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AEC buses at the Rallies

This page is in two sections. First is a list of bus rallies and running days in the UK where AECs feature in numbers or are a theme of the rally. Not every rally taking place during the year is included (even though most will have a few AECs at them). "Buses" magazine publishes a full rally guide each year, and there is also information on the web at http://www.skylineaviation.co.uk/buses/events.html

Further down are a number of pictures of AEC buses taken at rallies or running days in the past.

If you would like to add information to this page please email .
For further information on ownership and rallying of all sorts of AECs (not just buses) see the AEC Society website.

Forthcoming events

1st January 2012
Winchester

Annual Friends of King Alfred Winchester New Year's day running day. Visting vehicles of all types which usually include some AECs alongside FoKAB's own pair of ex King Alfred AEC Regents.
www.fokab.org.uk

31st March
Detling

"M&D and EK60". The M&D and East Kent Bus Club celebrates it's 60th anniversary by organising another rally at Detling (near Maidstone), as a follow-up to the successful M&D 100 event last year. This time there will be many East Kent buses too, and a look at the numbers of preserved M&D/East Kent AECS on the Preservation page will give you some sort of idea of what to expect - alongside classic and more modern Leyland, Bristol, Daimler, Volvo types. Many of these will be giving free rides around the site. More details at www.arrivabus.co.uk/MDEK60

29th April
Wisley

The London Bus Museum (formerly Cobham Bus Museum) annual spring gathering, a major event on the rally calendar, is back at its traditional location of Wisley Airfield this year. Further details from the London Bus Museum website.

Pictures

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Open-top 1946 AEC Regal Mk I, new to and converted by Maidstone & District, HKL 836 is owned by London Bus Company and was seen operating during the Ensignbus classic running day in August 2011.


RML2456 rounds the war memorial at Chesham Broadway during the 2011 Amersham running day, an event blessed by an exceptionally warm October day.

London Bus Company open-top RT3435 passes the Beachy Head pub during the August 2011 Eastbourne running day.
 BKT 821C at the M&D 100thr anniversary rally in 2011
Two preserved Maidstone & District AEC Reliances were seen in action giving rides at the M&D 100th anniverary rally in April 2011.
A Reliance, Swift and Regals awaiting their turn of duty at
A Reliance, Swift and Regals awaiting their next turn of duty at the May 2010 Country Bus Rallies Sevenoaks running day.

AEC Swift (Merlin) MB90 stands at Chipstead Witches Lane in May 2010.

Running preserved buses on services isn't always straighforward. Here the conductor of Southampton Regent 367 assists passing traffic after it ground to a halt at Witts Hill with a fuel supply problem.

367 advertises its predicament in the time honoured style before the advent of hazard lights. The organisers did a great recovery job with a replacement Atlantean arriving within 15 minutes and 367 itself running again within the hour.

London Transport AEC Swift (Merlin) MB641 stands at South Mimms during the 2010 St. Albans running day, rescheduled from January to October due to snow.

The prototype Routemaster coach RMC4, one of the London Bus Company's special events fleet, passes through picturesque Great Warley village on an Ensignbus vintage running day in August 2011.
Eastbourne Regent 42 in the dark at
An evocative picture of Eastbourne Regent 42 in the dark at Otterbourne during the Winchester new year day 2010 event.

RMC1485, newly acquired from Mac Tours, awaits its last departure from Grays station during the Ensignbus December 2009 X80 running day.

East Grinstead, April 2010, with two RFs, a pair of RTs and MB90 lining up for their next departures.
Two interesting subjects in one picture - bad photographic practice!
RF395 passes a runner in Burnham Beeches during the May 2010 Slough/Windsor running day.
STL2377 at Lingfield in April 2009
Cobham Bus Museum's pre-war AEC Regent STL2377 trundles through Lingfield on its return journey to East Grinstead in April 2009 .
Aldershot & District 543 (MOR 583) in traditional territory at Selbourne during the 2009 Alton rally and running day
Aldershot & District 543 (MOR 581) poses in traditional territory at Selbourne during the 2009 Alton rally and running day.

Preserved East Kent AEC Regent V PFN 867, with unusual full front Park Royal body, pulls into Sandwich Guildhall during the September 2009 FotEK running day.
RM1990 <font size="-1">at Alton in July 2010
RM1990, preserved in Reading Mainline livery, stands tall in the sun at Alton in July 2010.
A former King Alfred AEC Renown preserved by FoKAB swings round
A former King Alfred AEC Renown preserved by FoKAB swings round in Winchester Broadway during the 2009 annual new year event.
Arriva's Heritage Fleet gold RM6 joins the lineup of Routemasters
An uncommon ECW bodied AEC Regal, new to Crosville and still in the operational fleet of Quantock Motor Service, at Porlock Weir on a QMS running day in 2007
RML2412 loads passengers in the rain for a trip to High Wycombe
Rain fails to deter passengers boarding RML2412 for a trip to High Wycombe during the 2008 Amersham running day.

Willowbrook bodied AEC Swift JRT 82K is a member of the Ipswich Transport Museum operational fleet and works in service on running days.
Ensignbus RT1499 corners in Epping during the joint Ensignbus
Ensignbus RT1499 corners in Epping during the joint Ensignbus and LBC RT event over Easter 2009.
 Leicester AEC Renown 190 at Toddinton during the July 2008 GWR rally and running day
Leicester AEC Renown 190 discorges passengers at Toddington station during the July 2008 Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway rally.

 

 

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