Preserved former Silver Star 42 (1013 MW) in Winchester - 1 Jan 2004 (518-35A}

Thursday 1 January 2004 – ‘Friends of King Alfred Buses’ (FoKAB) Running Day at Winchester (and surrounding area)

Preserved former Silver Star Motor Services Ltd 42 (1013 MW), a 1962 Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1 with Weymann ‘partial lowbridge’ body.

SSMS catered for many of the military camps on Salisbury Plain. This was the last new vehicle bought by SSMS prior to the takeover by Wilts & Dorset Motor Services in 1963.

Seen here just after leaving Winchester Bus Station as part of the ‘Friends of King Alfred Buses’ annual running day, held New Year’s Day, which sees preserved buses and coaches running a network of fully timetabled free services creating a 1960s atmosphere.

Inspired by the Atlantean coaches operated by Ribble, SSMS had ideas of running these vehicles on its weekend military services to major cities in Britain although the Traffic Commissioners wouldn’t approve it. However, the red relief within the body mouldings resembles that used on Ribble’s coaches.