page_title: Open top buses in Torbay
section_title: Western National
hierarchical_section_title: Open top buses in Torbay / Vehicles / Western National
caption_attribution_description: English: An enthusiasts' bus tour in Goodrington, Devon. The vehicle is an ex-Devon General Warship Class Bristol VRT with convertible (open top or roofed) body by Eastern Coach Works, number 937 Victory (VDV 137S).
context_page_description: Devon General first operated open top buses in Torbay in 1919 but reintroduced open top buses on tourist routes in 1955. New buses were introduced in 1961 which were known as 'Sea Dogs' because of the names they were given, but these were later replaced by those of 'Warships'.
context_section_description: From 1971 Devon General became part of Western National but services around Torbay continued to operate in the old name and buses were sometimes moved between the fleets for short term loans or on a more permanent basis. Two rare Bristol LDLs in the Western National fleet had their tops removed from 1972/3 for operation at Penzance and one of these was swapped in 1975 for Sir Francis Drake, and the other in 1977 for Admiral Blake. When the nine "Warship" VRTs were ordered for Devon General, two more were ordered for Western National. Both Atlanteans and VRTs also operated seasonal services at Weymouth. Western National's usual livery for open top buses was white and green, although Sir Francis Drake retained its red and white scheme.
caption: 937 Victory (in winter configuration)
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