Alder Valley (Aldershot and District)

The cover of the Aldershot and District timetable book dated 30 September 1963 to 10 May 1964. It was quite a small pocket sized book which featured a painting of the ‘Red Church’ in Aldershot and part of one of the company’s Dennis Loline double deckers on the cover. The Royal Garrison Church of All Saints was consecrated in July 1863 and was the first of all Garrison Churches throughout the British Empire becoming the most important church in the British Army.

The timetable for the Aldershot and District Farnham to London express service contained in the company’s timetable book effective 30 September 1963 to 10 May 1964. The basic format of the service remained unchanged for many years.

Saturday 27 January 1973 - Alder Valley 333 (469 FCG) seen in Aldershot bus station. It was a Park Royal bodied AEC Reliance new to Aldershot and District in March 1963 as fleet number 469. Alder Valley was the trading name of The Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company Limited which was created when the NBC merged Thames Valley and A&D.

October 1973 - Alder Valley 332 (468 FCG) seen picking up on Victoria Road in Farnborough (Elm Grove Road is on left). A Park Royal bodied AEC Reliance new to Aldershot and District in March 1963 (468) painted in the National Bus Company ‘local coach’ livery’. (Alder Valley was the trading name of The Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company Limited which was created when the NBC merged Thames Valley and A&D).

Sunday 1 September 1974 – In a location unrecognisable today, these two Alder Valley Park Royal bodied AEC Reliances were picking up on Farnborough Road in Farnborough when operating the Farnham to London express service. They had been new to Aldershot and District. Under the National Bus Company A&D was merged with Thames Valley to create The Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company Limited which traded as Alder Valley. The leading coach is painted in the National Bus Company ‘local coach’ livery’ whereas the duplicate coach still carries the cream and crimson livery adopted when Alder Valley was created. When new the crimson area would have been in A&D’s green.

Saturday 27 January 1973 - Alder Valley 51 (VCG 598H), a Duple Commander bodied AEC Reliance, seen at Aldershot when working the London to Farnham express service. When new to Aldershot and District (as their 598 in June 1970) it would have sported the company’s coach livery of cream with green relief. In the early 1970s the National Bus Company formed National Travel and introduced the white based coach livery which was applied to the vehicles on this service. However, it was considered that this shorter haul service fell outside the remit of the National Travel network and later it became more of a local express service employing vehicles carrying the NBC ‘local coach’ livery. (Alder Valley was the trading name of The Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company Limited which was created when the NBC merged Thames Valley and A&D).

Saturday 27 January 1973 - Alder Valley 52 (VCG 599H), a Duple Commander bodied AEC Reliance new in June 1970, seen at Aldershot when working the Farnham to London express service. When new to Aldershot and District (as their 599 in June 1970) it would have sported the company’s coach livery of cream with green relief. In the early 1970s the National Bus Company formed National Travel and introduced the white based coach livery which was applied to the vehicles on this service. However, it was considered that this shorter haul service fell outside the remit of the National Travel network and it became more of a local express service employing vehicles carrying the NBC ‘local coach’ livery. (Alder Valley was the trading name of The Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company Limited which was created when the NBC merged Thames Valley and A&D).

Wednesday 24 January 1973 – This is Farnborough Road in Farnborough which is a location unrecognisable today. Roughly opposite Oak Road the area behind the coach now forms part of the town’s modern day shops, offices and car parks. Alder Valley 52 (VCG 599H), a Duple Commander bodied AEC Reliance new in June 1970, had just pulled away from the stop as it continued on its way when working the Farnham to London express service. When new to Aldershot and District (as their 599 in June 1970) it would have sported the company’s coach livery of cream with green relief. In the early 1970s the National Bus Company formed National Travel and introduced the white based coach livery which was applied to the vehicles on this service. However, it was considered that this shorter haul service fell outside the remit of the National Travel network and it became more of a local express service employing vehicles carrying the NBC ‘local coach’ livery. (Alder Valley was the trading name of The Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company Limited which was created when the NBC merged Thames Valley and A&D).

Sunday 20 August 1972 - Alder Valley 53 (VCG 600H) seen on Farnborough Road in Farnborough close to Farnborough Main railway station. With the road layout changes I would say that the house behind is one that is now accessed from Clock House Road and from this location is shrouded in trees and barely visible. The Duple Commander bodied AEC Reliance which was new to Aldershot and District (as their 600 in June 1970) working the Farnham to London express service. When new it would have sported the company’s coach livery of cream with green relief. In the early 1970s the National Bus Company formed National Travel and introduced the white based coach livery which was applied to the vehicles on this service. However, it was considered that this shorter haul service fell outside the remit of the National Travel network and it became more of a local express service employing vehicles carrying the NBC ‘local coach’ livery. (Alder Valley was the trading name of The Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company Limited which was created when the NBC merged Thames Valley and A&D).

