On the Buses!
Today, being the May Bank Holiday, two traditions were observed in Winchester: firstly, it rained, and secondly, the Friends of King Alfred Buses (FOKAB) held their annual running day. We made sure we participated in both!
My blip shows three of the many interesting, vintage, buses in the city today. The one in the foreground, in the beautiful dark green livery of King Alfred Buses , (being one of the FOKAB fleet) is a 1935 Albion Victor. Today it was giving short, 15 minute, rides to members of the public.
The middle vehicle is a 1950 Bedford OB Duple Vista C23F which was visiting from Stalbridge, and only on display today.
The vehicle at the back is a 1944 Bedford OWB, from Portsmouth,which we saw set off for Stockbridge. It would have been a bumpy 10 mile journey as the seats were just hard wooden benches. (wartime austerity?)
Meanwhile, we travelled to Alresford, and back, on a Dennis Loline double decker which was a mere sixty years old, and which had comfortable, luxuriously upholstered, seats. However it can't be easy driving this vehicle; no power steering and difficult gear changes.
In all, about ninety odd departures from Winchester Broadway to surrounding suburbs and towns were on offer today, free, and on a first come, first served, arrangement.
(There was an invaluable, comprehensive, programme and timetable for sale.)
We got extremely wet in a heavy downpour as we alighted back in Winchester after our ride, but everyone was accepting it as just part of the British Bank Holiday fully immersive experience.
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