Hastings First Trolleybus 1 April 1928 from Beulah

On 1st April 1928 Hastings, the Sussex seaside resort, was in the forefront of technology with its new trolleybuses replacing the towns worn out tramway. At the time, the fleet of 50 single deck and 8 open-top Guy trolleybuses made it the largest operator of trolleybuses in Britain. Hastings was to remain unique in being the only system in the world to run purpose built open top trolleybuses. One of the open toppers survives to this day and is known locally as Happy Harold. When the trolleybus system closed it had a Commer two stroke diesel engine fitted.


Trolleybuses last operated in Britain in Bradford in 1972. However it was announced in March 2011 that a trolleybus system for Leeds, the city which introduced trolleybuses in Britain back in 1911, has government approval and once a the bureaucratic hurdles have been overcome construction will start in 2014 with an opening planned by 2016. This should the signal to all other large cities and conurbations to follow suit. For more on this visit
http://filmcrusty.blogspot.com/2010/03/return-of-silent-service.html


This video comes from the Beulah footage archive. For more info visit http://shots.eavb.co.uk

The music is Amparito Roca by Jamie Texidor and comes from Beulah 1PD19 Historic Grenadiers a cd of recordings made by the band of the Grenadier Guards between 1926 and 1940. For more info visit
http://www.eavb.co.uk/lp/1pd19.html

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• hastings
• trolleybus
• guy

[althejazz]

I remember the Hastings Trolleybuses very well but not the early Guys as in this film. My cousins lived in Bulverhythe Road and we would catch a trolleybus from the end of the road and spend the afternoon in Alexandra Park. One of the Guys that was preserved would come out on festive occasions to augment the post war vehicles and we managed to cadge a ride on it once. I believe it still exists but it has been powered by a Commer oil engine for many years.

[scotch491]

I wish I could get into a time machine and go back to that time and area of Hastings and have a ride on one of those...but then again I'm sure a few people would like to do that!

[realdolllover77]

What a fantastic piece of footage ! Times gone by but still great

to look at. The music is great as well ! Are there any other clips

of Hastings in the 'olden days' out there ???

[fartbumdig]

Saw the letter in the Hastings Observer to view this footage, glad I did. Way before my time.

[maisymoose]

Fabulous piece of footage. Managed to spot Bohemia Road, Robertson Street and Cambridge Road! Don't the trolleybuses look magnificent!