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Friends of King Alfred Buses |
1 |
WINCHESTER |
The news route for FoKAB 2003
326 passes MOT Tuesday, 16th December |
The final MOT of the year of the
running fleet took place on Tuesday, 16th
December. Following a concerted effort to re-rubber most
of the windows, the Bedford SB3 coach was presented for
MOT. An hour later she departed First's testing station
at Portswood, Southampton, with a new MOT certificate. Re-rubbering has to be completed on the driver's door and four other windows. This will be completed now after running day. ______________________________________ |
596 passes MOT Thursday 11th December |
596 had
a thorough inspection over the pit the previous week and
a pinhole was found in one of the air lines to the rear
suspension. A new piece of small-bore tube was fitted. Three members then spent a cold wet Sunday afternoon (even though it was not raining!) washing the bus both outside and in. However their task was eased by the fact that a mystery member had already washed the bottom half of the bus! 596 was well presented to the tester on Thursday lunchtime and given thorough examination before pass certificate was issued. There is one more window on the Bedford Coach 326 to be re-rubbered this Saturday. 326 will then be ready for her MOT on Tuesday, 16th December, again at lunchtime. ______________________________________ |
596 successfully road tested Monday, 1st December |
AEC Renown 596 LCG has been off the
road for over 6 months having its engine re-built
following the failure of not one but both of the head
gaskets. Head is split into 2 covering 3 cylinders each. With the final blanking plate fitted to the cooling system of Renown 596, the engine was re-filled with coolant and the starter button was pressed. The engine burst into life sending a grey cloud of exhaust into the Hampshire countryside. Leaving the engine on a fast tick-over, our engineer, Bob Smith, tentatively searched for any water leaks, peering into every nook and cranny. As the engine warmed nothing amiss could be seen or heard. The Road test proved that the engine is pulling well and a further close inspection still found nothing amiss. 596 now needs a good clean before she can go for her MOT booked for Thursday, 11th December. It is a known problem with older engines that low-sulphur diesel causes quite a bit of smoke until the engine has warmed through. With the replacement of the window rubbers on the Bedford SB3 326 progressing, the final MOT of the FoKAB fleet for 2003 is booked for Tuesday, 6th December. ______________________________________ |
704 passes MOT Thursday 20th November |
Only one
minor advisory this time - wear in the o/s wiper spindle.
The coach was superbly presented, as the coach had had a
thorough fettling both inside and out, over one weekend
by the regular driver and his wife. ______________________________________ |
IOW
Bus Museum Sunday, 19th October |
FoKAB went 'abroad' again with PD2
494 and 704. This event on Newport Quay, Isle of Wight,
just gets bigger and bigger. So much so that the
organisers had difficulty getting all the visiting buses
and coaches to the island! All were safely accommodated,
though, thanks to the marvellous co-operation received
from the two ferry companies, Wightlink and Red Funnel,
and perseverance of the Museum's secretary! 494 celebrated her 10th anniversary of her return to our shores from the USA. Next year the running day is being held on 25th April as Southern Vectis celebrates its 75th anniversary in October. ______________________________________ |
Showbus Duxford Sunday, 28th September |
Being a
week later than usual did not prevent Showbus living up
to its nickname "Showerbus". While FoKAB did
not take a vehicle this year, a number of members
travelled on the Volvo Olympian that Stagecoach in
Hampshire had entered. The show is so large; you have to make a decision at the start of day whether to see the buses or the vast variety of stalls. ______________________________________ |
Alternative
Transport Day Monday, 22nd September |
For many years, many towns and
cities across Europe and the UK have held events to
publicise the dramatic effect that traffic has on our
environment. Winchester has been holding this event for
seven years and each year it gets bigger and better. As well as various street entertainment and activities for children, there were demonstrations of alternative powered vehicles running on gas, electric, or dual-fuel. Bus and train companies distributed information about their services and with local campaign groups and local authorities, raising public awareness of travel issues and encouraging people to think about transport alternatives. FoKAB's 1931 Little Dennis "6", OU 9286 again attended, giving free rides around the city and publicising the King Alfred Buses Running Day on 1st January. We also raised awareness of the work of the National Federation of Bus Users (NFBU) by issuing information leaflets. ______________________________________ |
Warminster & West Wilts Sunday, 14h September |
What was
probably the 10th and final running day was
held on a warm sunny day in September. FoKAB helped run
the free bus services and tours with Bedford VAL14, CCG
704C and Tiger Cub, WCG 104. It is thought that was the
first time that Tiggy had been entered. Silver Star Atlantean 42, owned by 10 FoKAB members, was also entered. At lunchtime a special line up was held with Silver Star Tiger Cub coaches 10 & 26. It was the first time that all 3 had been seen together in preservation. David Dawes brought 26 all way down from Dewsbury for this unique occasion. ______________________________________ |
Replacement
