Trolleybuses in Ipswich
Encyclopedia
The Ipswich trolleybus system once served Ipswich
, the county town
of Suffolk
, England
. Opened on , it gradually replaced the Ipswich tramway network
.
By the standards of the various now-defunct trolleybus
systems in the United Kingdom
, the Ipswich system was a medium-sized one, with a total of 14 routes, and a maximum fleet of 85 trolleybuses. It was closed on either or . Some of its redundant trolleybuses then served on the Walsall system
, until that system's closure in 1970.
Seven of the former Ipswich system trolleybuses are now preserved. Six of them are at the Ipswich Transport Museum
, which is housed in the old Priory Heath trolleybus depot in Cobham Road. The other one is at the Science Museum, Wroughton
, Wiltshire
.
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, the county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
of Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Opened on , it gradually replaced the Ipswich tramway network
Ipswich Corporation Tramways
Ipswich Corporation Tramways was an electric tramway system that served the town of Ipswich in Suffolk from 23 November 1903 until 26 July 1926.-Horse tramway:...
.
By the standards of the various now-defunct trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
systems in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the Ipswich system was a medium-sized one, with a total of 14 routes, and a maximum fleet of 85 trolleybuses. It was closed on either or . Some of its redundant trolleybuses then served on the Walsall system
Trolleybuses in Walsall
The Walsall trolleybus system once served the town of Walsall, then in Staffordshire, but now in West Midlands, England. Opened on , it gradually replaced the Walsall tramway network....
, until that system's closure in 1970.
Seven of the former Ipswich system trolleybuses are now preserved. Six of them are at the Ipswich Transport Museum
Ipswich Transport Museum
The Ipswich Transport Museum is a museum in Ipswich, Suffolk, England devoted principally to the history of road vehicles as represented by those used or built in its local area....
, which is housed in the old Priory Heath trolleybus depot in Cobham Road. The other one is at the Science Museum, Wroughton
Wroughton
Wroughton is a large village in Wiltshire, England. It is part of the Borough of Swindon and is south of Swindon.-History:The earliest evidence of human presence in the area is from the Mesolithic period, although this is fairly limited...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
See also
- History of Ipswich
- Transport in IpswichTransport in IpswichIpswich is the county town of Suffolk, England. It is a medieval port and industrial town with a strong transport history; the urban area has a population of 122,000 and currently offers urban transport services for cars, cycles and buses. In addition there are 3 railway stations and regional coach...
- List of trolleybus systems in the United Kingdom
External links
- Ipswich Transport Museum: Ipswich Trolleybuses - a brief history of the Ipswich trolleybus system
- SCT'61 website - photos and descriptions of Ipswich trolleybuses and early motorbuses
- British Trolleybus Society, based in Reading
- National Trolleybus Association, based in London