Isle of Wight Bus Museum celebrates centenary of Vectis Bus Company

Isle of Wight Bus Museum celebrates centenary of Vectis Bus Company

This coming weekend, 9th-10th October, sees a special event at the IW Bus and Coach Museum to celebrate the centenary of the Vectis Bus Company. It was in October 1921 when the company began operating a small number of routes which form the basis of today’s network.

Entry is free, but there is a souvenir Vectis Bus 100 programme available which includes timetables for the free bus services, historical notes and a facsimile of the original 1920s guide.

The Museum opens at 10am on both days and the celebrations will include a recreation of some early routes using historic vehicles. Other vehicles will be on static display, both inside and outside the Museum. 

Southern Vectis was one of the first NBC companies to be privatised in 1986 when it was bought by its management. The Go-Ahead Group acquired the company in 2005.

Southern Vectis a direct descendent  
Today’s Southern Vectis is a direct descendent of the original Vectis Bus Company, with a history that includes the Southern Railway, the British Transport Commission and the National Bus Company (NBC). 

Where
The Bus Museum is in Park Road, Ryde, and accessible by Southern Vectis routes 2, 3 and 8. 

There is no car parking at the Museum, but the nearest, St John’s Road station, is just £1.50 for the day.

Image: © Drawing by the late Reg Davies, featuring one of the original three buses