London 2012 Event

The East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville is holding this event to mark the 50 years since the trolleybus system closed in London and 60 year's since the capital's last tram.

I began my visit to the museum this afternoon by travelling on a former London bus to Carlton Colville where almost all of the buses had a London connection but more of them later

Inside the museum the star of the show was Didler No 1 (HX2756) which was offering rides around the complex.

Behind is L3 class 1521 (FXH521) which was delivered to London Transport in 1940.

During its working life 1521 sustained war damage; operated in the East End and was de-licensed at the end of trolleybus operations on 9th May 1962.

Also on display were two K2 class trolleybuses - 1348 (EXV348) and 1201 (EXV201).

The latter arrived in December 1938 and spent 20 years at Streatham Hill.

1348 was acquired in April 1939 and from delivery it spent much of its time based at Leyton (later Lea Bridge)

Delicensed in July1961, it went to Ireland for preservation in January the following year. It subsequently moved back to the UK and is now based at Sandtoft.

Q1 trolleybus 1768 (HYM768) is seen here on its circuit of the museum passing C2 class 260 (CUL260).

The former arrived at London Transport's Fulwell depot in 1948 and stayed there for most of its life.

260 spent all of its operating life at Stonebridge.

In between the two can be glimpsed H1 class

796 (ELB796). She entered service at Holloway depot in March 1938

Its last day in service was November 1959 and the following year was acquired by a Paris transport museum.

After almost 50 years in France it returned to the UK arriving at Carlton Colville on 6th October 2010.

Meanwhile, on display at the tram / trolleybus terminus was a former London Transport AEC tower wagon 89Q (DGJ181).

She is seen here flanked by London Transport tram no.1858 and Q1 trolleybus 1812 (HYM812). The former must be the most travelled London trolleybus having spent its working life both in London and Spain.

As already mentioned above, visiting buses also had a London - based theme. Among them I counted 4 RMs, 3 RMLs, 4 RTs 1 RTL and 1 T.

The T class began to appear with London Country from spring 1948 onwards.

Fortunately one survives and that was T792 (HLX162).

In 1960 T792 operated from East Grinstead and Tring garages before going into store in October of  that year.

RM158 VLT158 headed a line of former London Transport buses within the confines of the

museum.

Delivered in November 1959, it saw use in London until final withdrawal in April 1985 and was latterly allocated to Willesden Garage.

Behind RM158 is RT935 (JXN325) and RM1063 (63CLT).

RM158 was new in service in December 1948 being initially based at Potters Bar. It went into store in 

February 1971 and was sold later that year

Younger RM1063 began its life with LT in January 1962 and lasted 25 years before being sold to Wycombe Youth Council in August 1987.

One of local operators participating with a London vehicle was Coaches Services of  Thetford.

Their RML2401 (JJD401D) was present 

and operated on shuttle services during the day. 

New to Aldenham depot in January 1966, it was taken into stock by Leaside Buses on privatisation and its successor, Arriva London North, withdrew her from service in October 2005. 

As expected one of Anglian Buses Tridents appeared too - 508 (X251NNO being present on Sunday afternoon

Unfortunately it was soon time for the journey home and I wondered what would provide the horses

A quick glance at the notice board found it to be London Country RT3125 (KXW234). 

RT3125 was new into service in April 1950 at Dorking and was finally stored exactly 23 years later. Now privately preserved it is on loan to the museum.

My thanks to all those at the East Anglia Transport Museum who made the event such a success.

Information about the individual buses came from the excellent Ian's Bus Stop Website

Finally all my pictures from the day now appear in a specially created set on my Flickr site