The report from FoKAB HQ was that 1577 had left OK to take up the first 47 from Southampton at 0850. The other 6 buses there were gradually being coaxed into starting - thank goodness for the tin of cold start and the battery booster. The SCT Guy Arab was the last to leave, as an electric fan heater had to be used to melt the ice in the linkage to the gearbox. Buses from the north of the county faired better and the first bus into the Broadway was appropriately the 1931 Dennis, the oldest bus in service for the day.

Having driven to Winchester from Totton, west of Southampton, the motorway and other roads were safe to drive at normal speeds. This bode well for the rest of the day, and we only re-routed the service 67 away from Beauworth in the morning as a precaution as it lies on a little used side road. The report in the local paper, the Hampshire Chronicle, reported the organiser's comment "The local authorities did a superb job on the roads". We did not have to cancel any of the services due to the weather.

By 10.00am we had a clearer picture that we were only 2 buses and one coach down. This meant the cancellation of the extra afternoon coach tours and a 66 and 67 service in the morning and a short 68 in the afternoon. Further service were facing cancellation until Redroute Buses offered the use of their ex-East Kent Bristol VRT. This covered on a number of services including a 66 to Hursley and 47B back. The penultimate 214 was cancelled due to an electrical problem on the bus.

The KAMS fleet had a better time this year although not without a few problems during the day. 596, on a service 18 to Springvale, had a list to starboard by the time it got to City Road. The service was terminated at the coach station. Bob Smith and his trusty breakdown wagon were summoned. The diagnosis of the problem was that condensation in the air system had frozen and blocked an air valve to the offside air suspension bag. Careful warming solved the problem and 596 was soon back in the Broadway for her next rostered service.

As a precaution after last year's spate of punctures, spare wheels were taken for each bus. Luckily only the Dennis succumbed with one in the nearside outer tyre that was straight forward to change between services. 419 developed a charging problem and it was fitted with a spare set of batteries brought along "just in case". After Running Day the defects board at FoKAB HQ had remarkably few comments.

The star of the day was no doubt be our latest preservation project, Bedford VAL14, CCG 704C, in public service for the first time. The free tickets for the coach tours were soon snapped up, as were those for the two coach services to Sutton Scotney.

There were, though, other surprises. The southern division of Wilts & Dorset brought the Poole Tramway Centenary liveried Bristol VRT 4422. It operated service 14 journeys to Alresford instead of A&D 506. Rexquote Heritage Motor Services unfortunately had not completed in time MOT remedial work on the Crosville LD. Steve Morris always has something unusual up his sleeve. This year it was an ex-North Western AEC Reliance with Alexander body, still the livery of Sureline, Lurgan.

A visit to the coach station or the back of the bus station is always worth a visit. Amongst others the coach station had both ex-Southern Vectis RE coaches. The bus station contained MK Metro's training National originally owned by Southdown and a Bristol RESL, new to Thamesdown Transport but in the livery of its last owner, Busways.

Selling books, photos, models and transport memorabilia, the Transport Enthusiasts Bazaar was again held in the Saxon Suite of the Guildhall and the St. John’s Rooms, both right next to the bus terminal in the Broadway. As usual we had more applications from stallholders for space than we could accommodate.
The FoKAB refreshment bar in the Saxon Suite did a roaring trade in hot drinks - the hot chocolate running out before lunch! All the crews were issued with free hot drink vouchers.

Many thanks to FoKAB for another impressive day of running buses to all corners of Winchester and the surrounding area! Congratulations to all concerned, I understand how difficult it is to get everything
co-ordinated and working. Best wishes for the year and next year's event!

Much to our surprise we were 'promoted' to Old Glory. Alan Barnes came along and had a ride on several services. His report finishes by saying "Much better a running day than a static display in a car park. Buses were made to carry people n the road, and this is where this event scores over many others." Alan's 2-page report can be found in the February edition priced £2.95. There are pictures of KAMS Dennis 6, 596and coach 704 plus David Shepherd's H&D Lodekka gleaming like a new bus.

A further report appeared in the magazine Heritage Commercials, the new name for Vintage Commercial Vehicles.