WHAT bus service can you rely on in the Vale? How about a heritage bus service!

The Barry heritage bus group held their first Twilight Event running heritage buses every 20 minutes last Saturday, October 28.

It was also the first time the volunteers decided to open the depot to visitors with free rides on a Saturday afternoon.

Penarth Times: Rhondda 495 AEC Regent V (new 1966) beside Bedwas and Machen 6 Leyland Titan (new 1968)Rhondda 495 AEC Regent V (new 1966) beside Bedwas and Machen 6 Leyland Titan (new 1968) (Image: Supplied)

A spokesperson said: “The Twilight Event not only allowed people to travel on heritage buses dating from 1952 it also targeted photographers, as buses with their lights on look quite different to operating in the summer sunshine.

“All the buses ran full and there was evidence of enthusiasm by local families - including some that had walked a marathon Halloween trail in the morning!”

Penarth Times: Cardiff Bus brought along their Skycar Open Top bus giving free open top trips in the darkCardiff Bus brought along their Skycar Open Top bus giving free open top trips in the dark (Image: Supplied)

Mike Taylor, the group’s chairman said: “All our heritage buses ran, these dated from 1952 to 1988.

“Some were ones we have not run in a while – two we have not operated for several years and missed since the pandemic, the Caerphilly Leyland Tiger, the oldest, and also our 1964 Western Welsh AEC Reliance, although it did not get to Carmarthen and Newcastle Emlyn as it said on the destination blind!

“There were many young children and parents about and I know we had a few visitors from afar – Nottingham and London, at least.

Penarth Times: 1952 Leyland Tiger – Caerphilly Council ready to leave on the first trip1952 Leyland Tiger – Caerphilly Council ready to leave on the first trip (Image: Supplied)

Penarth Times: 1961 AEC Reliance – Western Welsh 1284 on free trips duties1961 AEC Reliance – Western Welsh 1284 on free trips duties (Image: Supplied)

“I am very grateful for additional support from Cardiff Bus who not only brought along a brand new bus on test - one of only two in the UK - but their Summer Penarth route open top bus came along and quite surprisingly people wanted a ride in the open in the rain!

“We have listened to comments and we definitely have got the message that operating on a Saturday is good for some, as all our previous Running Days have been on Sundays.

“As a first exercise like this for our volunteers, we will certainly consider running one again next year, probably in November.”