Sunday 29th May saw the East Anglia Transport Museum celebrate 50 years of opening with a special event taking place at their Carlton Colville site. Over 1,000 people attended the event which offered half price admission to all and included everything you can get on a normal opening day at the museum – supersized!
On the tram side following its recommissioning and re-entry to service just a week previous, Blackpool 159 took pride of place. This was the tram which started it all back in 1972 and it seems appropriate that it ran on this special event. Whereas on a normal opening day there are always two trams in service as this was an extra special day there were three alternating in service with 159 joined by London Transport 1858 and Sheffield 513 in carrying passengers from Chapel Road and into the woods to the woodland terminus. Lowestoft 14 – which is undergoing a long-term restoration to bring some local interest to the tram fleet – was also pulled out of the depths of the tram depot to give the opportunity to get a closer look at the high-quality restoration work being undertaken.
Of course, at the East Anglia Transport Museum its so much more than the trams and the day also saw an intensive trolleybus service along with trolleybuses on display and there were also free bus trips to Beccles and Lowestoft.
Well done to all the volunteers of the East Anglia Transport Museum for 50 years and for marking the occasion with such a popular event. Here’s to the next 50 years!
With appropriate bunting to mark the occasion Blackpool 159 sits outside the depot as it receives some attention. London Transport 1858 is approaching the Chapel Road terminus.
The day may have started damp but the sun soon came out which allowed the open top Bournemouth trolleybus 202 to be used in service. Its seen here at Chapel Road alongside Sheffield 513.
London Transport 1858 is caught in the woods. (All Photographs by Bob Hodges, 29th May 2022)
- We’ll have more photos from this event in a future event of British Trams Online.