Reading Trolleybuses
Preserved 2006
Trolleybuses
began
operating in Reading on the 18th July 1936.
The system was operated for just 32 years, closing on the 3rd
November 1968. We
are fortunate in 2018
that six former Reading trolleybuses survive in preservation. Five of these fine
vehicles can be found at ‘The
Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft’ in north Lincolnshire. Back in 2006 an event was
organised at the
Museum to celebrate 80 years since the opening of the system in 1936. The independent transport
videos
cameras were on hand to record the event over the weekend of 25th
& 26th May.
Using two
cameras the event was covered from all angles to give you the best view
of these
lovely trolleybuses in action and together with six preserved Reading
Corporation motorbuses joining in, the scene was set to recreate busy
trolleybus days in Reading. Apart
from
the running of the trolleybuses we see a line-up of both trolleybuses
and buses
in age order and later concluding with a recreation of the final
trolleybus
parade using 181, 174 and 144 – the actual vehicles used on the 3rd
November 1968. The
trolleybuses you will
see operating on this programme are:
113
(ARD 676) an AEC 661T with Park Royal H56R bodywork from 1938, 144 (DRD
130) a
BUT 9611T with Park Royal H56RD bodywork from 1949, 174 (ERD 145) and
181 (ERD
152) Sunbeam S7s with Park Royal H68RD bodywork from 1950 and 193 (VRD
193) a
Sunbeam F4A with Burlingham H68F bodywork built in 1961. The motorbuses you will
see are AEC Regents
47, 98 and 3 as well as AEC Reliance 52, Dennis Loline 76 and Bristol
RE
258. The Dennis
Lolines and Bristol REs
had been ordered to replace the trolleybuses.
The Trolleybus
Museum at Sandtoft is
well
worth a visit. They
hold a number of
events throughout the year. The
subject
of another event can be found on our DVD programme entitled ‘Reading
Trolleybuses Preserved 2018’, when the anniversary of 50 years since
the
closure of the system is marked. Enjoy!