Nick Larkin reports on a vintage vehicle which has found a new home on the south coast
A benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous has enabled a 94-year-old bus to join the Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB) fleet. The fully restored 1929 Leyland Lion PLSC3 was originally B268 in the fleet of Hants & Dorset Motor Services (H&D) from 1929, working until 1948. It is believed to be the only operational pre-war H&D bus still in existence.
The bus has been based since 2003 at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum (SVBM) at Lathalmond, where the late Dougie Scoular and his son Ross, the previous owners, had rebuilt the vehicle.
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The Leyland is being repainted into the green and ivory livery of King Alfred Motor Services, but the long-term plan is to restore it to its original H&D condition in time for its centenary in 2029.
King Alfred Motor Services took delivery of two Leyland Lions early in 1929, known as ‘Lion 1’ and ‘Lion 2’ and registered as OT 8608 and OT 8609. This acquisition means that FoKAB can now demonstrate how these buses looked, sounded and felt. Although RU 8678 is a native of Hampshire, it was built for FoKAB’s arch-rival H&D, for whom it ran in Bournemouth and Poole for 19 years until 1948, owing its long life apparently to its ability to use the Sandbanks Ferry without modification.
The Lion survived because it became a motor caravan for almost 20 years, before being found and rescued by Colin Shears in 1967 for £50 and taken to the West of England Transport Collection at Winkleigh.
The bus is expected to be the star attraction at the Original King Alfred Running Day in Winchester on Monday 1 May.
