If you think about trams you probably don’t immediately think about the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft but as we’ve mentioned on these pages before it is actually home to three trams now (or at least two tram bodies and a full tram), including Blackpool Balloon 708 which is set to become the UK’s first play tram! And as trolleybuses were first known in some places as trackless trolleys they also have a bit of a place on these pages! Sunday 28th July saw the Sandtoft Gathering take place and in this article we take a look at the trams there as well as some of the trolleybuses which took place in this same event. Andrew Waddington with the photos.
The vehicle at Sandtoft which is probably of most interest to many readers of a tram website is Blackpool Balloon car 708, which of course has recently been acquired by the museum after previously facing an uncertain future. It is pictured where it stands today, on a short length of rail behind the main depots. Track for the new minituare railway being constructed can be seen in front of the Blackpool tram.
Another view of 708, apparently heading for Gynn Square, a destination that would have been an unlikely terminus point even in Blackpool, let alone in its new home! Work on transforming the tram for its new role as a children’s play tram is expected to commence shortly.
As well as the new arrival from Blackpool, the museum is also home to two Sheffield tram bodies which are displayed outside. This is the lower deck of 419, which now boasts a variety of small exhibits displayed in the windows of the side pictured here.
The other grounded tram body on site is Sheffield 442 which is used as a tourist information centre and can be boarded by visitors. In the foreground, an attractive space has been created for visitors to enjoy.
Of course the main attraction at Sandtoft is the trolleybuses – the largest collection of trolleybuses in the world, in fact – and the Gathering normally sees a large number of them offering rides, whilst many others are posed outside for static display. The 2024 event was no different with three trolleybuses running throughout the day, although the vehicles were swapped at regular intervals to offer greater variety for visitors to enjoy. Two of the afternoon service vehicles are pictured here, with London Transport 1812 passing Doncaster 375.
Two trolleybuses not currently available for service were prominently displayed in front of the museum’s new storage depot, and they made a very colourful sight – Walsall 872 and Glasgow TB78, the latter wearing the Scottish city’s famous orange, green and white livery.
In order to free up space in the main depot for trade stalls, many of the resident trolleybus fleet had been moved to the nearby fields where they were lined up for display. Maidstone 72 is in the foreground here, with Reading 113, a quartet of Bradford trolleybuses, and Cleethorpes 54 also present.
A personal favourite trolleybus of the photographer is South Shields 204 which entered service in the late afternoon, and was captured passing a couple of vintage Doncaster buses which were being used on local tours and shuttles to Doncaster railway station. 204’s stunning livery matches that worn by Oporto tramcar 196 at Beamish Museum, representing the South Shields tram fleet which is sadly unrepresented in preservation. (All Photographs by Andrew Waddington, 28th July 2024)
- If you are inspired to plan a visit to the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft after seeing these photos you can find out all about their opening times, admission prices and how to get there on their website at https://sandtoft.org/wp/