We are going back to the East Anglia Transport Museum once again in this latest pictorial article as we see some of the operations on Sunday 4th and Monday 5th May 2025. On this visit by Bryan Grint, Sheffield 513 and London Transport 1858 were in action and we take a closer look at that stunning tram as it runs along the tramway. There is also the time to see some of the other sights at the museum, including a peek into the trolleybus depot.
Only built in the 1950s, the Sheffield Roberts cars still stand the test of time in regards to their design and certainly don’t look too old fashioned. With the Sheffield system closing in 1960 they all only had around 10 years of service and when you consider how long many other trams from across the UK were used that is a mere drop in the ocean. 513 is still owned by Beamish but is on a long-term loan at Carlton Colville where it is one of the operational fleet of trams. In this view we see it having just passed the trolleybus depot and about to go into the woods.
The frog is pulled as 513 approaches Chapel Road terminus.
A non-public transport exhibit at the museum which is often one of the first things visitors will see after going through the entrance gate is this steam roller. This is an Aveling and Porter product built in 1926 and used locally. It now carries the name “Borough of Lowestoft”.
A view inside the trolleybus depot and our focus immediately goes to the right and the stunning open top Bournemouth trolleybus, numbered 202. This trolleybus – the pride of the National Trolleybus Association collection – has enjoyed a recent repaint and is expected to see use later this use at Carlton Colville once again this year. (Photographs x4 by Bryan Grint, 4th May 2025)
Is it Suffolk or London? As 1858 waits at Chapel Road, trolleybus 1201 comes round the corner to terminate.
As 513 comes back to Chapel Road we can see into the depot where Blackpool 159 is most prominent. (Photographs X2 by Bryan Grunt)
The Sheffield Roberts Cars are, in effect, a box. Yet how smart they still look today!