2018 is 50 years since the last Trolleybus ran in Reading and passengers became reliant on motor buses. TV&GWOT’s Thames Valley & Reading Running Day will mark the anniversary with former local buses from across the decades travelling on town and country routes.
Destinations are being planned to include Risely, Whitley Wood, Peppard Common, Tilehurst and Maidenhead so that a number follow, as closely as possible, former Trolleybus routes.
A combination of long and short routes means passengers can enjoy the countryside or experience a number of different vehicles through the course of the day.
Free vintage bus services will operate from 10am to approximately 5pm from the South West Interchange at Reading Station which is on the site of the terminus used by Thames Valley buses and adjacent to the site of the former Reading Bus Station.
There will also be a small static display. An event programme will be available giving details of the routes, timetables and vehicles operating. It will also contain specially commissioned illustrated articles summarising the Trolleybus era in Reading and the history of Station Hill as the bus terminus
Full Details
Destinations are being planned to include Risely, Whitley Wood, Peppard Common, Tilehurst and Maidenhead so that a number follow, as closely as possible, former Trolleybus routes.
A combination of long and short routes means passengers can enjoy the countryside or experience a number of different vehicles through the course of the day.
Free vintage bus services will operate from 10am to approximately 5pm from the South West Interchange at Reading Station which is on the site of the terminus used by Thames Valley buses and adjacent to the site of the former Reading Bus Station.
There will also be a small static display. An event programme will be available giving details of the routes, timetables and vehicles operating. It will also contain specially commissioned illustrated articles summarising the Trolleybus era in Reading and the history of Station Hill as the bus terminus
Full Details
Vehicles anticipated will be attending are as follows (those marked * will be on static display only):
| Reg | Chassis / Body | Operator | Year |
| Double-decks | |||
| RD 7127 * | AEC Regent (O661) / Park Royal | Reading Corporation | 1935 |
| DBL 154 | Bristol K6A / ECW | Thames Valley | 1946 |
| HWV 294 | Bristol KSW / ECW | Wilts & Dorset | 1952 |
| JRX 823 | Bristol KSW 6B / ECW | Thames Valley | 1955 |
| LOU 48 | Dennis Lance K4 / East Lancs | Aldershot & District | 1954 |
| LDP 945 | AEC Regent III / Park Royal | Reading Transport | 1955 |
| MRD 147 | AEC Regent III / Park Royal | Reading Transport | 1956 |
| SOU 465 | Dennis Loline III / East Lancs | Aldershot & District | 1958 |
| 724 XUW | Leyland PDR OT / Weymann | Devon General | 1962 |
| 859 DYE | AEC Routemaster / Park Royal | Reading Mainline | 1964 |
| CUV 208C | AEC Routemaster / Park Royal | LT Shillibeer | 1966 |
| GRX 140D | Bristol FLF / ECW | Thames Valley | 1966 |
| GRD 576D | Dennis Loline III / East Lancs | Reading Transport | 1966 |
| FWL 371E | AEC Renown / Northern Counties | City of Oxford Motor Services | 1967 |
| NUD 105L | Bristol VRT / ECW | City of Oxford Motor Services | 1972 |
| NDP 38R | Bristol VRTLL / Northern Counties | Reading Transport | 1976 |
| Single-decks | |||
| MO 9324 * | Tilling Stevens / Brush | Thames Valley | 1927 |
| YF 714 * | Guy FBB / Vickers | GWR Motors | 1927 |
| LSU 857 | Bedford OB / Mulliner | Jersey Motor Transport | 1947 |
| EMW 284 | Bristol L6B / Beadle | Wilts & Dorset | 1947 |
| GFM 882 | Bristol L / ECW | Thames Valley | 1949 |
| FMO 938 | Bristol LL / ECW | Thames Valley | 1950 |
| GJB 254 | Bristol LWL-6B / ECW | Thames Valley | 1952 |
| 675 COD | Bristol SUS / ECW | Western National | 1960 |
| 837 SUO | Bristol RELH / ECW | Royal Blue | 1964 |
| OAX 9F | Bristol RELH / ECW | Red&White | 1968 |
| OTA 632G | Bristol RELH / ECW | Royal Blue | 1969 |
| VMO 234H | Bristol LH / ECW | Thames Valley | 1969 |
| KPA 369P | Leyland National / Integral | Alder Valley | 1975 |
| NPJ 472R | Leyland National / Integral | Alder Valley | 1976 |
| E206 BOD | Duple 425 / Integral | Western National | 1988 |
