The Original King Alfred Running Day returned on 6th May 2024 and like last year featured the launch of another fleet member.
One of the long term projects for FoKAB has been the restoration of Leyland Titan YKG 961T to represent the Leyland Titans operated by King Alfred Motor Services that did not survive into preservation.
It has been constructed from two vehicles from the Isle of Man and these were chosen as they feature the same destination blind configuration as the KAMS vehicles.
While it was not quite ready to carry passengers at this event and is yet to be given a registration plate that matches the rest of the FoKAB fleet, HOR 811, it is hoped that it will be done by the September running day.
The Titan was launched by Richard Chisnell, grandson of King Alfred's founder and President of FoKAB, before it set off on a trip around the city with invited guests on board.
Like Leyland Lion RU8678 last year, some of the finer details need to be finished but the overall livery is complete with the King Alfred statue on the sides. The advertising panels are blank with only the solid background colours showing where they will be, FoKAB have had the remains of the Olympic to recover so they may not have been able to devote quite as much time to the details of the Titan. Panther 417 is also carrying the same blank panels so they will presumably get done at around the same time.
Almost all of the FoKAB fleet were out at this running day, the only missing vehicle as far as I can tell was 326 CAA, the Bedford SB3 coach. It is referenced in the programme as running some services but I did not see it and there are no other photos online showing it at this running day.
All four of the town loop vehicles were out at the beginning of the day but the Albion had a problem during the day and was returned to St Catherines Park and Ride out the way.
All three operational single deckers were also out on the King Alfred routes, Leyland Tiger Cub 104 and Leyland Panthers 417 and 419.
Along with YKG 961T, POU 494 was out representing a different kind of Leyland Titan that King Alfred Motor Services operated. There weren't that many, if any, opportunities to get a photo of them side by side at this running day but hopefully in the future they will be alongside each other. Comparing photos of them, it is amazing how different the body makes them even through they are very similar chassis underneath. The engines are somewhat different with 494's making a very distinctive chugging sound that YKG 961T didn't appear to make.
Both AEC Renowns, 595 and 596, were providing a great service as usual and displaying the King Alfred Motor Services livery and the National Bus Company Poppy Red that many KAMS vehicles carried after nationalisation.
The final pair were Leyland Atlanteans 590 and 592. 592 missed the New Year's Day running day this year so it was good to see it back out alongside 590. The weather was good for most of the morning but there was heavy rain in the early afternoon and lighter rain in the late afternoon which was not great for 590's open top.
The final King Alfred vehicle out was Bedford VAL CCG 704C, as 326 CAA was not present.
Standard support vehicle NKJ 849P was not present. Recovery vehicle ESL 132 was on standby behind YKG 961T before departing at the end of the day. Presumably this was to return the Albion back to the workshop for repairs.
This running day had the large number of visiting vehicles, so many that I was unable to get a photo of every one of them. Most of them were operating a number of services to surrounding places and some were static displays in St Catherines Park and Ride.
The most interesting vehicle at this running day was UMP 227, a AEC Regal IV prototype from the London Bus Museum. The original idea was to have the prototype running alongside the Leyland Olympic. These were both early underfloor engine buses manufactured for the general market, Midland Red had underfloor engined buses before but these were manufactured for Midland Red.
Other former London buses present were London Country Leyland National YPL 449T and London United Dennis Dart G515 VYE.
Usual visitor 1013 MW, a Leyland Atlantean, was present at this running day and was operating trips to Alresford and other surrounding locations.
The Stagecaoch stripes livery was well represented by two Coastline single deckers and one Hampshire bus double decker. The Coastline buses were Dennis Dart J552 GCD and Volvo B10M L622 TDY which were both operating routes during the day with 552 going to surrounding places and 622 on Park and Ride shuttles.
The Hampshire Bus was Leyland Olympian F601 MSL and was on static display.
Another operator that was well represented was Wilts and Dorest - now Morebus and Salisbury Reds.
The oldest bus from Wilts and Dorest was EMW 284, a Bristol L6B.
More recent Wilts and Dorset vehicles were Bristol VR BFX 666T and Optare Delta L504 AJT in the red white and black livery.
The final Wilts and Dorest vehicle was HJ02 WDE, an Optare Excel that finished its active service as a Salisbury Reds driver training vehicle but has since been repainted back to Wilts and Dorest livery.
Aldershot and District was another Winchester operator, operating the 14 - which is why King Alfred didn't have a route 14. LOU 48, a Dennis Lance K4, and 488 KOT, a Dennis Loline III, were representing Aldershot and District at this running day.
There were two preserved Reading Buses on display. WRD 162T, a MCW Metrobus. was at last years May Bank Holiday running day and returned on static display this year. It was joined by M957 VWY, an Optare Vecta, that was out on routes from the Broadway.
More regular visitors at King Alfred running days are Brighton Corporation 23 ACD and KPM 91E. Both of these were out, even if the weather wasn't ideal for KPM 91E's open top.
Local coach operator Mervyn's often send their Bedford OB coaches, this year only CCF 648 was present as HOD 75 was taking a year off.
Unfortunately, this was the second breakdown of the day so it had to be recovered from the end of the broadway. This did cause some chaos while it was recovered but James Freeman and the other FoKAB organisers did a great job to keep buses moving.
Mervyn's Coaches did send a replacement bus which was 741 UKL, a Volvo B7RLE/Plaxton Centro.
Two buses on display from Southampton and District Heritage Transport Trust. The older was GTR 484, a Guy Arab MK III, and the more recent was TTR 167H, a Leyland Atlantean.
Southdown was represented by a pre National Bus Company Guy Arab IV, PUF 647, and a post National Bus Company Leyland National, AYJ 97T.
Southdown was also represented by National Holidays A811 CCD, a Leyland Tiger.
The unrelated Southdown PSV company was also represented with V380 SVV, a Dennis Dart.
Other operators from the south coast included Portsmouth Corporation CTP 200 and Hants and Dorest Bristol RE, UEL 564J. The most recent of the three coastal operators was former Yellow Buses of Bournemouth Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking, HF03 ODS, which is now operated by Burrows Coaches.
Further from the coast Bristol Omnibus Company Bristol RE, THU 354G, Badgerline Leyland Leopard PWS 492S, Swindon Corporation Daimler CVG6, JAM 145E, and Lewis Coaches Bedford OB, JDV 754, represented the west country.
One of the best vehicles was WKJ 787, a Commer TS3/Beadle Rochester, operated by Moss Tours on the Isle of Wight.
Nearer London, Thames Valley Traction Company Limited was represented by a Bristol K6A, DBL 154.
Even though the King Alfred running day is in the south of England, there are often a number of buses from the North of England.
North Western Road Car Company of Stockport was represented by JA 5515, a Leyland Tiger TS7.
The furthest operator was Go Ahead Northern from Newcastle with C661 LJR, a Leyland Olympian.
So far I have counted two buses present that I was unable to get a photo of. The first was a Southern National Bristol VRT, VDV 122S. The second was Alder Valley Leyland National, NPJ 472R.
