Photo courtesy of Alan Roi and posted on the Tramway Historical Society facebook on 14 August 2021, Wellington Volvo B58 trolleybus No. 258 captured at the end of the line of the museum trolleybus system on it’s test run.
Alan reports: The electrical crew have been working hard. Trolleybus 258 has had a fault in it’s electronic controls and the electrical folk finally identified and repaired the issues. The main problem was in a +/- 15v unit. Once the repairs were done the bus was taken out for a test run. We did a whole circuit of the line and the bus performed very well.
DETAILS:
Type: VOLVO B58
Wellington Volvo 258
Date Built: 1986
Written off and retired November 2009
Acquired by THS, Christchurch, in 2011 from NZ Bus
Restored and donated in running order
Body: Coachwork International, Auckland
Motor: 175hp.
Controller: Thyristor Chopper with Telma eddy current retarder
Electrical Equipment: Brown Boveri
Seats: 40
Fleet Numbers: 201 to 268
This bus was one of 68 buses built on Volvo chassis to replace the previous generation of trolleybuses. They entered service between 1981 and 1986. These buses were gradually withdrawn from 2003 and the electrical equipment used to manufacture a new generation of buses built by Designline.
The last 4 were withdrawn in November 2009. No 233 is preserved by the Omnibus Society in Wellington and 268 by Wayne Little in Foxton.
www.businfo.nz/index.php?R=13353
THE FERRYMEAD TROLLEYBUS COLLECTION BY ALAN ROI
The collection is operated by the Tramway Historical Society at the Ferrymead Heritage Park in Christchurch. It contains buses from every New Zealand town that operated them; Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. The Society believes that they are unique in having vehicles from every town in our own country.. The collection is modest compared to places like Sandtoft in the U.K, however, we have ten buses in various states of completeness, some being bodies only through to restored and operable vehicles.
Auckland Buses:
Farmers Trolleybus No.4:
1938 Leyland TB chassis DSC and Cousins B37D Chassis No: 17884
In 1938 the Farmers’ Trading Company purchased four Leyland chassis which were bodied by Auckland firm DSC & Cousins. They were put onto Auckland’s first trolleybus line which was an anti-clockwise loop in the central city. This connected Queen Street (the main shopping street) with the Farmers’ department store. Central Auckland is located in a steep sided valley and the trolleybus enabled people to conveniently reach the Farmers’ store situated in Hobson Street and then return them down to Queen Street afterwards. The buses were unusual with a sliding rear door and no front door at all. Even though they were owned by the department store operation was contracted to the Auckland Transport Board. Later in their working lives the ATB assumed ownership and ran these vehicles till 1967. The Farmers service was a free bus and as a consequence the buses never carried a fare paying passenger. Bus No.4 resides in our trolleybus shed and awaits refurbishment. It is currently inoperable.
Queen Street Shuttle 105:
This bus is a 1958 BUT RETB1 with Park Royal bodywork. It was only used on the dedicated central city shuttle between the Railway Station and Karangahape Road – opposite ends of the CBD. As the bus was used by short distance commuters it had reduced seating. It was in service until the system was abandoned in 1980. The bus is operable but is in the condition it came off the road and is awaiting a major body refurbishment.
Auckland 105:
1958 BUT RETB1/2 Park Royal B38D Chassis No.526099
This bus was built in 1958 to operate the central city shuttle between Karangahape Rd, Britomart and the Railway Station. The fleet of thirty-four had reduced seating to allow for more standees as this was a short route and most passengers would be aboard for a maximum of five minutes. For a good portion of their lives they provided a free service. 105 is complete but the body is very tired and will need a full refurbishment before entering service,
New Plymouth Bus:
New Plymouth No.3:
1950 Crossley Empire New Plymouth City Council B42D Chassis No. Thought to be 94313
This bus was built in 1950 and was one of four buses used to replace the route to Westown that until then had been operated by trams. It was built on a Crossley Empire chassis and along with ten buses in Wellington are believed to be the last trolleybuses built under the Crossley arquee. Bus No.3 operated until the 7th October 1967 and upon closure of the New Plymouth system the bus was obtained for Ferrymead. The body was built locally in New Plymouth and is almost identical to the ten Crossleys that operated in Wellington; the New Plymouth City Council using Wellington plans.
