BACKGROUND HISTORY

Two former Crosville staff members, Brian Randall and Paul Edward Donnelly formed the firm Devaway in August 1987. Brian had been an Assistant Traffic Manager and Paul an engineer.

The main base, which was retained throughout, was at Bretton between Chester and Hawarden. Their first main contracts were in the Cheshire area. However they established a firm stronghold of services competing with Crosville Wales in various areas around Deeside and Mold.

Sub-depots were established in Coed Talon Station Yard, Pontybodkin and also at Bodycraft, Rossbank Road, Ellesmere Port.

The first batch of vehicles purchased were from Halton Borough Transport which had a livery of red and white. This also became the livery adopted by Devaway with some minor variations.

The fleet was mainly obtained in batches from municipals or other large operators. The most common vehicles used were Leyland Nations. Over a third of the fleet owned were of this type. Among the Leyland Nationals obtained from Halton Borough was C49OCM which was the last ever National to be manufactured. It is currently preserved. An interesting batch was purchased from Darlington Transport of a fleet of six Ward Dalesman GRX1 with Wadham Stringer B46D bodies. These are believed to be the only six such vehicles manufactured and were not very successful. Devaway scrapped them within 2 years of acquiring them.

Paul withdrew from the partnership in 1996 and the business was sold to Crosville Wales in March 1998. The final fleet of nineteen vehicles were transferred and the depot at Bretton was used for a while until a new depot was established in Manor Lane, Hawarden. A number of those transferred were given the new livery of Arriva following the change of Crosville Wales to Arriva Cymru in April 1998.

HISTORIC FLEET LIST

The table below gives a list of all recorded vehicles known to have been with this operator. I am indebted to David Donati for his dedicated work in compiling this data and enabling me to present it.

In the right hand column - where available - there is a link to a photograph of the vehicle. The photo will open in a new window. Links in CAPITAL LETTERS suggest the vehicle is seen when with the operator.

Chassis and body numbers are to be found on the right hand side of the table below. You may need to scroll to see them.

© Ron Hughes and David Donati - any reproduction should give credit to the originator and may require permission.