EATM Trolleybus Gala Report

This weekend saw the East Anglia Transport Museum hold their annual end of season trolleybus gala. A few buses were also in attendance with some operating free services to the museum from Lowestoft and Beccles.

For me the visit started badly with the substitute camera refusing to take any reasonable picture at all! As it took videos ok not all was completely lost as I managed to get some stills from them.

My journey to the museum on was also eventful as the 'best' seat available was at the rear of RT3125 KXW234. What a bad choice as the experience was like riding a bucking bronco! There was some relief as the journey was interrupted by an over lengthy opening of the bridge.The journey was interesting though as we passed through parts of Pakefield I had never been to on a bus before!

On arrival, the first vehicle my eyes were drawn to was T812RFG one of Anglian's newly painted ex Brighton & Hove Tridents

Also present was former Southend Transport Duple Laser bodied Leyland Tiger A250SVW.

Dating from 1985, the vehicle is now in the care of Ensignbus.

Also there was Thetford-based Coach Services Routemaster JJD401D

Not that many visiting buses featured within the museum but, for me, the most interesting was the privately preserved North Western Road Car Company 696 KDB696

No 696 is a Leyland Tiger Cub PSUC1/1 built in 1957 with a Weymann B44F body

I can well remember this operator running services to Great Yarmouth during the summer season all those years ago

Keeping her company was former Lowestoft Corporation Transport (and latterly Waveney District Council) Massey bodied Leyland PD2 PBJ2F

All too soon it was time for the ride back to Lowestoft Bus Station and I wondered what was in store.

It was to be the immaculately restored Routemaster RM613 WLT613 and what a comfortable ride it was too!

The conductor was equally friendly and provided passengers with a ticket from his Warrington Corporation TIM machine; my how the memories returned of Great Yarmouth Corporation issuing these!

A very interesting sunny Sunday afternoon out and my appreciation goes to members of the museum for giving up their time to run the event

Finally my apologies for the poor standard of photos - the offending camera is now being consigned to the bin!