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BASINGSTOKE

The news route for FoKAB

THURSDAY 1 JANUARY 2009, WINCHESTER

The renowned Running Day organised by Friends of King Alfred Buses will take place on New Year’s Day as usual.  The planned city centre re-development is not going to start until next year!  Free services by heritage buses and coaches operate all day in and around Winchester on the former routes of King Alfred Motor Services and other local operators.  Also bus tours, coach tours, display of vehicles, and the Transport Bazaar.  Comprehensive programme and timetable on sale in advance.  Full details available in September from FoKAB, 13 Ashley Close, Winchester, SO22 6LR (SAE please) or from www.fokab.org.uk.  (Registered Charity No. 1078631)

IBM - 50

      Ray Evans and Keith Andrews took 595 to Hursley Park on 5 July for an Open Day celebrating IBM's 50 years at Hursley.  Tours were run around the site, although passenger numbers were rather disappointing.  The highlight of the afternoon was a display by a Spitfire;  during the war, Hursley was used by the Spitfire design team of Vickers, after their Woolston premises were bombed.

595 in front of Hursley House (Ray Evans)  

PROVINCIAL SOCIETY RALLY

 This year the vehicle rally at Stokes Bay, Gosport was split with the bus rally taking place on Sunday 3rd August.  FoKAB did intend to take our 2 Renowns but actually took just one, 595. Both buses were to run some free services. Due to the lateness of the change we offered to run both buses service times.  We arrived at Stokes Bay after a shower of rain. Then off on our first trip to the ancient village of Titchfield, followed by a second. Then we joined the cavalcade around Gosport. With hardly a break we were back in service with a run to Alverstoke, Haslar and Lee-on-the Solent and then another Titchfield.  At the end of the day 595 had completed 118 miles and used £94 worth of diesel.

595 arrives at Stokes Bay (left) and at Titchfield (Right)   

TUESDAY at CENTRAL WORKS

29th July saw some extra activity in Central Works.  During the day we had a team working on 708 including Norman Aish.  708 moves further forward. Slow but sure.

Also during the day we had Phil White visiting to extract the liners from the engine of Silver Star 42. He managed to extract the liners only to discover they are 0.010 inch larger than the ones we have. So we have to replace the ones we have with ones slightly bigger. If\ we can get them.

And the evening was rounded off with a visit from Winchester City Councillors.  Our Chairman welcomed them to our workshop and explained what was going on.  Then they were taken on a short bus ride on Renown 595 before returning to the Works  

Winchester Councillors and members at Central Works

Photograph taken by Pete Staples ©  Peter Murnaghan

Click  here to see pictures of  extracting the liners

PD2 TITAN 494

POU494 was the first of 2 buses for MoT this month and sailed through the MoT.

PANTHER 419

Tuesday 15th July - After some minor pre-MoT work our Panther was presented got its annual inspection and passed without problem.

© PETE STAPLES    .

Photo taken in 1990 before we obtained the Panther badge

ATLANTEAN 590 passes MoT

© John Beer 2008

OLD ALRESFORD COUNTRY FAYRE

   Once again we attended The Old Alresford Fayre, and this time it was with our first preserved vehicle, Leyland Tiger Cub, 104.

    This is a typical old English Country Fair and must be one of the best. It is well attended and well worth a visit.

     Our crew worked hard and provided a bit more than just a Park and Ride service.

Photographs taken by John Beer © 2008

SATURDAY 14th JUNE - Members Evening Tour

 It started like a normal meeting.  7.30 at St Johns House Worthy Lane. Dave Smith collected 595 and brought her up to the coach station.   A few words from our Chairman and the we all departed on 595 to Stockbridge.

  595 performed well and an enjoyable evening was had by all.

STATE of our BUSES as at 14th June

 Nearly every year at this time we seem to have our highest number of buses off the road (VOR) and this year is no exception.  The only difference is that we seem to be having air pressure problems.

  Atlantean 592 developed an air leak in the door mechanism at the end of the Sparsholt service.  Although this is off the low pressure tank that feeds doors and gears, it needs looking at.

   Renown 596 lost air pressure recently whilst in service. Dave Smith was driving and the warning flag came up so Dave stopped. Investigation in our workshop showed the non-return valve in the unloader valve assembly had split the rubber seal and some of it was preventing the valve from closing.

      590 is in the workshop for investigation - soft upper deck floor.

UPDATE 25th June - A new unloader valve was fitted to 596 and tested satisfactory.       

The stripped down unloader valve assembly from 596

SPARSHOLT 2008

    This was held 1 week later than normal on Saturday May 17th - Cup Final Day between Portsmouth and Cardiff - also the weather forecast was wet and windy.

  The day started off dull and we had Atlantean 592, Renown 595, Titan 494, Tiger Cub 104 and “Fluffy” a H&D FLF. All supported by our MIU (Information Unit).

   As usual the event was well organised and at first the crowds were down on last year but as the morning showed no sign of rain the crowds turned up. We were carrying full loads and the double deckers carried in the region of 700 passengers each.

    All our buses completed their duties and returned safely.  

596 PASSES MoT

   AEC Renown 596, called “The Duchess” in service was presented for her annual MoT inspection and passed.

596 with undercoat on engine cover

© Melvyn Loveock 2008

The DUCHESS going through the MoT test

© Barry Thomas 2008

     She has been in our workshop for 6 months getting the structure of the back end rebuilt and the rear light circuitry replaced along with minor repairs like removing dents and repainting the bonnet which was suffering from antifreeze being spilt on the paint from the water filler.

