Latest journals available to members:
November 2020 Trolleybus, Wheels + Bus Fare + 2019 - 2020 Accounts + Monthly Prize Draw application form
The British Trolleybus Society owns a fleet of historic trolleybuses, details of which are in the Fleet List pages. The BTS also contributes to the management & operation of the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft, which houses the largest collection of preserved trolleybuses in the world, and we now own the adjacent property, which will be incorporated into the Trolleybus Museum. In addition to our monthly magazine, ‘Trolleybus’ we publish local bus newsletters for Reading and the Thames Valley (Bus Fare) & West Yorkshire (Wheels). A free copy of 'Trolleybus' is available to prospective members. Either download a copy by registering using "Member Login", or apply to the Secretary who will post a printed copy to you.
There are monthly meetings in London, Reading & Bradford, to which all are invited. No meetings are being held during the lockdown although from December 2020 our traditional 'first Friday of the month' meetings will resume using Zoom. An advantage will be that these meetings will be accessible without the need to travel.
“Doors open” at 19.15 when you will be able to chat online with other members. The presentation will last for one hour, starting at 19.30. Dave Hall will present the story of the first 50 years of municipal transport in Reading (1901 – 1951). This will include the end of the horse trams, the entire electric tram era and the trolleybus system including its major post-war expansion, as well as motor buses from 1919.
To register to attend please email chairman@britishtrolley.org.uk and you will be sent joining instructions.
The Joint Working Group established by the Society's Committee and the Museum's Board of Directors are developing a strategic plan that meets the specific needs of the Society and the Museum and will eventually result in a much improved visitor experience. This will include a spacious Exhibition Hall where visitors will be able to view selected trolleybuses and an exhibition telling the story of the trolleybus in the UK.
The Society's "flagship" trolleybus, the 1938 AEC 661T/Park Royal which was the first trolleybus to be privately preserved in the UK, returned to the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft on Friday 24 May 2019 after receiving a full repaint and now looks magnificent. Following research by Dave Hall, the Society's Archivist and Librarian, the adverts have been signwritten to an give authentic appearance. The work was largely funded by a legacy from Colin Enticknap, who was a Society member for around 50 years. We were delighted that Colin's niece, Valerie Hayllor, accepted an invitation to perform the launch ceremony.
London Transport 1812 Our London Q1 trolleybus was built in 1948, operated in Spain from 1961 until 1974, and was brought back to the UK by the BTS in 1977 for restoration to London condition and operation at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft. It was on loan to the London Bus Museum from 2015 until October 2020 and the Society is now raising £20,000 to fund a substantial mechanical overhaul, in particular to rectify steering and suspension problems that have been experienced.
It is an exciting prospect that 1812 will return to service at Sandtoft, hopefully during the Society’s 60th anniversary year in 2021, and certainly for the 60th anniversary of the closure of the London trolleybus system in 2022, once again providing “Queen of the Road” riding quality.
We are seeking your help! You can donate online using the link below to pay using PayPal or your credit or debit card. For details of how to pay by cheque please see the Latest News page.
https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=E7RCH69YE3X76
Bournemouth 301 The Society's Bournemouth MF2B, which was the last new trolleybus to enter service in the UK, is currently at Keighley Bus Museum, but it will be returning to the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft next year in time for our 60th anniversary celebrations.
BTS Calendar 2021. This year we are featuring three-axle trolleybuses from around the world - with Glasgow on the cover, then Christchurch NZ, Bournemouth, Mendoza Argentina, Huddersfield, Vilnius Lithuania, Rotherham, Ústí nad Labem Czech Republic, Newcastle, Athens Greece, Belfast, Pontevedra Spain and Nottingham. The superb photos are by Tony Belton, who has also provided captions in his own inimitable style. AVAILABLE TO ORDER HERE
A London Trolleybus Reborn. The latest Trolleybooks title relates the full story of the Society's London Q1 trolleybus, 1812, from construction in 1948 and service in London, sale for further service in Santander - Astillero, then return to the UK by the British Trolleybus Society and restored for service at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft. The vehicle's life story is set in the context of the history of public transport operation in south-west London, the history of trolleybus operation in Spain, and 1812's place as one of the few surviving London trolleybuses. AVAILABLE TO ORDER HERE
The Coronavirus emergency is having a dramatic impact on the way we all live.
The monthly meetings held in Reading, London and Bradford have been cancelled for the next few months. Details of meetings will appear on the Meetings page when we know that they will resume. The May meeting in Maidstone was also cancelled. We look forward to life returning to normal and wish our supporters good health in these difficult times.
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The organisation is run entirely by volunteers and is a registered charity No. 1033666.
It's very easy to join the Society! Just click here to find full details of how you can join and pay online or, if you prefer, send a cheque to our Membership Secretary. The annual membership rate starts at £21 for online-only membership.
We now have a wide range of publications available for delivery to your door. When you buy from BTS Sales you are supporting the Society's fleet of historic trolleybuses.
Have a look at our "Other Publications" page, which includes many Trolleybooks titles and a few others.
We are partners in the publication of ‘Trolleybooks’, which cover historic and current systems in the UK and abroad. Please visit our Trolleybooks page to see the latest titles, which include Glasgow Trolleybuses, Britain's Lost Trolleybus Systems, Reading Trolleybuses, Italian Trolleybuses Abroad and Walsall Trolleybuses. Our TrolleyBooks page has more details about these publications.
David Bowler's 'Bournemouth Trolleybuses' which you can purchase here, is a lavishly-illustrated comprehensive history of Bournemouth's trolleybus system. All profits from BTS Sales go towards trolleybus restoration and preservation. Purchase this book from the BTS and you will directly help with the restoration of our 1935 Sunbeam MS2, Bournemouth 99.
The Society's 2021 calendar is also available on our Other Publications page. This year it has images for every month plus a cover photo, all showing 3-axle trolleybuses from around the UK and from around the world. It is printed on high quality paper and is selling well. Order now!
There is also a lovely set of notelets showing six different scenes of Reading trolleybuses in service - click here to order!
Copyright British Trolleybus Society 2012 - 2019 - Registered Charity 1033666
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