Wednesday 25 September 1974 – An internal mail satchel beside the driver’s seat on board an Alder Valley Duple Commander bodied AEC Reliance which was working the Farnham to London service.

September 1974 - This shop at 61 Victoria Road, Farnborough was the business owned by Mr. Coney who acted as a booking agent for the Aldershot and District Traction Company and later Alder Valley (The Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company). An Alder Valley display board stands in the window to the right of the door. The headboard over the shop tells that Mr Coney sold and repaired bicycles as well as selling coach and theatre tickets.

Saturday 19 May 1984 – When Eastern Counties Omnibus Company began operating their ‘Eastline’ service 790 limited stop service between Cambridge and Great Yarmouth single deck vehicles were employed. They carried a white based livery with a broad red band although were only fitted with standard bus seats. The service proved quite successful and the company later used Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR double deckers of their own that carried the mainly white livery. Later still they loaned some similar buses from fellow National Bus Company owned Alder Valley (The Thames Valley and Aldershot Omnibus Company) which had higher backed seating. Alder Valley 983 (CJH 123V) is seen here at King Street, Mildenhall when working the 1520 trip from Cambridge bound for Great Yarmouth. The entrance to the car park can be seen beyond the rear of the bus. When the lay-by was remodelled this entrance was closed off and cars entered and left the car park in Recreation Way. Note the town map in the display case which was a feature for many years.

Thursday 2 March 2023 (1200) – Brylaine Travel Limited of Wyberton near Boston, Lincolnshire WK11 APV seen in Woodhall Spa when working the 1100 service B5 from Lincoln to Boston. It is an Optare Solo SR M995 that had been new to Western Greyhound, Summercourt, Cornwall in April 2011. The ‘995’ in the model name indicates the length in centimetres. Brylaine operates regular bus services radiating from Boston to Horncastle, Lincoln, Skegness, Spalding and Spilsby plus local bus services around Boston.

Thursday 2 March 2023 (1159) – Brylaine Travel Limited of Wyberton near Boston, Lincolnshire WK11 APV seen in Woodhall Spa when working the 1100 service B5 from Lincoln to Boston. It is an Optare Solo SR M995 that had been new to Western Greyhound, Summercourt, Cornwall in April 2011. The ‘995’ in the model name indicates the length in centimetres. Brylaine operates regular bus services radiating from Boston to Horncastle, Lincoln, Skegness, Spalding and Spilsby plus local bus services around Boston.

Thursday 2 March 2023 (1200) – Brylaine Travel Limited of Wyberton near Boston, Lincolnshire WK11 APV seen in Woodhall Spa when working the 1100 service B5 from Lincoln to Boston. It is an Optare Solo SR M995 that had been new to Western Greyhound, Summercourt, Cornwall in April 2011. The ‘995’ in the model name indicates the length in centimetres. Brylaine operates regular bus services radiating from Boston to Horncastle, Lincoln, Skegness, Spalding and Spilsby plus local bus services around Boston.

Sunday 25 September 1994 – Preserved former Aldershot and District Traction 503 (AAA 503C) seen at Showbus, Duxford. It is a Weymann bodied Dennis Loline III that was new in January 1965. The Dennis factory was in Guildford, a town in the heart of the Aldershot & District operating territory, and A&D favoured Dennis vehicles for many years. The Dennis Loline chassis was based on the Bristol Lodekka design. Since Bristol vehicles were only manufactured for the state owned Transport Holding Company subsidiaries the Loline was built under licence for sale on the open market.

Sunday 17 September 1989 – Preserved former Aldershot and District Traction 503 (AAA 503C) seen at the Cambus Garage Open Day in Cambridge. It is a Weymann bodied Dennis Loline III that was new in January 1965. The Dennis factory was in Guildford, a town in the heart of the Aldershot & District operating territory, and A&D favoured Dennis vehicles for many years. The Dennis Loline chassis was based on the Bristol Lodekka design. Since Bristol vehicles were only manufactured for the state owned Transport Holding Company subsidiaries the Loline was built under licence for sale on the open market.

Sunday 26 September 1993 – Preserved former Aldershot and District Traction 543 (MOR 581) seen at Showbus, Duxford. An AEC Reliance MU3RV the chassis of which was new in August 1954 fitted with a coach body by Strachans. It was re-bodied with this Weymann bus body in January 1967.