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Services
- Meetings
Society meetings are held in venues all over the country. Speakers are widely drawn to cover current bus and coach industry developments; historical aspects; prospects for the future; and generally to provide the opportunity for those with knowledge and experience to share their thoughts with others of like mind.
- Visits
Visits are made to operators, depots, control rooms and factories throughout the country. Some outside events take the form of a study tour on one theme, such as recent route developments in an area. There is a weekend study tour each year under the auspices of the Society's President (who is usually a senior manager within the industry, but in 1999 was an exceptional journalist - Stephen Morris, Editor of Buses).
- Omnibus Magazine
The Omnibus Magazine is the official journal of the Society, published bi-monthly and containing a wide spectrum of articles on current and past practice, of interest to enthusiasts and industry personnel alike. It is fully illustrated and has overview news of route developments from all areas, plus a diary of Society events and notices.
- Branch Bulletins
Branches publish their own bulletins covering developments in their area. Members receive the bulletin of the branch to which they elect to be attached and can also subscribe to any combination of bulletins for other areas.
- Research Groups
Specialised interest in the history of services in the LT area is catered for by the London Historical Research Group, whilst the Provincial Historical Research Group covers the rest of the UK. Both co-ordinate members' projects and provide a means of exchanging information, with regular meetings and newsletters.
- Library
The John F. Parke Memorial Library, located at Walsall in the West Midlands, contains a unique collection of rare and out of print books and periodicals available for reference under normal library conditions. A separate London-based library at Acton houses our LT-related collection.
- Timetable Library
Also located at Walsall, this is recognised as being of national importance. The Society's comprehensive timetable collection is constantly being added to and contains complete sets going back to pre First World War days. The oldest and rarest are now being saved to microfiche, to make future reference easier.
- OSMART
Omnibus Society members can subscribe to the OSMART sales service which is affiliated to the Society and which buys items of bus literature and complete collections at prices equal to, if not better than, those of commercial dealers. Catalogues are issued at approximately six-weekly intervals, in the first instance to subscribing members only, who thus have first choice of purchasing many rare books, timetables and other ephemera at sensible prices. Details of the relationship between OSMART and the Society can be found here.
- Photo Service
Prints from historic negatives donated to the Society by members over the years are made available in lists at regular intervals. Many of the images date back to the 1920s and 1930s and are professionally printed from the negatives of eminent recorders of that era. The collection is growing constantly.
- New Transit subscription offer
NEW TRANSIT magazine offers monthly analysis, comment, opinions and in-depth investigative features on the public transport sector. Subscribers also get access to comprehensive on-line news bulletins, together with other supplements and directories.
By special arrangement with the publisher, members can subscribe at a 30% discount off the normal price: £66 instead of £95.
To avail yourself of this offer, please send your cheque (made payable to New Transit) and quoting the Omnibus Society offer, to:
New Transit subscriptions
Apollo House
359 Kennington Lane
London SE11 5QY
Phone: 0845 270 7857
Existing subscriptions to the former fortnightly Transit magazine will extend to New Transit until they expire.
National Network
The Omnibus Society is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. The Society's own activities are supplemented by those of affiliated branches and groups across the country. Branches, each of which organises meetings and visits and publishes a regular news bulletin, cover the following areas:
(As you may have gathered, branch boundaries generally align to Traffic Areas although this is no longer true in all cases.)
Historical research is the focus of two bodies; the London Historical Research Group (LHRG) is a branch in its own right whilst the Provincial Historical Research Group (PHRG) is an affiliated group open to members of any of the seven branches.
Membership and How to Join
Full membership gives access to all key services of the Society. Members may also elect to join an affiliated Branch or Group and can subscribe additionally for the publications of Branches other than the one they join. Full details, including the current rates, are set out on the PDF file membership application forms. Completed forms should be posted to the Membership Application Secretary, The Omnibus Society, Willow Cottage, The Street, Bromley, Tadley, RG26 5DD.
We look forward to welcoming you on board!
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