Torpoint Depot

Bus services started in the Torpoint area just after the First World War with H J Harris of Antony. As most enterprises at this time he motorised his carriage business. He provided a service from Tregantle and Antony (and Crafthole later) to Torpoint. Here was the crossing by steam ferry to Devonport and Plymouth.

The business expanded to provide char-a-banc and toastrack vehicles to take passengers from the ferry to the beaches of East Cornwall.

After a fire at the garage the business and route was continued by E E Chalk who introduced another route to Whitsands (Freathy). This service was acquired by WNOC in 1933 to become their 77A. The business then passed to Skinners at Millbrook.

Skinners (Supreme Coaches) founded in 1916 had by 1943 acquired another firm operating from Kingsand. This was E S Haddy & Sons. This business also dated from the First World War.

Another early operator dating from 1919 was the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co Ltd who as with Harris provided routes from the passenger ferry from Cremyll to North Corner, Devonport. In 1946 they acquired Skinners & Sons of Millbrook and thus established the basis of the routes on the Rame Peninsula.

To round off this part MS&TC Ltd was acquired by Western National in 1968. They acquired the bus licences but no vehicles. (The coach licences went to Embankment in Plymouth).

However in 1925 another operator appeared on the scene. This was the highly succesful Devon Motor Transport. They operated a service from Torpoint to Looe and Polperro. By 1927 the depot at Torpoint was well established with new services to Liskeard and Saltash with local services to Downderry and Seaton


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The depot shown in this aerial view was established by DMT, passing to NOC Ltd in 1927 and then to WNOC Ltd in 1929. It would appear that DMT bought the land in Trevol Road and built the first garage there.

The depot still continues to this day after WNOC Ltd evolved into First Devon & Cornwall.















Naturally I have no very early photos of the depot as it was not until the late 1970s that I could afford taking photos. Nevertheless here are a few memories !









Gradually the VRT was used for the schools contracts with at first some series 2 buses. Single decks were usually the LH DPs.









However for many years Torpoint was associated with three of the original series 1 flat screen VRTs. They survived long enough to receive the "Captain Birdseye" livery.





Then came the Nationals ! These were sourced from Badgerline subsideries and on one occasion pressed into service before applying the livery !









Eventually some VRTs were altered to allow them to use the ferry more easily.







At times independents have been used on contracts.