Trolleybuses reunited…
5th September 2011
Well, Blackpool 11 has left us and is now wending its way south and east. However, the excitement is not over as this coming weekend is the East Anglian Transport Museum’s Trolleybus gala (see earlier post for the advert). A key feature of this is the reuniting, in working order, of the two remaining Newcastle trolleybuses (and our 501 with Sheffield 513). The EATM has sent through this wonderful photograph showing the two on test last week. This event should be one not to miss and I am looking forward to seeing it!
I drove both the 4 wheeled and 6 wheeled Sunbeam trolley buses in Newcastle between 1955 and 1957. I operated from the Slatyford bus depot in Newcastle. At that time you also had a conductress or conductor. The main route I covered was the service number 33. Which if memory serves me ran from Denton Road to the terminus at the top of Osborne Road,Jesmond. Sometimes the another route was from Newcastle to Walker terminus at the bottom of Welbeck Road. Happy days.
Only just seen your post. Would like to talk to a Trolleybus driver. In the early sixties I rode on them in London, I thought the Trolleybus was unique to London. Found out recently that almost every city had them. Some also saw service in other countries, London sold some to Spain for example. They seem to be fondly remembered with no negative comments, fantastic. Mike.