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London
Q1 trolleybus no.1812 1812 was launched with due fanfare by Mike Dare, Sandtoft's President, and special guest Gavin Booth, editor of Classic Bus. On
the left - how 1812 looked on first arriving at Sandtoft. |
Following WWII, London Transport needed a batch of new trolleybuses to
replace the ageing 'Diddlers' (numbers 1-60 classes A1 & A2), and 15
trolleybuses destroyed during the war. An order for 77 BUT964T161 chassis with
MCW bodies was placed in 1946.
Delivery of the Q1's, as they became known, began in January 1948 with 1812
arriving in September of that year. The Q1's took over Kingston area routes
601-605 after a thorough testing period.
Following the success of the first 77 Q1 trolleybuses, London Transport ordered
another 50 to replace the B2 type trolleybuses and subsequently convert Fulwell
and Isleworth depots entirely to Q1 operation. Some Q1's also became resident at
Hanwell depot following reductions on the network.
In 1954, London Transport announced that it was their intention to convert all
trolleybus routes to motorbus operation from the late 1950's. This excluded all
trolleybus routes operated from Fulwell and Isleworth depots (i.e. the Q1's).
The intention was to keep the Q1's into the late 1960's. However, that changed
in 1960 when Spanish trolleybus operators held talks with London Transport
regarding the possible sale of Q1's. It was soon agreed that 125 Q1's were to be
sold to Spain. It is worth noting that enquiries about purchasing the Q1's were
also received from Yugoslavia, Bangkok (Siam) and Reading Corporation Transport.
1812 had spent most of its working life so far operating from Fulwell depot but
was transferred to Hanwell depot, following a complete overhaul, for only a
couple of days in November 1960 before the depot closed.
On November 8th 1960, 1812 became the last trolleybus to operate from Uxbridge
to Hanwell Broadway on route 607. The following day it became the last
trolleybus to enter Hanwell depot and the last to leave when it was transferred
back to Fulwell depot.
On January 31st 1961, most of the Q1's at Fulwell, including 1812, were
withdrawn as the K and L class trolleys were brought in as replacements.
Following withdrawal, 1812 was moved to Poplar Depot on 9th February 1961 for
storage. 1812 remained at Poplar until 24th February 1961 when it was towed to
St. Katherines Dock. Here it was loaded on to M.V. Pozarica, along with sister
vehicles 1775, 1781, 1810, 1821 & 1829. All were bound for Compania de
Trolebuses Santander-Astillero (CSTA).
The six Q1's arrived in sunny Santander and were converted over the summer for
Spanish operation. 1812 became Santander number 8 but retained its red livery
with silver waist bands and chocolate coloured rear dome.
The Santander system consisted of only one route, a 12km run from Santander to
Astillero.
In 1973 the Spanish Government passed a law which required operators to abandon
all street electric traction. The Q1's were subsequently withdrawn in 1974 and
stored in Santander.
After an unsuccessful attempt to rescue Q1 number 1830 from Vigo, the British
Trolleybus Society discovered the six Q1's languishing in Santander. In January
1977 a working party
traveled to Santander and 1812 was chosen to be rescued.
However, payment could not be made for the vehicle as it had to be sold by
auction. Fortunately the CSTA agreed to buy the vehicle back at the auction and
then sell it to the BTS. Finally, in 1977, the auction took place and 1812 was
purchased but at a higher price than expected.
The trip back to England was wrought with problems but 1812 eventually arrived
at Southampton Docks on Sunday 19th June 1977.
For the next 2 years 1812 was stored in Reading before arriving at Sandtoft late
in 1979.
After 19 years at Sandtoft, the task of restoring 1812 began. Now, in 2001, 1812
has run in service on British soil for the first time in 40 years.
On May 28th at 2.30pm, 1812 returned to service at Sandtoft. It was a fitting
tribute to all who have been involved in the recovery and restoration of 1812.
(Adapted from an article by Dave Hall. Thanks also to Ken Tuddenham, who
drove 1812 many times, for some detail corrections)
Glasgow TB78 was also re-launched at the same time as 1812. TB78 is a BUT9613T with Crossley H71R body dating from 1958. It was withdrawn in May 1967 and was one of the last trolleybuses in service in the city before the system closed.