600 engine Saturday, 13th September |
Following a free advertisement
being placed in the Bus & Coach Preservation magazine,
we received several offers of complete buses but only one
engine from Keith Baynton. The team of Bob Smith, Brian Goldsmith, Chris Kent and Keith Morton viewed and even started the 600 engine at the Shamrock Buses/BPTA depot in Alderney, Poole. The engine was declared a good one and has been purchased complete on a sub frame with a gearbox. It is thought to have come from a 1967 ex-Plymouth Citybus Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1. Arrangements were made to transport the engine to Winchester and it was duly delivered a few weeks later. Work will not start fitting it until the new year ______________________________________ |
Mrs Hilda Chisnell Friday, 5th September |
It is
much sadness we announce the death of Mrs Hilda Chisnell,
the wife of Mr Bob and mother of Robert Chisnell, on. Our
condolences go to Robert and the Chisnell family. The funeral is took place in Fordingbridge on Wednesday, 24th September. This marks the
very end of the generation that included ______________________________________ |
Provincial
125 Monday, 25th August |
We had hoped to take open-topper
Atlantean 590 as it did operate for Provincial for 2
years, and in their livery, but being still engine-less
it fell to 592 to represent FoKAB along with 704. 592 ran a few of the very popular bus services and 704 performed a tour of Gosport. The weather was a bit overcast, but the highlight of the day was the cavalcade of buses around Gosport in the afternoon was an unforgettable sight. Among the 70 preserved and in-service buses and coaches were 8 preserved provincial buses - a marvellous collection. Visit the Provincial 125 website for a full report of the day. ______________________________________ |
S&DTHT Running Day Sunday, 24th August |
AEC
Renown 595 and Tiger Cub 104 took part in this event
based at Mayflower Park, Southampton. The FoKAB Sales
Stand also attended. 595 ran some of the services to the
various museums in Southampton and to the preserved tug
"MV Calshot" moored in the New Docks. The event was organised by the Southampton & District Transport Heritage trust in conjunction with the Cultural Services department of Southampton City Council. ______________________________________ |
WTS Festival of Transport Sunday, 17th August |
It is the second time this event
has been held and again at the Avon Heath Country Park
near Ringwood. The weather was ideal and 704 performed a service to the Aircraft Museum at Bournemouth International Airport (still Hurn Airport to me) and a typical afternoon tour through the New Forest to Burley and Brockenhurst. There were various free services and vehicles to tempt the visitor, with a good selection of trade stands. There was also a static display of buses, coaches, classic cars and commercial vehicles to view. Organised
by the Wessex Transport Society. ______________________________________ |
Annual Day Out Sat, 9th August |
The
annual members' day out took us on 704 to the seaside at
Seaton. For the transport enthusiast, of course, was the
Seaton Tramway. Its trams run through the glorious Axe
Valley in East Devon, and provide an unrivalled vantage
point from which to enjoy the scenery and wildlife of
this unspoilt area ______________________________________ |
CTP
Noggin, Nosh & Natter Wednesday, 30th July |
And now for something different!
Quite a few FoKAB people are also members of the Commercial
Transport in Preservation (CTP). 2003 was the
twentieth year this informal gathering had been held at
The George, Longbridge Deverill. For the first time, the Dennis "6" and Silver Star 42 went along to swell the small numbers of buses at the gathering of classic cars and commercial vehicles. If you have never been, come next year and be amazed at the sight of over 200 vehicles on show and the informal and friendly atmosphere of this evening event. ______________________________________ |
Alton Bus Rally Sunday, 20th July |
326
having been repaired, the two coaches made it together to
Alton Bus Rally. Yet another warm sunny day in July. This
very successful event attracts many PSVs old and new both
in service and in the static display. There was a display of classic cars and of the St John Ambulance vehicles, along with preserved emergency vehicles. ______________________________________ |
Coaching
Days Remembered Sunday, 6th July |
The LBPT, in conjunction with our
friends from the North Kent Preservation Group, held a
special gathering to remember those happy days when trips
to the seaside, excursions or days out meant a trip by
coach. We planned to take both a coaches, 326, the
Bedford SB3 and 704. Other than running days, the only
other occasion when both have been seen out together was
at the Bedford Gathering in 2002. However, just after leaving, 326 started making odd sounds, later diagnosed as a bearing in the prop shaft. 704 made it on her own. There was a varied selection of touring coaches of the fifties and sixties and interesting coach tours into the Surrey countryside. 704 visited Tattenham Corner up on the Epsom Downs in the afternoon. Could this be the start of annual event for classic coach lovers? |
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News Archives |
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Last story 08/06/02 |
2003 FoKAB news
January to June 2003 King Alfred Bus Running Day 2002 FoKAB news July to December The 704 Story 2002 FoKAB news January to June 2002 King Alfred Bus Running Day 2001 News Index 2001 Winchester & Central Hampshire Running Day 2000 News Index |
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© FoKAB 2003
