The 1st March 2008 was blessed with dry
sunny weather as members, bus enthusiasts and the public gathered to celebrate
50 years of the Dennis Loline. The event was marked by operating a free
bus service over the former Aldershot & District route 14 - Aldershot
to Winchester. Dennis Lolines first operated on this route in March 1958
and a preserved ex-Aldershot Dennis Loline number 357 (SOU 465) was the
star of the day. This bus worked the 10.00 departure from Aldershot over
the 33-mile route, returning from Winchester at 13.30. In 1958 the journey
was times at 1 hour 52 minutes and for the re-creation of the route, a
2 hour timing was used, to allow for photo stops and possible Saturday
traffic congestion.
The route operated from Aldershot Bus Station, leaving the town via
High Street and Chetwode Terrace. It then passed through Heath End and
Hale to Farnham, from there continuing to Bentley, Froyle and Alton. The
14 then passed through a series of villages, these being Chawton (location
of Jane Austen's cottage), Four Marks, Ropley and Bishops Sutton en-route
to the attractive Hampshire town of Alresford. After Alresford the route
avoids the main road and runs through Itchen Stoke, Itchen Abbass and the
'Worthys', namely Martyr Worthy and Kings Worthy, finally entering Winchester
via City Road and terminating at the Bus Station. It was possible to follow
the original route almost exactly, with the exception of parts of the road
now converted to dual carriageway and the Bus stations at each end, which
are used on Saturdays for commercial services.
Some other Dennis vehicles came along to join in the fun. These included
a 1954 Dennis Lance K4, ex-Aldershot 220 (LOU 48), another bus which, when
new, started its work on the 14 road, in this case in February 1954. In
addition no less than three Mk III Dennis Lolines were able to take part
on March 1st. They were ex-Aldershot & District 488, 503 and 506 (488
KOT, AAA 503C and AAA 506C). The timetable for the day provided no less
than 9 journeys over the route.
Through the strong association exists between the Dennis, Aldershot
& District and King Alfred Bus enthusiasts groups, two vehicles from
the latter association, one a Leyland and the other an AEC, contributed
to the event by working some journeys between Winchester and Alton.
The event was well attended throughout the day and in fact the 10.00
journey starting from Aldershot attracted over 80 passengers, so it is
fortunate that two buses were provided. The photographs show some scenes
from the day. |