Trolleybus Societies This page also includes details of email discussion groups

Email Discussion Groups   Omnibus Society
National Trolleybus Association   British Trolleybus Society   Co-operation

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National Trolleybus Association

Formed in 1963, the NTA is the foremost society in the UK for trolleybus enthusiasts as well as those professionally involved with the manufacture and operation of trolleybuses and their associated infrastructure. The aims of the Association are to advance public awareness about, and promote the research and study of, trolleybuses. In pursuance of these aims the NTA owns five trolleybuses, publishes "Trolleybus Magazine" and books about former trolleybus systems.

The Association's journal "Trolleybus Magazine", which is sent free to all members, has established a high reputation for accuracy of content and quality of presentation. It is published bi-monthly and is fully illustrated within its 24 pages. Issues feature descriptions of present-day operations around the world [often with route and wiring maps], new vehicle developments, historical articles, preservation developments, and comprehensive worldwide news. Also included are Book and Video reviews as well as readers' correspondence.

The NTA Sales department has a selection of the latest books about trolleybuses as well as back number issues of "Trolleybus Magazine". Regular meetings are held in London on subjects covering all aspects of trolleybus operation. [If you go along to any meeting, please mention that you saw it advertised on the "David Bradley Online" web site.]

For more information on the NTA then email Andrew Fieldsend

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BRITISH TROLLEYBUS SOCIETY
PRESERVING THE PAST WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND

Our Origins
The origins of the British Trolleybus Society go back to April 1961. It was then that 14 enthusiasts got together and formed the Reading Transport Society with the aim of buying a vintage 1939 AEC trolleybus which was due to be retired by Reading Corporation Transport later that year. Their dream came to fruition when in September 1961, No. 113 was successfully purchased for preservation, the first trolleybus to be privately preserved. Although it was intended to be a local Society, membership spread nationwide rapidly.

Our growth
With trolleybuses fast disappearing from the streets in the 1960s it was not long before other trolleybuses were added to the preserved fleet which was kept in outside storage at a coach depot in the south of Reading. South Shields 204, Bournemouth 99 (212) and Cardiff 203 had joined Reading 113 by 1964. Tours of the remaining systems were arranged for members and the strength of the Society membership was such that it set about trying to convince the remaining trolleybus operators in the U.K. that trolleybuses were worth retaining, if only for environmental issues. Alas, we were ignored, as this was not seen as important in those days.

Against a background of trolleybus systems being abandoned at an alarming rate and the number of trolleybuses in preservation growing fast, the search was on to find suitable land in which to build an operational trolleybus museum to run the preserved fleet. The breakthrough came in 1969 when an old airfield at Sandtoft (between Doncaster and Scunthorpe) was purchased and, with the involvement of other transport enthusiasts groups, the Sandtoft Transport Centre was born. At the same time we expanded our horizons and introduced our World News column, which reports on trolleybus developments throughout the world.

Our future
The last trolleybus to operate in public service within the UK ran in Bradford in March 1972 but it was only a matter of a few months after that the first trolleybus ran at Sandtoft. Since that time our Society has played a full part in the growth of the Sandtoft Transport Centre, a museum held in high regard throughout the bus enthusiast's circle as well as educational establishments. Our trolleybus fleet is gradually being restored with Reading 113 being completed and returned to service in 1999 and Glasgow TB78 and London 1812 hopefully joining her in 2000.

Benefits of membership
For your monthly membership you get a monthly magazine called Trolleybus. You will find articles on systems that used to operate in the U.K. or on modern trolleybuses operating around the world, international news updates and all the gossip in the museum and preservation world, not to mention interesting photographs. Monthly meetings are held in Reading, London and Bradford where film shows or histories on past and present day systems are usually enjoyed. We have 11 trolleybuses in our preserved fleet and you can read all about these on our Preserved fleet page.

For more information and a copy of our prospectus, email Dave Hall. Please mention "David Bradley Online" in your message.

Location of Museum
Comment on co-operation between societies and museums

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The Omnibus Society is the UK's principal forum for the study of the operation of road passenger transport. Founded in 1929, it has a number of autonomous Branches which regularly organise a programme of meetings and visits. It also publishes "The Omnibus Magazine" bi-monthly. The site includes details of Membership, publications, activities and an index to recent contents of "The Omnibus Magazine".

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Email Discussion Groups

Around a hundred trolleybus enthusiasts world wide subscribe to a mailing list that delivers informed comment on trolleybus issues directly to your email inbox. Usually there are a two and three postings each day, and while the content is predominately about American systems, this does not detract from its value. Perhaps with a few more European subscribers, a balanced content may emerge. At the very least, it is worth 'giving it a go'.

If you are interested in the professional aspects and current news of trolleybuses in general then the "etb-intern" forum will suit your needs. Here you will find trolleybus professionals sharing news, developments and ideas.

For fans the "chatter list" [etb-list] provides an opportunity to wax nostalgic, share historical information, personal opinions, gossip, jokes, etc.

Many subscribers join both lists and there is no restriction in doing so. To subscribe, just contact:

Dr. Richard C. DeArmond
Dept. of Linguistics
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Dr.
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
email: dearmond@sfu.ca

Other Discussion Groups to Join:
Just enter your email address into either, or both panels, click on the button and leave the rest to us!

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