tours, another of 'something new in motor coaching' the Silent Guide, a novel invention which gave passengers information of the many places of interest they pass along their journey.

The book is packed with detail of how the company grew, expanded by buying other companies, and maps of the services. It will be of great interest to 'busaholics', but also to historians in the region and those simply interested in reading and learning about a colourful, less hectic, time when buses were viewed with much greater affection.

'Western National Omnibus Company', by Colin Morris, published by Ian Allan, price £16.99.