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Portsmouth Trolleybuses
Trolleybuses began operating in Portsmouth in August 1934 when 100 trolleybuses replaced the trams. The trolleybus system severed the city of Portsmouth for 29 years with the final day of operation being Saturday 27th July 1963. A varied fleet of AEC, Sunbeam and B.U.T. trolleybuses were operated over the years with a small number of Leyland and Karrier trolleybuses operated in the early years. Fleet number 313 (ERV 938), a B.U.T. 9611T with a Burlingham H28/24R body from the final batch of vehicles delivered in 1951 entered service on 1st March 1951. This was the final trolleybus to run into Eastney depot on that last day and was sold in December 1963 for preservation. Over the following years it had a number of owners. In 1983 it was sold to the London Trolleybus Preservation Society who moved it to Castle Point Transport Museum where some restoration took place.
In September 1990 it moved to the East Anglia Transport Museum at Carlton Colville for final restoration and re-entered passenger service on Saturday 28th April 2007. It is at this point that our DVD programme begins. The independent transport videos cameras were in attendance to film the launch of this very special vehicle. Filming began early on the Saturday morning, as 313 was road tested and spruced up ready for the launch to the general public. We hear the speeches and see 313 re-enter passenger service. Our cameras take a ride on 313, filming on both decks so you can soak up the atmosphere of what it was like to travel by trolleybus. Further filming took place on the Sunday following the launch and this trolleybus is seen travelling around the roads of this excellent transport museum, which is situated near Lowestoft in eastern England.
The second part of this DVD programme features a cine film taken by Richard Newman of the trolleybuses in service during the final years of operation. Filmed on 8mm cine film, the young Richard has done an excellent job in capturing the trolleybuses in service for us to enjoy. The final shots on his film show 313 being towed away from Portsmouth to begin it’s second life in preservation for us all to enjoy in the twenty-first century.
| Filmed : | 2007 & 1963 |
| Duration : | 76 mins |
| Price : | Within UK - £16 |
| Rest of world - £18 | |
| Format : | DVD -R |
| Picture Aspect 16:9 | |
| Order Ref : | D389 |
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