Buses and Coaches in and around Walton-on-Thames and Weybridge, 1891-1986

by Laurie James

Overview

Although the Surrey towns of Walton-on-Thames and Weybridge were for many years served by the London bus network, there were also a number of small scale locally based operators running bus services, before selling out to London Transport in the 1930s. Such companies ran coaches for private hire, contracts and pleasure outings, commencing just after the First World War. This book seeks to newly record the history of these proprietors and put the activities of the London General Omnibus Company and later London Transport into local context. The story starts in the 1890s with horse drawn buses linking with the local railway stations and carries the reader through the dawn of the motor era, the rise of the charabanc, entrepreneurial opportunities in the 1920s and consolidation in the 1930s, World War Two and the gradual decline of bus services from the 1960s. It culminates in a return to a de-regulated operating environment in 1986. Capturing the story of Ben Stanley's Coaches (amongst other pioneers) by using primary source material , the book covers more than just routes and vehicles - it attempts to show how road passenger transport was influenced by local social historic and economic activity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526776068
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	07/08/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	15 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

Table of Contents

Sources & Acknowledgements 6

Preface 8

Introduction 9

The Walton Station Omnibus 15

The Weybridge Station Omnibus 33

Frustrated Pioneers 45

The Omnibus Ascendant 1921-1933 50

Charabancs and Coaches 60

The REO Bus Service 80

Ben Stanley 86

Dennis J. Stevens 113

London Transport 1933-1986 and Aldershot & District 115

London Country Bus Services Ltd 156

Mole Valley Transport Services 169

To London - and Beyond 174

Bibliography 189

Appendix: Known Vehicles of Selected Local Operators 190

Index 207