Alton - 17th July 2005   

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Alton Bus Rally & Running Day held at the town's Anstey Park, in conjunction with Mid Hants Rly [Watercress Line], has become one of the larger events on the rally calendar this year attracting well over a hundred buses alone.  Vintage cars and small display of commercial vehicles also featured.  Organiser Alan Fairbrothers' dream of filling the site to capacity was almost fulfilled in this rallies 11th year.

It was a late decision to add this outing to the A & D fixture list as RML 2440 wasn't available at the advance planning stage.  Fortunately, Steve Legge, proud owner of former central area RML 2676 [SMK 676F], one of the last batch of Routemasters built in 1967, stepped in and saved the day!  With 15 passengers on board we arrived in good time, around 11am, following a very lively RT for the last few miles and were allocated a place in the pre 69 double- deck section [entry No. A48].

Former Aldershot & District 220 [LOU 48], a 1954 Dennis Lance with East Lancs bodywork arrives at Alton Anstey Park on route 14.  Hot on its heels in another East Lancs bodied bus, a brand new Wilts & Dorset Volvo B7TL [HF05 GGK] Open Topper

The optional £4.00 programme included comprehensive timetables and route map as well as a tally of vehicles [with brief histories] and represented excellent value for money, a must-have for making the most of one's day.  My gang were drawn to a brand new state of the art Wilts & Dorset open topper, a volvo B7TL with East Lancs Millennium Vyking body, one of several recently bought for Lymington.  It was a perfect day for this kind of ride, later we paraded around Anstey Park on Brian Pearces' open top ex Guide Friday Atlantean STK 125T [new to Plymouth] gleaming in a more eco Friendly red and cream livery [ex purple]

The Hastings unit arriving at Medstead & Four Marks on a through tour from London 'The Mid Hants Venturer'.

Stations on the Mid Hants Railway were well served from the rally site.  We arrived at Medstead and Four Marks just in time to see the unique green Hastings Unit pass through on a chartered rail-tour from London en route to Aylesford [terminus] for stabling.  A novel way to sample the line and visit the bus rally.  The two steam trains running were both Southern Railway Bullied Pacifics West Courtry 34016 'Bodmin' and Merchant Navy 35005 'Canadian Pacific' [both in rebuilt form, originally spam cans!].  On shed at Ropley were two more large engines resident 9F 92212 and visitor 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' in between main line steam charters.

Back at Medstead in full bus spotting mode again.  Time for a quick look round the bus museum before catching an immaculate red RT 2093 [LUC 291] back to Alton fully blinded for route 15, complete with friendly conductor issuing bell punch tickets.

Alton, being traditionally Aldershot & District territory, it was nice to see an abundance of buses in their familiar light and dark green and cream colours with scroll fleet names.  I believe route 14 Medstead to Guildford via Anstey Park was kept authentic in being the sole preserve of former A & D Dennis double-deckers.

I'm sure that everyone who attended had personal favourites and stories to tell.  For those that missed out on this 'epic' gathering there's always next year - Sunday 16th July 2006.  Thanks again to Steve Legge and his parents Derek and Gill for the hospitality extended aboard RML 2676.

Our transport for Alton was a resplendent RML 2676 [SMK 676F] seen 'gleaming' at the rally site July 16th 2005