Oxford Diecast RT023

Devon General RT - 1:76 Scale

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest

Manufacturer description

The history of the company dates back to the formation of Devon General Omnibus & Touring Co. Ltd in 1919 to operate buses in Devon. In 1920 the Torquay Tramways Company, part of the British Electric Traction group, was facing competition from Devon General and purchased its own buses, and in 1922 purchased Devon General itself. Devon General therefore became part of the BET group. In 1968 BET sold its bus interests, including Devon General, to the state-owned Transport Holding Company, and thus became part of the National Bus Company when it was formed in 1969. In April 1970 Devon General acquired the interests of the Exeter municipal operation adding another 60 buses to the fleet, but soon after, in January 1971, the National Bus Company transferred the operations of Devon General to Western National. The Devon General name was retained as a brand name of Western National.To prepare for privatisation, the National Bus Company split Western National into four new companies in 1983, one of which was Devon General Ltd, operating in the territory of the old Devon General in south and east Devon. Devon General became the first NBC operation to be returned to the private sector in August 1986 under the 1985 Transport Act.

Catalogue listing

Oxford Diecast Devon General RT – 1:76 scale model, reference RT023. The model depicts a Devon General omnibus from the period when British Railways used its early crest. It is produced in die‑cast metal and rendered in the livery appropriate to the era.

The Devon General Omnibus & Touring Co. Ltd was formed on 1 January 1919 to operate bus services in Devon. In 1920 the Torquay Tramways Company, part of the British Electric Traction group, bought buses to compete with Devon General and, in 1922, acquired Devon General itself, bringing it into the BET group. BET sold its bus interests, including Devon General, to the state‑owned Transport Holding Company in 1968, and the company became part of the National Bus Company when that was created on 1 January 1969. After a series of transfers, the Devon General brand was retained by Western National and later re‑established as an independent company in August 1986 following privatisation.