AEC Reliance Single Deck Bus XHO 370 (Fleet No. 370) Weymann bodied AEC Reliance 370 at Plaistow, Sun Inn. Specification .....Chassis : AEC Reliance 2MU3RV2802 .....Engine : AEC Type AH 410, (converted to Type AH 470 in 1968) .....Gearbox : 5 Speed, syncromesh gearbox .....Body : Weymann 40 seat, front entrance, dual purpose, single deck bus   Aldershot & District Service History AEC Reliance, Reg. No. XHO 370, A&D Fleet No 370, entered service with Aldershot & District Traction Co. Ltd on the 1st January 1960. It was operated from the Guildford Depot, where it remained throughout its operational life. It was the first of a batch of eight, (XHO 370 -XHO 377), repeat order Reliance single deck buses, built in 1959 and fitted with the BET standard design dual purpose single deck bus body. It was the first bus within the A&D fleet to be specifically designed for 'OMO' operation and have the fleet number identical to that used in the registration number. It was operated on 'OMO' single deck services radiating from Guildford bus station in the directions of Aldershot, Chiddingfold, Cranleigh, Farnham, Godalming, Haslemere, Horsham, Petersfield, Reading and Woking. It had an uneventful service life, other than being somewhat accident-prone, frequently receiving dents to the bodywork, many of which remain to this day.   Alder Valley Service History In 1972 when the businesses of Aldershot & District and Thames Valley were merged to form Alder Valley, it was painted poppy red and given Fleet No. 301. It continued to operate services from Guildford until 1975, when it was scrapped and following 15 years of public service was bought by Martin's Scrap dealers, Weaverham   Gospel Church Bus In 1976 it was bought from the scrap yard for £500 by John Renton of Frodsham, Cheshire, for use as a Gospel bus. He undertook some minor modifications to the interior, installed an electric generator and it soon became a mobile place of worship for youngsters, enabling John to fulfil his life long ambition to spread the gospel message to the young. Painted in light and dark blue, with Gospel Bus displayed as the front upper destination blind, it was affectionately known as 'Nicodemus the Gospel Bus' and spent the next 21 years spreading the gospel story. During the first 18 of those years, it operated throughout the UK and latterly was loaned to Project Evangelism, an evangelistic mission in Dundrum, Northern Ireland.   Restoration 370 was secured for restoration in 1996 by a team of enthusiasts, including the present owners. Although no payment was made, it was only available if exchanged with a replacement bus enabling continuation of the Gospel work. After an extensive search, a former Portsmouth Corporation Leyland Atlantean single-decker, TBL 197K was found. Following completion of the minor repairs necessary to obtain an MOT and painting the exterior bodywork in the light and dark blue Gospel Bus livery, on the 5th July 1996 the bus was driven to Dundrum and the vehicles exchanged. The gleaming Atlantean made 370 look a little drab. However, with the exception of a dry fuel tank and evidence of coolant in the engine oil, it fired up immediately eager to return home to the South. Having re-fuelled, changed the engine oil and generally improved the overall appearance, the return journey began. Initially it was fraught, due to the need for frequent stops to check the condition of the oil, but as the journey progressed and confidence grew that no disasters would beset, the distance between stops increased. On return to the South, and after correcting the cavitation problem in one of the engine cylinder liners, as well as undertaking a wide range of minor repairs, 370 was ready to recommence operation as a bus, providing free vintage bus services. The first appearance was at the FOKAB Running Day in Winchester on 1st January 1997. Unfortunately it was not possible to complete the repaint and it operated its first free vintage bus services with just the front panel in the Tracco livery. Since then, in full Aldershot & District livery, it has participated in numerous vintage bus events in support of our national transport heritage. It can be regularly seen operating free vintage bus services, providing both bus enthusiasts and the general public, the opportunity to re-live or experience, travelling by bus in the 1950s and 1960s. The owners, John Hillier and John Sherwin, believe it is crucial that 370 continues to be readily available to provide free vintage bus services for the general public. There is an ongoing renovation programme to meet these aspirations. A wet New Years day 2000 at the Friends of King Alfred Buses (FOKAB), Running Day at Winchester Back to Index   © Copyright by ADBIG All Rights Reserved.