Heritage Bus Running Day: Alton

The Alton Bus Rally & Running Day in Hampshire has been a regular fixture on the calendar for a number of years, but this was my first ever visit to the event.

Diagram showing the Country Services operated during the Running Day. There was an excellent programme booklet produced, which included details of vehicles attending, route histories, photos, service maps plus timetables, price £8.

Background

Sunday 20th July 2025 presented me with a dilemma, as there was an Amersham & District Classic Bus Running Day based on Hertford taking place, which is a favourite local event of mine, whilst on the same day, another regular rally was being held down in Alton, Hampshire, which I had not attended before. In the end, I opted for Alton, which would be something new and a bit different, given that I had been to Hertford events on several occasions over the years and had travelled most of the local routes multiple times on preserved buses!

I had been through Alton by bus last year, as part of an adventure riding some of the few remaining Trident ALX400s with Stagecoach in Basingstoke. That occasion had seen me take a return run on Route 13 (Basingstoke - Whitehill via Alton). This time, I was hoping for some further unusual types to sample.

Stagecoach is the principal operator in Alton these days, with routes to surrounding towns including Basingstoke, Guildford, Petersfield and Winchester. Certain local rural routes are operated by Cresta Coaches and Hampshire Community Transport.

However, the traditional bus company in the area was Aldershot & District, which once ran a large network of routes based on East Hampshire and West Surrey, using a green and cream livery. In 1972, Aldershot & District was merged with neighbouring Thames Valley, based in Berks and Bucks, under the made-up fleet name “Alder Valley”, which doesn’t exist as a place. National Bus Company poppy red soon became adopted as the colour scheme for the newly merged company.

In preparation for deregulation, Alder Valley was split in 1986 into Alder Valley North and Alder Valley South, with the former becoming The Bee Line and the latter reverting to plain Alder Valley and adopting a two-tone green and yellow livery. Eventually, after passing through the ownership of Q Drive, the Guildford & Woking operations became part of Arriva Guildford & West Surrey, whilst the rest of the company was sold to Stagecoach in 1992.

One of the older vehicles in service on the Running Day was preserved Aldershot & District Dennis Lance K3 with East Lancs body, fleet no 145, dating from 1950. Seen at Alton College whilst on circular Town Service 254 during the Running Day.

It has a lowbridge body with sunken upper deck gangway. After normal service, it had a period operating school and works contracts, until being sold for preservation in 1964.

Aldershot & District merged with Thames Valley to form Alder Valley in 1972. Leyland National 251 of 1976 is seen at Alton College on the 555 to and from the station.

Whilst this bus is preserved in the later two tone green and yellow livery, it would have been in NBC poppy red when new. It ended up with Guildford & West Surrey, being withdrawn in 1997.

Route 53: Alton - Selborne & Back

Now to the rides, beginning with a round trip to Selborne, south of Alton. The 53 was the original number for the A&D service over this corridor, which ran between Alton and Petersfield. Today, Stagecoach operates a M-S daytime service between these towns under the 38 number.

Despite the morning being a mixture of sunshine and showers, I chanced a journey on an Open Topper - former Southern Vectis Volvo Olympian 4641, preserved in “Island Breezers” livery. After passing through Alton, we made our way out of town into the rolling countryside, past farmland and lavender fields to the picturesque village of Selborne, with its thatched cottages. We reversed at Temple Turning, beyond the village, before continuing back to Alton without stand time. A pleasant 45 min trip to start the day.

Open Top Volvo Olympian with Northern Counties Palatine body 4641 at Alton College after returning from Selborne.

New to Solent Blue Line in 1998 as a covered top vehicle, it later passed to Southern Vectis and bears the “Island Breezers” livery from its days on the Isle of Wight.

Route 206: Alton - Bentley (Circular)

Next, I switched to my first single deck bus of the day, a restored Plaxton bodied Dennis Dart, which are now very rare in normal service but are becoming more frequent visitors to the preservation scene. This example, 3238, was a former Maidstone & District machine, which ended up with Arriva Kent Thameside at Northfleet Garage. It has been repainted in its original M&D traditional livery from the Arriva aquamarine and cream in which it ended its service days.

We departed in tandem with red RF486 for a trip on the circular 206 to Bentley, east of Alton. This was another A&D route which operated a handful of trips on a few days a week, serving a number of villages in a very rural area. Surprisingly, it still runs today, although local independent Cresta Coaches are the current operator.

After leaving Alton, we continued on the main road to Holybourne and Froyle, where we turned off at the “Hen and Chicken” to begin a circular around various narrow country lanes. After short pauses at Lower Froyle and Bentley Cross Roads, with some “hairy” sharp turns, we reached Blacknest Cross Roads, in the middle of nowhere, where there was a photo stop. Continuing on via Binstead Village, we rejoined our outward route at Holybourne and completed the loop back to Alton. 55 mins for the journey.

Dennis Dart Plaxton fleet no 3238 was one of a large batch delivered to Maidstone & District in 1997 and is restored to its original “retro” M&D livery. Seen here at Blacknest Cross Roads on recreated Route 206.

Originally working in the Medway Towns, this bus eventually passed to Northfleet Garage, by which time it had been repainted into Arriva blue & cream. It was withdrawn from service in 2015 and preserved.