Wellington Buses:
Wellington 103:
1964 BUT RETB1 NZMB B42D Chassis No: SO9917
Wellington 103 is one of the last first generation trolleys built supposedly to replace the last trams in 1964 although the former last tram route (Newtown-Zoo to the City) was not electrified until 1985. At this stage Wellington City Transport ordered thirty-eight new trolleybuses from their preferred supplier Leyland. By this stage most British trolleybus systems were closing down and the work was given to Scammell Lorries, Leyland’s specialist heavy vehicle supplier. English Electric supplied the electrical gear. The first nineteen buses (82-100) were allowed to be imported with complete bodies (MCCW) with the remaining nineteen (101-119), including our bus, were bodied by NZ Motor Bodies in Petone. Bus 103 is complete and operates regularly.
Wellington 258:
1986 Volvo B58 Coachwork International B40D Chassis No: 17064
This bus is one of the second generation trolleybuses used in Wellington, and is mounted on a Volvo B58 chassis. These buses replaced the majority of the BUT trolleys in Wellington between 1981 and 1986. 258 was a 1986 model and was one of the last four Volvo trolleybuses in service. This bus is believed to be the last Volvo on the streets of Wellington, when it was taken by the current author for a trip to Miramar to familiarise him with bus before it came to Christchurch. 258 has a few minor issues being sorted out but is being gradually prepared to operate at Ferrymead in Stagecoach livery.
Christchurch Trolleybuses:
Christchurch 209:
1931 Thornycroft/English Electric. Boon And Co B38D Chassis No: 141
Built in 1931, 209 was one of six English Electric buses (207 to 212) used to open the first trolleybus route in Christchurch to North Beach. This replaced a much worn out tram route going through a lightly populated area. As English Electric did not manufacture bus chassis this was subcontracted to Thorneycroft. The bus was retired in 1956 and along with bus 216 used as holiday accommodation at Oaro on the Kaikoura Coast. It is purely a body shell on wheels. It is hoped to eventually restore this bus to 1930s condition. This will be a major job but the bus is under cover in our trolleybus shed.
Christchurch 210:
1931 Thornycroft/English Electric. Boon And Co B38D Chassis No: 139
210 is also one of the above mentioned first batch. It was also retired in 1956. The body was stripped of electrics and seating and sold to North Canterbury Transport in Kaiapoi. It was intended to use the chassis as the basis of a logging jinker and the body as a staff lunchroom. However, nothing happened and in 1964 it was “rediscovered” and given to the Society. Over a long period it has been restored to full working order in its latter day 1950s livery, and was relicensed for road use after a period of forty-three years. 210 is believed to be one of the oldest working trolleybuses in world.
Christchurch 216:
In 1934, the trams to Richmond ceased running and were replaced with four Ransomes Sims and Jefferies trolleybuses. These vehicles were more modern looking than the three English Electric buses despite there being only three years between them. They were also retired in 1956 and 216 joined 209 at Oaro. As with 209 it is purely a shell on wheels and is also awaiting restoration.
Dunedin Trolleybuses:
Dunedin 5:
1951 BUT RETB1 NZMB B40D Chassis No: 404351
Dunedin 5 was built in 1951 and was one of the earlier buses to enter service. It was built with a NZMB body and was one of the last trolleys to operate in the streets of Dunedin in March 1982. Upon retirement it was purchased by Mr Earl Ewers to be used on a proposed tourist circuit on part of the former Opoho route. When this scheme came to nothing the bus was donated to the Tramway Historical Society and is in store at Ferrymead. No. 5 is complete but has not run since leaving Dunedin and will require a full inspection before operating. This trolleybus is our only bus not normally available for viewing.
Dunedin 79:
1962 BUT RETB1 Dunedin City Transport B40D Chassis No: 522622
This bus is complete and has done a lot of running on the Ferrymead line; it has been withdrawn for a refurbishment and repaint. Though partly stripped, it is still mobile as there is not room to side line the bus. At the time of writing it is close to being shifted into the spray booth in the tram barns for painting. This was the last and highest numbered bus to enter service in Dunedin in 1962. Like No.5 it was in service until the end in March 1982.
