It is approaching precisely two years ago, on 8 December 2023, when the terrible fire happened. It ravaged a whole fleet of buses, and left just FoKAB’s very rare 1950 Leyland Olympic HR40 chassisless single-decker JAA 708 as a just-recognisable survivor – albeit bent and buckled and largely reduced to its bare frame.
Six months ago, this sad-looking vehicle made the long journey from Winchester to the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum at Lathalmond in Fife, where the work of putting it right could be started. In just half a year, there has already been incredible progress, and we have taken some really tangible steps to turn the reconstruction project from being just a dream to a reality.
Such a complex and all-embracing reconstruction as is needed might well have daunted most, but to FoKAB’s project leader, Andrew Crockett, it presents a very exciting, if enormous, challenge and he is certainly set on producing an amazing result. With his team, he is already well into the first phase of the project, to deliver a rolling underframe by the early months of 2026.
The whole surviving structure of the vehicle has now been dismantled, and everything that survived the fire has been assessed to determine whether it can be overhauled and reused or if it must be replaced. Thus, most of the underframe that is now emerging is mainly brand-new material (all made to original dimensions and specifications, thanks to the availability of all the manufacturer’s original drawings), but not quite all. Wherever possible, the original has been used. Mechanical parts in particular tend to have survived.
Before 2025 is out, Andy Crockett hopes to bring together the three portions of structural work (on conventional buses, this would be the chassis), so that the whole thing can sit back on its axles and wheels so that the engine, gearbox etc can be remounted onto the frame.
James Freeman, FoKAB’s Chair, said: “Before we started this huge task, we sat down and agreed on a project plan in three phases for the years 2025/6/7. Taking account of all the tasks involved, this created an enormous £500,000 budget. “We have never attempted anything the like of this, continued James. “Our challenge is now to raise this gargantuan sum in good time to keep the project rolling. Already, we thank the generous people who together have contributed some £125,000, and on top of that, up to another £175,000 has been committed, but the big task now is to raise the last £200,000 to finish the job. “When the fire first happened, many people responded with gratifying kind words of comfort, and quite a few said that when money was needed, they would want to contribute. To all of you, please, now is the time to dig deep and make a contribution to make sure that we can put this unique Leyland Olympic HR40 back on the road,” said James.
In addition to the usual ways of contributing – by direct bank transfer or writing a cheque, people can now donate to the project through JustGiving.com, which makes it easier than ever to help this project.
FoKAB believes that this is the first time that a monocoque bus has effectively been rebuilt from scratch. To make sure it happens, please make your contributions to Friends of King Alfred Buses Sort Code 40-52-40 Account No 00009790 or send a cheque to us at 2 Highcroft Road, Winchester SO22 5GJ, visit FoKAB’s website kingalfredbuses.org.uk or go to justgiving.com/campaign olympic708restorationappeal2025
Photo credit: James Freeman and Tracey Wheeler
