In early July 2003, The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft installed a new parking loop on our overhead line network. The parking loop, situated outside the toilet block, allows trolleybuses to be parked off the main network but without the need to be unhooked from the overhead network. This was put to good use during Gathering 2003, when vehicles were able to layover in the loop whilst service vehicles were rotated. Another consequence of the change is that the wiring for trolleybus services has been brought closer together, much more like the way it would have been in the streets of towns and cities in the UK during the trolleybus era. The re-wire also enabled us to reinstate the workshop line, which has been out of use for many years. This means trolleybuses can now be driven into the workshop under there own power. This line can also be used as a layby. Sections of new and old overhead wire from the Sandtoft network can be purchased form the Museum souvenir shop.
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The photo at the side shows the new three line layout outside the toilet block. The left hand line is the parking bay. This line links to the middle line with frog junctions. The middle and right hand line are the service lines. Bradford 746 is seen here passing through on service. Rotherham 37 is parked (the wrong way around) in the layby. Click the picture to enlarge. |
11/08/03
| On Sunday 24th August 2003, Liege 425 returned to service at The Trolleybus Museum and became the oldest working trolleybus in the country. |  |
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Liege 425, from Belgium, has been undergoing major restoration over the past year, included a complete re-wire and new paintwork. This was in preparation for its relaunch back to service at the European Weekend on August 24th/25th 2003. Number 425, is a 1932 Fabrique Nationale 26 seater trolleybus. The vehicle is unique to the Museum collection due to having vertically mounted booms. This meaning trolley-booms are mounted one on top of the other, rather than side-by-side, which is the conventional layout. The above picture shows 425 on test runs around the circuit in early August. On Sunday 24th August 2003, this vehicle became the oldest trolleybus in service anywhere in the UK, at an amazing 71 years old. 11/08/03. Edited 30/08/03 |
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| The Trolleybus Museum is proud to announce the addition of former London Transport RT3323, LYR542, to its collection. |
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| The former London AEC RT, with Park
Royal body work, has come to the museum from McCormick Tractors
International at Doncaster, where it has been stored for almost 3 years.
The vehicle, formerly owned by the Sheffield Diocese, has been modified
inside for use by the church. The vehicle is now a full-time member of the
museum fleet and is proving to be a good running vehicle. Restoration work
has already started and we hope to be able to put the vehicle to better
use shortly. If you have any details about the history of this vehicle, it
would be greatly received. Please
e-mail with details.
11/08/03 |
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On Saturday 28th August 2004, during our Six Wheel Sunday Event, our new cafe opened for business. Serving a selection of hot and cold sandwiches and drinks The Cafe should now be open on all open days for public use. Situated at the far end of the Axholme Stores, indoor and outdoor seating is provided. It is hoped that our well priced menu will be extended as The Cafe becomes more established.
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The Cafe serving two waiting customers during a quiet spell over the Six Wheel Weekend. Rest assured that the customers didn't have to wait long though!! |
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With a full range of light snacks and soft drinks as
well as made to order sandwiches, The Cafe has something for everyone.
Staff are seen hear working hard during our Six Wheel Weekend.
31/08/04 |
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The Museum moves forward as the first
stage of a major project is opened. |
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At 2.30pm on Sunday 11th July, the Museum proudly
opened a new section of footpath around the top curve of the Museum
circuit. The completed footpath links the Axholme Stores building to the
new Sunbeam Cycle Shop and also, subsequently, provides excellant disabled
access to all areas of the Museum. 30/06/04. edited 12/07/04 |
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| Paving around the back gate is being completed. | Finishing touches being added to the pavement. | The first official user of the footpath is impressed. | More visitors enjoy the benefits of the pathway. | ||
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Vintage Cycle Rally - Sunday 11th July 2004. |
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| On Sunday 11th July 2004, the Sunbeam
Cycle Shop at the Trolleybus Museum held a vintage cycle rally with many
vintage bikes on display. Bikes ranged from a 1916 childs tricycle and a
Victorian Penny-Farthing up to modern day mini bikes and folding
bikes. The cyclists paraded around the Museum circuit at regular intervals during the day. The pictures above show the bikes passing the Axholme Stores building. |
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After many years in storage at Sandtoft, South Shields 204, is now running under its own power. The 1937 Karrier E4 with Weymann bodywork is currently undergoing an extensive restoration and on Saturday 16th October surprised everybody by driving around the circuit under its own power. Although there is still much more work to be done, it is hoped that 204 may be launched back into service at an event in 2005.
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This picture of 204 in March 2002 shows its condition before restoration work commenced in earnest. |
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Here, in October 2004, we see much progress has been made with the body work looking considerably better and the electrical work progressing to a stage where it can run on the circuit. |
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The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft is proud to announce that it has been awarded Registered Museum status by Resource (The Council for Museums Archives and Libraries). |
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The Museum Registration Scheme, established in 1988, sets standards for the operation of museums throughout the UK. The Scheme, which is voluntary, is open to all museums and galleries with a long-term commitment to quality in public service.
In gaining this prestigious status, the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft has shown that it achieves approved standards in museum management, collection care and public service, it is a suitable home for collections which are part of the nation’s common heritage and it is worthy to receive support from public sources.
The Trolleybus Museum was founded in 1969. It has been developed and run entirely by volunteers and now boasts what is probably the biggest collection of historic trolleybuses in the world - over 45 examples, mostly from the UK (but with 5 from mainland Europe) and dating from between 1927 and 1985. Many of the trolleybuses are in operational condition, and on selected days between Easter and November, visitors may take a nostalgic ride on one of the restored electrically-propelled trolleybuses, around the Museum’s quarter-mile circuit of overhead wiring.
As well as the electric trolleybuses, the Museum also has a number of contemporary diesel-driven buses. In 1995, with grant assistance from Europe, the Rural Development Commission and the erstwhile Boothferry Borough Council to boost hard-earned cash raised by the Museum’s members, the first stage of a period street scene was constructed. This development also provided exhibition areas where not only trolleybus and transport oriented artefacts could be displayed, but also household items from the 1950.s and 1960’s – decades associated with the trolleybus era. A sectional concrete prefab bungalow of a type built in their hundreds immediately after World War 2 has been laid out as a 1950’s “home” and now, this year, a small cycle and lawnmower museum has been added.
The Museum’s Chairman, Steve Harrison – who has himself been associated with the Museum since the start – said that a great deal of hard work had gone into gaining Registered Museum status and he congratulated all concerned. “Our Museum has come along in leaps and bounds in recent years” he said, “and this recognition by the national museum co-coordinating body, Resource, of our enthusiasm, efforts and achievements is a tremendous boost to our moral here. We have had a lot of support and encouragement from North Lincolnshire Council as well as Yorkshire and Humberside Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, for which we thank them. We have a lot of exciting plans for the future and we now look forward to consolidating our position and developing our Museum further”.
