Trolleybuses
A brief history of Trolleybuses in Auckland
Auckland’s First Trolleybuses
In 1938 The Farmers Trading Company Department Store began operating four Trolleybuses on a one kilometre long loop from Farmers in Hobson Street, down Victoria Street, turning into Queen Street and finally traversing steep Wyndham Street back to Farmers. These buses were operated until 1967, when an experimental overhaul of No 3 concluded it uneconomic to overhaul the remainder of the fleet. The "Farmers Free Bus" service continued operating with newer Trolleybuses.
The Tramway Replacement Programme
The tramway replacement programme started in September 1949 with the conversion of the Herne Bay tram route to trolleybus operation and concluded with the closure of the Auckland tramway system 29 December 1956. The trolleybus routes expanded until 1960 with the conversion to trolleybus operation of the Onehunga route from diesel buses. At its height the system covered 86 kilometres using 133 buses.
The Queen Street Shuttle buses were distinct with a red band painted around the bus and permanently sign written with route information. They also had an increased standee capacity, achieved by reducing one side of the aisle to single seats. They operated with Conductors until fitted with fare honesty boxes until 1972. To reduce standing time at bus stops, entry and alighting were permitted at both front and rear doors. The service was designed for speedy passage of passengers between the Beach Road Railway Station, Queen Street and the Karangahape Road Department Stores Rendalls and George Courts.
Decline and Closure'
Unfortunately the trolleybus system used the majority of the old Tramway electrical reticulation system which was reaching 80 years of age. Trolleybuses routes began being closed in 1977 in favour of diesel buses. On 28 September 1980 the ceremonial last trolleybus ran and the Auckland trolleybus system closed. A new generation trolleybus system was proposed in the early 1980s, but a change in policy within the Auckland Regional Authority saw the new-generation trolley bus system abandoned in 1981, despite 20 new Volvo chassis with Ansaldo electrical equipment and Robosio overhead being ordered and delivered and sections of overhead installed. The new buses were sold to Wellington City Transport and completed to their specifications. More recently these trolleybuses were sold and have been converted to diesel buses.
Farmers Trading Company Trolleybuses
- No.1/No.3 1938 Leyland Trolleybus chassis. 37-seat wooden-bodied trolleybuses built by DSC & Cousins & Cousins Ltd. Eight bodies built, the first four destroyed by fire in the DSC & Cousins premises, the second four completed by DCS Cousins at the ATB Royal Oak Workshops. Electrical equipment supplied by Metropolitan-Vickers. Two of 4 buses in ATB/ATA fleet. Operated by the ATB on behalf of Farmers Trading Company. Later being sold to ATB. In service with the ATB/ARA 1938–1967.
Suburban Trolleybuses:
- No.50 1953 "BUTs". British United Traction (AEC) built chassis. 43-seat Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage & Wagon Company kitset body. Electrical equipment by Metropolitan Vickers. One of 55 in ATB/ARA fleet. In service 1956–1977. Restored, operable and on display MOTAT 1.
- No.85 1956 "SAROs or Tanks". British United Traction (Leyland) built chassis. 45-seat Saunders Roe kitset body. Electrical Equipment by British Thomson Houston. In service 1956–1977. One of 40 buses in ATB/ARA fleet. On display MOTAT 1.
- No.120 1958 "Parkroyal Mainline (Suburban)" British United Traction (Leyland) built chassis. 44-seat Parkroyal Kitset body. Electrical Equipment by British Thomson Houston. In service 1958–1980. 34 buses in ATB/ARA fleet. No.120 is the only surviving suburban 44-seat Parkroyal in the suburban configuration and had been loaned to Ian Little's Foxton Trolley Bus Museum for many years
Railway – Queen Street – Karangahape Road Shuttle "Red band" Trolley Buses:
- No's 108 and 115 1958 "Queen Street Shuttle Parkroyals" British United Traction (Leyland) built chassis. 38-seat Parkroyal Kitset body. Electrical Equipment by British Thomson Houston. In service 1958–1980. 34 buses in ATB/ARA fleet. No.115 was built as a Mainline (Suburban) Parkroyal but very late in its career it was converted from a 44-seat to a 38-seat Queen Street Shuttle trolleybus, following another trolleybus being written off. This involved increasing the standee capacity by reducing the seated capacity with a two–one seating on either side of the aisle. No.115 was the ceremonial last trolleybus to run in Auckland Sunday 28 September 1980. Both trolleybuses are currently in storage. Trolleybus 109 was also acquired in 2009 from the Omnibus Society and is in the process of being dismantled for parts, so not an accessioned artefact.
Legend: ATB = Auckland Transport Board – 1929–1964. ARA = Auckland Regional Authority – 1964–1993. AEC = Associated Equipment Company of England. Vehicle manufacturer. BUT = British United Traction Company. Electrical equipment manufacturer. BTH = British Thomson Houston. Electrical equipment manufacturer. NST = North Shore Transport. NZRRS = New Zealand Railways Road Services. OWB = Official designation for Bedford O series bus chassis built during World War 2. SARO = Saunders Roe Rivaloy Wales. Bus body manufacturer.
Coordinates: 36°52′04″S 174°43′40″E / 36.8678°S 174.7278°E / -36.8678; 174.7278
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