About the Bradford Trolleybus Association
In August 1971, a small number of enthusiasts formed themselves into
the
"B.U.T. 834 Group" to organise the purchase of Bradford Trolleybus
No
834 from Bradford Corporation. The scheme met with instant success and
soon 834 was safely in our possession at the Sandtoft Transport Centre,
near Doncaster. From these small beginnings came a more ambitious plan:
to expand into a full-scale society and to buy and operate a whole fleet
of trolleybuses. With this in mind, an appeal was launched, which again
with considerable success: the Bradford Trolleybus Association came
into being on 25th March 1972 - the day before the closure of Britain's
last remaining trolleybus system. The Association purchased from
Bradford Corporation, trolleybus No 731 and 847.
The B.T.A. co-ordinated the purchase on behalf of
its members all the remaining trolleybuses bar one that ran in
Bradford on 26th March 1972, and eventually restore and operate
under the wires at Sandtoft.
The B.T.A. now owns one vehicle - 758 whilst its members hold a
variety of ex-Bradford trolleybuses. 758 is a B.U.T. 9611T with
8ft Weymann body. Registered FKU 758 on the 1st January 1951, as
a pioneering experiment in May 1952, 758 was fitted with
experimental flashing indicators. This was the first legal use
of flashing indicators in Britain.
On the 31st July 1971, 758 became the last rear entrance
trolleybus in service in Great Britain. She is now undergoing a thorough
restoration to restore her to her former glory and the
Association is currently gathering the finances to meet the costs
involved.
| Chairman, Programme Secretary, Sales and Trackless Editor Gary Wilkinson 59a Pentand Avenue Clayton Bradford BD14 6JF E-mail: g.d.wilkinson@btinternet.com |
| Vice Chairman, Membership
Secretary and Treasurer Robin Kitson 31 Avery Tulip Court Edward Turner Close Low Moor Bradford BD12 0AT E-mail: robin.kitson@sky.com |
| Secretary Brian Keating 11 Willow Close Gomersal Cleckheaton BD19 4JA |
| Assistant Secretary Mrs A Keating |
| Publicity John Thornton |
| Webmaster Robin Kitson |
Bradford Trolleybus Association
Registered Charity No. 1116734