Post-World War II, Dartmoor farmer Frederick Trathen and his son Eric drove their lorry, containing produce, to the market 13 miles (21 km) away in Plymouth.

The relatively low-priced service compared to the rival National Express, in a style more akin to the new InterCity 125 trains, brought about fast expansion for the family-owned firm.

The 12 acres (4.9 ha) site was developed with an airport-style coach holiday departure lounge, large car park, and 1,200 square metres (13,000 sq ft) workshop, with associated paint shop, offices and stores.

Trathens had also greatly expanded its excursion operations, with weekly services into all of the major holiday destinations in Europe, as well as a West Country-based chain of direct-marketing travel agencies.

[4] Following another series of tachograph- related court cases brought by the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency, Park's dropped the Trathen's brand in 2009.