36 members, family and friends enjoyed the Society’s 2026 summer outing on Sunday 14th June, touring old Devon General routes in East Devon, with the option of a trip on the Seaton Tramway. Transport for the day was the Devon General Omnibus Trust’s preserved 1957 AEC Reliance VDV 798 (SR798).
A souvenir booklet was produced for the participants, which can be downloaded here:
The tour started at Exeter St Davids Station, and then after pick-ups in the city centre and at Sowton Park & Ride, headed for Honiton via Ottery St Mary, following the Service 4 route (Exeter – Honiton – Axminster). A broken down car blocking the road in Ottery St Mary caused an hour’s delay before the Police arrived to move it, but omitting the planned break at Honiton helped recover some time. From Honiton the tour followed the route of Service 52 (Exeter – Honiton – Seaton), passing the closed Seaton Junction station.
A lunch break was scheduled at the Colyton terminus of the Seaton Tramway, after which many of the participants chose to travel on the tram to Seaton. The line follows much of the trackbed of the Seaton branch, which closed in 1966. The Tramway kindly laid on a relief tram for the 3pm departure so that between the two trams everyone had the opportunity to travel on the upper deck and admire the view on what was a sunny, warm and breezy day. In the meantime, SR798 made its way to Seaton to await the arrival of the tram passengers.
With everyone back on board, the tour resumed by following the Service 48 (Lyme Regis – Seaton – Sidmouth) route to Sidmouth Triangle and then the Service 9 (Sidmouth – Newton Poppleford – Exeter) route back to Exeter.
VDV 798 at Exeter St Davids
VDV 798 at Colyton Station
Seaton Tramway at Colyton Station
VDV 798 at Seaton
VDV 798 at Sidmouth
VDV 798 at Sidmouth
Thanks to Terry Bennett and Martin White for the photos.
Posted 17th June 2026