TB78 was also one of the first vehicles to arrive at Sandtoft, working on open days before succumbing to body deterioration. It was restored to operating condition in the early 1980's, but this work has had to be repeated some years on. The latest restoration commenced around 1998 by a team of BTS members headed by Richard Rampton and Richard Bilbe. The vehicle was finally repainted in its traditional livery of orange, green and cream in the millennium year by Brian Maguire (see his photograph on the Spring Bank Monday page), and now only requires minor work to be completed. TB78 first ran on Spring Bank Monday along with 1812, and will now be operating on Open Days throughout the summer.
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1812 approaches the tape to begin her inaugural run
on 28th May 2001.
TB78 stands in the background, having completed her first run. Photograph by David Shepherd. |
The picture below shows these three Rotherham vehicles together, for the last time in probably 10 years, in May 2001. All three are under the protection of the Rotherham Trolleybus Group. A new Rotherham video is now out; sales of these will be used to help fund the restoration of these vehicles.
44, a Daimler CTE6 6-wheeler with Roe body and dating from 1950, is in
reasonable condition and awaits its turn for final restoration and overhaul.
74 is a Sunbeam MS2C with East Lancs body; she is one of only a few single-deck
trolleybuses to survive into preservation and has been waiting patiently for
restoration to commence. Her time has now come, and as can be seen, this work is
likely to take some time. She has been taken over by Tim Stubbs and removed to
Burton-on-Trent for the restoration programme; she will return to Sandtoft in
due course to once again run under two wires. We can't wait!
37 is largely identical to 44 and was rescued by the Group last year. After
having the canvas roof replaced after damage to make it waterproof again, the
exterior has seen attention and is now being repainted. Here she is still in
undercoat, but is rapidly acquiring topcoat. The interior requires quite
substantial work doing on it, but it is hoped that she can be made serviceable
again in 2002.
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Sandtoft is pleased to have had donated one of the above batch of Bradford single-deck
trolleybuses. The vehicle concerned was built by English Electric in 1929 and ran in
Bradford until 1946. Around 1949 the trolley was converted for use as a caravan at Eastoft
in Lincolnshire, where it was owned by one family until declared redundant some decades
later. Andy Thornton, who holidayed in the caravan as a child, has kept the vehicle since,
with the hope that one day it could be restored. He has generously donated the trolley to
Sandtoft, where it is now awaiting a decision on how to go about its restoration. Careful
removal of some of the paint from the front bulkhead has recently revealed that this
trolleybus is, indeed, no. 562.
The trolley was on show at the Easter open days, the 30th Anniversary of the
Bradford closure.
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The Bradford single-deck trolleybus after arriving in September 2001. Photograph by Brian Maguire. |
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Bradford 844 and Huddersfield Tower Wagon number 9 have arrived on
loan to Sandtoft from Keighley Bus Museum. 844, Bradford and Britain's last trolleybus,
will form part of the celebrations at Easter to commemorate 30 years since the closure of
the Bradford system. 25/03/02 Please note that 844 is no longer at the museum. |
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This Guy BTX single-deck 6-wheeler trolleybus was discovered
recently. It had been converted into a bungalow by the addition of further rooms and was
only revealed as this abode was being demolished. It is still in surprisingly good
condition for a 1929 vehicle, helped by the fact that it had been lived in until recently,
and by the fitting of a pitched roof. The steering and handbrake gear was found underneath
and was re-fitted to assist removal. Sandtoft has now taken delivery of this rare vehicle and hopes that it can be restored eventually. Photo: Aiden Proctor |
| After years in storage at Sandtoft work has finally commenced on the restoration of South Shields 204, CU3593. Owned by the British Trolleybus Society, the vehicle is a 1937 Karrier E4 with a Weymann H29/26R body. Recent work has included repanelling of the rear offside corner, repairs to the staircase, and the new offside waist-rail also fitted with vertical timbers shaped to take the lower panels. |  |
25/03/02