TWYFORD WATERWORKS TRUST OPEN DAY

Photograph © Matthew Feldwick

Added 14 May 2008

TWYFORD WATERWORKS

  The Twyford Waterworks Trust held an open day on Sunday 4th May.  We had 2 vehicles in attendance, Tiger Cub 104 providing a feeder service from Winchester Broadway to the site and Panther 417 as a static exhibit.

    The day was a success for both the Trust and FoKAB as both buses performed their tasks perfectly.

    One of the highlights of the day was the official opening of the old wooden kiosk that used to be outside Winchester Library. It has been many things in its time, from a bus shelter, shelter for the down and outs, store, and even a flower kiosk.   Thanks to TWT this interesting shelter has been preserved for all to see.

35 YEARS SINCE THE KING DIED

A group of former employees of the old King Alfred Motor Services gathered in Winchester on Saturday evening to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the demise of the company in April 1973.  The event organised by the Friends of King Alfred Buses brought together younger members of the Chisnell family, whose forefathers started and ran the city’s municipal bus company for over fifty years, together with enthusiasts and ex- employees.  The party of sixty supporters took a ride in the final two vehicles that ran back into the bus garages in Chesil Street for the last time thirty five years ago.  These were Leyland Panther no 417, which was having its first outing for nearly seven years following a complete restoration, and the Bedford VAL coach no 704, which ran in to the depot at the hands of former coach driver, John Halford.  John was present for this last ride and actually drove 704 into the bus station at the end of the day..

The Leyland Panther operated a late evening trip to Weeke Estate, with conductor David Shawyer who first joined the company in 1956.   The bus was driven by James Freeman, founder of the Friends of King Alfred Buses and returned to the bus station where a commemorative photograph was taken.  This reflected the photo after the very last run in 1973, when the same bus, Panther 417 ran into the old Hillside Garage at the hands of Richard Chisnell.  A number of people were present at this celebration, who had thought that they had seen the last of the old King Alfred back in 1973.  Richard Chisnell said “It is truly remarkable that so many people have come together to remember the demise of our family business all these years after the company was sold off to Hants & Dorset”.  Much of the credit is due to James Freeman who said “Winchester is unique in having had an independent, family run municipal bus company and many of the supporters here tonight have kept alive the memory of this fine company”.

After the run, the party sat down to a supper of Sausages, Potatoes and Onions in the St John’s House, served by members Geoff and Celia Streeter.  The choice of fare was specially chosen in memory of a sideline business established in Bridge Street by the founder Robert Chisnell in the First World War.  As well as supplying transport for the American troops stationed at the army camp on Morn Hill, he satisfied their appetites with Sausages, Potatoes and Onions from a little shop that displayed the initial letters SPO very prominently.  This became a local landmark at the time.

Chairman of the Friends, Peter Murnaghan said “ This is a wonderful way to celebrate not only 35 since the last King Alfred bus pulled in with fare paying passengers, but also 25 years since the first of our, now famous, Running Days, when we ply the streets of Winchester with free buses recalling the old services.  

LONG LIVE THE KING

Part taken from Press Release by Peter Murnaghan

Added 09/05/2008

The original Photo taken in 1973

417 - the last bus to run for King Alfred Motor Services

Taking seats for the SPO meal

The end of the recreation of the last run 2008

27th APRIL 2003

   Our 1970 Panther UOU 417H has been undergoing a major rebuild.    Finally it all came together and it was time for the MoT test.    We are glad to say that 417 passed

   417 will be used on the Anniversary of the demise of King Alfred as she was the last service bus to be run in service by King Alfred.

(Note: I stressed “service” bus because while the celebrations were going on by 417,  Bedford VAL sneaked in having been on an excursion to Exeter)

As well as 417 the following vehicles have passed the MoT test this year.

Dennis 6,   Bedford VAL 704,  Atlantean 592

The next vehicles to be tested are Renown 596 and Atlantean 590

JOHN NEWTON MEMORIAL OUTING  to Swanage Railway, Johns other love in life, took place on Sunday 9th March. The weather forecast was heavy rain and storms but in fact it was sunny and a very nice day fitting for the occasion.  This was an amazing trip. We had 109 personnel attending and took 3 vehicles. VAL 704, Panther 419 and PD2 Titan 494.  All buses performed well except a minor problem with 419. Swanage Railway supplied a GWR tank loco with a wreath on front. It took us to the terminus where we had free time to explore the town. On the return we stopped at Harmans Cross where Canon Peter Burtwell (from Swanage Railway Trust) and Rev Brian Goldsmith (FoKAB) conducted the service prior to scattering Johns ashes

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES - (Adobe FLASH PLAYER required)

2 KINGS on ROUTE 14

   These must be the first pictures taken of King Alfred buses displaying Route 14 on the destination blinds.

    Route 14 was used by Aldershot & District for their route into Winchester so KAMS never used that number and was not even included on the blinds, but on Saturday 1st March Aldershot & District enthusiasts managed to run the route 14 with 6 ex-A&D buses and we provided 595 Renown and 494 Titan PD2.

    Both our buses performed well and Peter Murnaghan was recording the event on his trusty Kodak Brownie. Thanks to Peter here are some of the photographs he took of the event .......

Note:  All photographs are © Peter Murnaghan 2008

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES - (Adobe FLASH PLAYER required)

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Thank you                  .