Route 254: Alton Town Service

As we arrived back at Alton College, the heavens opened, so to escape the deluge I jumped on the next available bus with a large crowd for a spin on the local circular around the town, the 254. A&D ran similar town services under the 253/254 numbers back in the 70s. Stagecoach now covers much of this by rerouted out of town services instead.

My bus was ex Southern National Bristol VR 1122, not a local example but a type that would have been familiar in the area for many years. For me, it was good to ride a type that I had sampled in many parts of the country from the 80s through to the early noughties, particularly the West Country, Wales and East Anglia, in addition to much of Southern England. Whilst these were very basic vehicles, they were reliable and rugged workhorses and enjoyed a long service life in many parts.

From Alton College, we made our way into town, turning into the High Street, before looping around the southern end and then northbound to the station, providing interchange with South Western Railway services to London Waterloo and the preserved Watercress Line to Alresford. No time for a ride on it today unfortunately, but I will be back on a future occasion! After exchanging a few passengers, we continued back to the college direct, with a deep throaty roar from the engine that typifies this type of bus. A short 20 min circular ride.

Bristol VR fleet no 1122 worked for Western and Southern National from 1978 to 2003, since when it has had various owners in preservation. Seen at Alton College between trips on Town service 254.

Bristol VRs similar to this were once a common sight in Alton during Alder Valley days.

Route 38: Alton - Hedge Corner & back

More single deck action next, with my one former London bus of the day, red RF486. Not typical of the area, but a nice vehicle to ride nevertheless. We were on Route 38 to Hedge Corner, south of the town, a number that has its roots in the Alton - Portsmouth service operated by Southdown that once ran over this corridor as a replacement for the former Meon Valley Railway. The through bus is now long gone, but Hampshire Community Transport provides a very limited service on a few days a week to some of the villages at the Alton end.

After making our way out of town on the main road, we continued through rolling countryside through the villages of Farringdon and East Tisted, before turning at Hedge Corner, near to where a former bridge once took the Meon Valley Railway line over the road. A photo stop, before continuing back over our outward route back to Alton. 45 mins in all on a nicely preserved RF.

My one former London Bus ride on the Running Day was aboard RF486, which worked on various routes during the day, but is seen here at Hedge Corner on Route 38, as indicated by the label in the nearside windscreen. The blinds for LT Route 233 are a strange choice!

This bus operated in London Transport service from 1953 to 1973, then becoming a staff bus and a trainer, before final withdrawal in 1979.

Route 57: Alton - Odiham & back

There was time to fit in one last out of town rounder, so I plumped for the 57 north of Alton to Odiham. I had travelled over part of this route last year on Stagecoach Route 13 which links Alton with Basingstoke, when I was chasing the last remaining Tridents in the area. The 57 number was used by A&D over this corridor back in the day.

My bus this time was a Leyland Titan, not a former London example, but one of the few that were operated by Greater Manchester when new but ended up with Swindon & District, in whose red and cream livery it is restored. Originally fleet no 4010 when new, it became 110 in its second service life.

Taking a short cut from the college through local estate roads, we avoided the town centre and turned onto the country road for a fast run through more nice countryside through South Wanborough and past the RAF Odiham base, before arriving into Odiham itself, where we paused at the George Hotel in the centre of this little town. We were accompanied on the trip by the Open Top Olympian I had ridden at the start of the day, our bus being the duplicate.

After a short break, we continued up to the roundabout on the edge of town, which we circled and continued back to Alton the way we had come. 50 mins for the whole trip.

Leyland Titans were common in London from the late 70s through to the early noughties. However, this is a former Swindon & District example, fleet no 110, back at Alton College after my return trip on it to Odiham.

This vehicle was one of only 10 new to Greater Manchester in 1979 as their 4010, which didn’t last long “up north” before moving to the south west.

Other Vehicles

In addition to the buses pictured so far, there were a considerable number of others present, some in service and some on display only. A few examples are shown in the following photographs.

Proving that Metrobuses weren’t just popular in London & Birmingham, here we see former Reading Buses MCW Mark I Metrobus 162 entering the Alton College site.

Preserved in suitable Reading Buses livery, with appropriate blinds, this vehicle dates from 1979. There was also a former London M at the rally.

G610BPH is a rare preserved Volvo B10M with East Lancs body, new to London Country South West in 1989 and bearing the attractive London & Country livery.

Seen picking up on the 254 Town Service at Alton College. To me, the style of this type looked ugly and old-fashioned, even when new!

Ex London Transport Leyland National LS30 new in 1976 smartly presented with white roof and silver pod picks up a crowd at Alton College on Town Service 254. Note the high backed coach type seating.

This vehicle was privatised to Westlink and also ran with Thames Valley Training and Overland Travel of Angmering prior to preservation.

Conclusion

All in all, an interesting day, well attended despite the rain which continued on and off until early afternoon. It made a change to ride some preserved buses other than the usual ex London ones that are the usual staple of Running Days that I normally attend.

Thanks to the organisers, the vehicle owners and volunteers that made the occasion possible.

Watton

To end, a shot from my previous visit to Hampshire. Stagecoach Trident Alexander ALX400 18523 in normal service on Route 13 takes a break at Whitehill during my run on it from Basingstoke and back in May 2024.

We passed through Alton en route and although a handful of Tridents remain in service at time of writing, most in the area have now been withdrawn including this example.