May it get rebuilt. I'm thankful the remains were saved, as it is such a rare type. When something like this happens, it's just too easy to lament "It's lost" and not make an effort to save anything.I wonder if they managed to salvage parts from any of the other wrecks when they were scrapped - I have known Gardner engines that have survived bus depot fires. I think that at bus rallies in the general area, such as Alton, that there should be cash collections for the rebuilding of the Olympic. I would happily pay. I don't do online giving myself.

It'll need to be basically rebuilt from scratch and be a replica. The heat would have altered the fabric of the metal. That is devastating to put it mildly. What a forward looking concept that didn't take off domestically but found customers in overseas markets, often in countries not as advanced as England!

Hi i'm viatron from Sheffield, i'm very sad that your old 1950 weymann bodied leyland Olympic underfloor engined single deck bus has been totally destroyed beyond repair via it happened early Friday morning on the 8th of December 2023. So the new version of the classic bus book (originally titled return of the olympic) via being now known as under the new title known as the rise & fall of the oylmpic from passenger service into preservation & now ending up as scrap & it's a very sad loss for JAA 708. R.I.P. for the king Alfred's leyland Olympic now at its very sad end forever & it will be reserected to heaven. Thanks from viatron of crookes in Sheffield.

@hellowallace

7 ай бұрын

This book "THE RETURN OF THE OLYMPIC" is still available (shown in the video, right before the photo credits), can be purchased from the FoKAB's web site (www.KingAlfredBuses.org.uk) or in person at the FoKAB's sales booth on the running days. The ISBN-13 of this book is "978-0-9565740-1-5". I have not heard about any new version of this book, yet. Maybe there will be one in the future, but at this moment, this is the one.

It is devastating to see JAA 708 after the fire. As a previous custodian of Isle of Man Road Services HR40 Olympic MMM 302, I do hope you can restore your Olympic for the second time. I'm sure Jurby Transport Museum would be more than willing to assist in any way they could to help with the rebuild.

@hellowallace

7 ай бұрын

Please see the reply from James Freeman of FoKAB: “Thank you so much for your heartening message about 708. The first task is to extract the remains of the bus from the destroyed building. Because of the presence of large amounts of asbestos dust this is a complex and slow process. Then we will take it to our base near Winchester, where it can be placed on stands and carefully inspected. The monocoque construction of this vehicle with a strong steel frame has meant that more of this vehicle has survived than any of the seven others in the shed. Whether it can be rebuilt or not remains to be seen, but if we do undertake this mammoth task (for the second time!) we'll certainly be needing the help of the people at the Jurby Transport Museum. Meanwhile, do please get in touch with me direct by email. You can reach me at info@kingalfredbuses.org.uk Best wishes and many thanks again from James Freeman of FoKAB.”

@stevenpaulgoulding

7 ай бұрын

What was the cause of the blaze?

@hellowallace

7 ай бұрын

It is currently under investigation, we don't know yet.

@stevenpaulgoulding

7 ай бұрын

@@hellowallace When you do find out, please reply.

@hellowallace

7 ай бұрын

Will do - Please also check on www.KingAlfredBuses.org.uk for the latest news from Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB).

A sobering story. Very sorry to hear of the loss. I hope that it can be brought back. As you say fire is a terrible thing. Would sprinklers have reduced the damage? If so should sprinklers be installed wherever historic items are stored?

@crazyleyland5106

4 ай бұрын

Sprinklers act very well as damage limitation. They don't put out fires, but do reduce them. As long as either people or automatic fire detection systems get wind of the fire, and call the fire brigade. You would need header tanks in the roof, or possibly a rising main.

This is so sad to see.

@hellowallace

7 ай бұрын

It is...hopefully the following episode gives a little bit of hope on this...

Such a sad loss, depending on how severe the running gear is perhaps there is still a possibility of resurrection, maybe phoenix risings from the ashes.

How many buses were lost due to the fire in total? Good luck with the restoration will be following your progress love old vintage buses , hope nothing like this happens up here GVVT p.s. let's hope wherever you restore future vintage vehicles there are sprinklers installed😊

@hellowallace

5 ай бұрын

In the "March 2024 Update" video for JAA 708, he mentioned that there were 7 other vintage buses/coaches and a van were lost in the fire, they belonged to indiviual members. This Leyland Olympic belongs to Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB). This update video is here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/aGdny6uqoc-7lsY.html

@crazyleyland5106

4 ай бұрын

Among others, Bristol FLF KRU---D. 2 Bristol REs- a Hants and Dorset RE and Northern Irish, a Southdown VR, 2 much older double deckers and a Volvo B10 coach. And a Sherpa van.

@crazyleyland5106

4 ай бұрын

I have wondered if old theatre fire curtains could be used as fire breaks.

Very sad that an antique bus has been destroyed, bad enough an accidental fire but even worse if it is an arson attack. There used to be many underfloot engined single deckers in the 1950s, the most famous probably the London Transport RF. JAA708, any more in that batch? It's usual route in Winchester was 4, any reason for that like a low bridge where a double decker could not be used?

@hellowallace

7 ай бұрын

We will find a chance to answer this in one of the future videos... stay tuned!