Preserved former Teesside Municipal Transport T291 (VRD 186) in Ipswich – 22 Aug 1993 (202-21)

Sunday 22 August 1993 – Not a very good day weather wise for event to mark the 30th Anniversary of the closure of the Ipswich Corporation trolleybus system arranged by the Ipswich Transport Museum.

This former Teesside Municipal Transport (TMT) Burlingham bodied Sunbeam F4A trolleybus was giving rides to visitors although, due to there being no overhead wiring in Ipswich any longer, the vehicle had to tow its own diesel generator. Whilst it was nice to ride on the vehicle at the time the sensation of the quietness that trolleybuses had to offer was lost because the background noise of the generator. Basically, it was little different than riding on a diesel bus!

VRD 186 was one of a batch of twelve such trolleybuses new to Reading Corporation Transport in 1961 numbered 182-193 (VRD 182-193). When the Reading system closed in November 1968 a few of the batch (five I think) were sold to TMT.

However, despite being one of the last UK trolleybus operators to extend their route system in March 1968, TMT ceased operating trolleybuses in April 1971 leaving Bradford to become the last operator of trolleybuses on UK public roads the following year.

The trolleybus network of Teesside Municipal Transport was, until 31 March 1968, operated by the Teesside Railless Traction Board (TRTB). TRTB was established in 1919 and was jointly owned by Eston Urban District Council (two thirds) with Middlesbrough Corporation (one third). The vehicle carries graphics marking the 52 years of operation of trolleybuses by the two undertakings.