Thames Valley Traction
| Company type | Private (until nationalization), later government-owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transport (bus services) |
| Predecessor | Thames Valley Branch of British Automobile Traction (BAT) |
| Founded | July 1920 |
| Fate | Merged to form Alder Valley in 1972 |
| Successor | Alder Valley |
| Headquarters | Reading , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | Reading, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Newbury, High Wycombe, Oxford and surrounding areas |
| Products | Bus services |
| Parent | British Automobile Traction (initially 86%), Thomas Tilling (14%), later nationalized under British Transport Commission and National Bus Company |
Thames Valley Traction Company Limited operated as a prominent bus service provider for 52 years during the 20th century, covering areas including Reading, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Newbury, High Wycombe, Oxford, and nearby regions. It was especially recognized for running the "Reading A" and "Reading B" limited-stop routes connecting London's Victoria Coach Station with Reading via distinct intermediate stops.
British Automotive Traction
British Electric Traction (BET) launched British Automotive Developments (BAD) in 1905 to advance motor bus services. The company was renamed British Automobile Traction (BAT) in 1912. In 1915, BAT set up a Reading Branch which was renamed Thames Valley Branch by January 1920. Subsequently, in July 1920, it was incorporated as Thames Valley Traction, with BAT retaining an 86% stake and Thomas Tilling holding 14%, reflecting a close partnership between these entities.
In 1928, BAT transformed into Tilling & British Automobile Traction Ltd. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Thames Valley expanded by acquiring smaller operators and their routes. After Tillings was sold to the British Transport Commission in 1948, Thames Valley became part of the nationalized transport system. Its growth continued into the early 1950s as other nationalized bus companies—including South Midland, Newbury and District (formerly Red & White), and sections of United Counties—were integrated under Thames Valley's management.
The Transport Holding Company purchased BET’s bus operations in 1968. Following the Transport Act of that year, the National Bus Company was established on January 1, 1969. This entity merged The Tilling Group’s assets with those recently acquired from BET, consolidating major bus operations such as Thames Valley Traction.
Premises
The initial location for BAT’s Reading Branch was at 113–117 Caversham Road in Reading; this site had previously been used by a local taxi company. BAT utilized numbers 115 and 117 as office spaces while demolishing number 113 to create an entrance for buses leading to the rear yard and garage.
In January 1916, BAT expanded by purchasing The Cedars at 44 Bridge Street in Maidenhead. Most of the original house was demolished except for its east wing, which was converted into office space. Additionally, a bus garage was constructed on the property grounds.
Vehicles
In 1915, BAT planned to equip its Reading Branch with twenty new Thornycroft 40 HP J-type chassis buses. However, during World War I, all Thornycroft chassis production was commandeered by the War Department for military trucks. As a result, the Reading Branch initially operated nearly-new Leyland S8 buses transferred from BAT’s Barnsley and District subsidiary; these featured 27-seat Brush bodies painted in BAT’s characteristic "Saxon" green.
Between September 1915 and July 1916, BAT augmented its fleet by acquiring twelve new Belsize three-ton chassis fitted with 26-seat bodies—eight of which had second-hand Tilling bodies while the remaining four were equipped with Brush bodies. This fleet expansion facilitated route growth and allowed Leyland buses to be returned to Barnsley between April and November 1916.
The Belsize vehicles suffered from reliability problems. After the Armistice in 1918, Thornycroft fulfilled BAT’s original J-type chassis order between January and May of 1919. Most were fitted with new 26-seat bodies from Tilling, Brush, and Birch Brothers. Two chassis arrived equipped with second-hand charabanc bodies intended for excursions in that year. The introduction of Thornycroft J-types enabled all Belsize buses to be retired by early 1919.
BAT later acquired three additional Thornycroft chassis featuring military-style bonnets; two entered service mid-1919 with basic "lorrybus" bodies designed for rapid deployment. By January 1920—the same month when the Reading Branch was rebranded as Thames Valley Branch—the third chassis arrived fitted with a Tilling body. Additionally, two second-hand Tilling J-types were obtained from East Kent Road Car Company; these retained double-deck bodies dating back to 1913.
Surplus military vehicles became accessible via a depot at Slough after the war. In April 1920, BAT purchased eight Thornycroft J-types for its Thames Valley Branch and acquired numerous ex-military AEC and Daimler vehicles for other branches.
When Thames Valley Branch transitioned into Thames Valley Traction, its fleet consisted of thirty-three Thornycroft J-types—comprising thirty buses, two charabancs, and one lorry—alongside support vehicles such as a Ford Model T van, a Bedford car, and a BSA motorcycle with sidecar.
During the 1920s, Thames Valley adopted Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric buses as their primary vehicles; by 1927 these had become standard across the fleet. The first Bristol Commercial Vehicles arrived in 1939 and were succeeded during World War II by Guy utility buses. After the war, Bristol models became predominant within Thames Valley’s fleet alongside some Bedford vehicles. The company’s livery featured red and cream colors although variations in red shades occurred over time.
Alder Valley
Thames Valley operated under government ownership until it merged with the previous BET firm Aldershot and District Traction on 1 January 1972, creating the Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company. This newly formed organisation was known as Alder Valley, with the company's main office established at Thames Valley's Reading headquarters.