Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th September saw the East Anglia Transport Museum hold their latest special event. That weekend had traditionally been their Trolleybus Weekend but for 2025 they changed things a bit with it instead having a London theme, although the popular after dark running was still in place on the Saturday evening until 2100.
Tram wise the museum is home to a single tram which once operated in London – HR/2 1858. This tram was rescued for preservation by Peter Davis in 1952, and after a spell at Chessington Zoo in Surrey it was moved to Carlton Colville in 1964. Following Peter’s passing earlier this year it use at the East Anglia Transport Museum is all the more poignant and it remain a valuable operating member of the tram fleet.
As the standard practice at the East Anglia Transport Museum is for two trams to run in service, 1858 was joined by Sheffield 513 to allow a full tram service to operate.
In addition to the trams there were London trolleybuses in service on the usual trolleybus circuit whilst there was a major display of the iconic London black cab. Special events also see free heritage bus services around the local area and this event was no different!
- The next special event at the East Anglia Transport Museum will be Halloween on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October when the Fylde Transport Trust’s “Terror Tram” Blackpool Brush Railcoach 634 is expected to be in operation. If you can’t wait until then the museum is open every Thursday and Sunday throughout October between 1100 and 1630.
London Transport 1858 passes a line-up of taxis outside the main trolleybus depot.
Here we see a taxi doing the moving as it passes the last Leyland Olympian which was constructed at the local Eastern Coachworks, it being the last bus to come off the production line there. Originally part of the Selkent fleet it ended its operating career in Blackpool.
K class trolleybus 1201 heads around the trolleybus circuit. This is one of the trolleybuses owned by the London Trolleybus Preservation Society who have their base at Carlton Colville. (Photographs x3 by Bryan Grint, 27th September 2025)
The classis daytime Chapel Road terminus scene with two trams and a trolleybus in view. Trams are Sheffield 513 and London Transport 1858 with the trolleybus 1201.
Carlton Colville in the dark with 1858 sitting at the Chapel Road terminus. (Photographs by Kevin Bartolf, 27th September 2025)