2010 – Issue 3 of 4
A PENNY FARE ON A CARDIFF TROLLEYBUS IN 2010 By Peter Smith After the conversion of the Pengam trolleybus route to oil buses in November 1962, Cardiff withdrew six of its original AEC trolleybuses dating from 1942. Five of the six went for scrap, but one vehicle, 203, was presented to the Reading Trolleybus Society gratis providing they undertook to retain it in the Cardiff colours of maroon and cream. Early on Sunday 19/5/1963, two Cardiff trolleybus enthusiasts (Glyn Bowen and myself) meet up at Roath Depot where 203 is about to be towed by an ex. Southdown Leyland TD7 saloon DUF 179 to a temporary home at Chadwell Heath in Essex. The group undertaking the tow offered both of us the opportunity to travel with 203 on the towing vehicle; to which I accepted their offer indicating that I would travel as far as Gloucester with them, but because of other commitments that day Glyn could not take up the offer. With the trolley booms making 203 just over 15ft. high, a long circuitous route had been worked out to avoid the archway at Chepstow, so we travelled via Caerleon, Usk, Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye; there we set off on the A40 to reach Gloucester. Remember, this is 1963 and there is no M4 motorway or a trunk road between Newport and Monmouth. We arrived at Gloucester at about 1-30pm. where I said my goodbyes to 203 and the towing group and returned to Cardiff on a Red &White Lodekka, which interestingly exchanged crews near to Newent with another Lodekka going to Gloucester, maybe this was a regular R&W practice. Fast forward now forty seven years to Sunday May 30, 2010; I again meet up with Glyn Bowen and trolleybus 203 but this time it is at the Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum in North Lincolnshire. We are both there to see 203 launched after a major £25,000 overhaul. This has included reupholstering the seats in both the upper and lower deck saloons, repairing and rewiring the burnt out traction motor and a complete exterior and interior repaint. As I pay my entrance fee to the Museum, I am given an old style penny coin which am I directed to give to the conductor of 203 when I take a ride on it -- not quite the same as Cardiff’s penny in the slot P-A-Y-E scheme but nevertheless an interesting way to pay your fare. 12
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- Page 1 and 2: FREE TO MEMBERS £1 TO NON MEMBERS
- Page 3 and 4: CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE: It seems that
- Page 5 and 6: WENSLEYDALE WANDERINGS - 2 by Berwy
- Page 7 and 8: Lamb and Flag Inn where we spent a
- Page 9 and 10: there was scaffolding around one wi
- Page 11: Those who wished could visit the ad
- Page 15 and 16: was a truly magnificent sight. Afte
- Page 17 and 18: OOPS (3) Western Welsh 1093 was inv
- Page 19 and 20: UH7175 as Southern Vectis 709 with
- Page 21 and 22: WHY SABRINAS? Can’t see the simil
- Page 23 and 24: PAX 466F The Massey bodied Leyland
A PENNY FARE ON A CARDIFF TROLLEYBUS IN <strong>2010</strong><br />
By Peter Smith<br />
After the conversion <strong>of</strong> the Pengam trolleybus route to oil buses in<br />
November 1962, Cardiff withdrew six <strong>of</strong> its original AEC trolleybuses<br />
dating from 1942. Five <strong>of</strong> the six went for scrap, but one vehicle, 203,<br />
was presented to the Reading Trolleybus Society gratis providing they<br />
undertook to retain it in the Cardiff colours <strong>of</strong> maroon and cream.<br />
Early on Sunday 19/5/1963, two Cardiff trolleybus enthusiasts (Glyn<br />
Bowen and myself) meet up at Roath Depot where 203 is about to be<br />
towed by an ex. Southdown Leyland TD7 saloon DUF 179 to a<br />
temporary home at Chadwell Heath in Essex. The group undertaking the<br />
tow <strong>of</strong>fered both <strong>of</strong> us the opportunity to travel with 203 on the towing<br />
vehicle; to which I accepted their <strong>of</strong>fer indicating that I would travel as far<br />
as Gloucester with them, but because <strong>of</strong> other commitments that day<br />
Glyn could not take up the <strong>of</strong>fer.<br />
With the trolley booms making 203 just over 15ft. high, a long circuitous<br />
route had been worked out to avoid the archway at Chepstow, so we<br />
travelled via Caerleon, Usk, Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye; there we set<br />
<strong>of</strong>f on the A40 to reach Gloucester. Remember, this is 1963 and there is<br />
no M4 motorway or a trunk road between Newport and Monmouth.<br />
We arrived at Gloucester at about 1-30pm. where I said my goodbyes to<br />
203 and the towing group and returned to Cardiff on a Red &White<br />
Lodekka, which interestingly exchanged crews near to Newent with<br />
another Lodekka going to Gloucester, maybe this was a regular R&W<br />
practice.<br />
Fast forward now forty seven years to Sunday May 30, <strong>2010</strong>; I again meet<br />
up with Glyn Bowen and trolleybus 203 but this time it is at the Sandt<strong>of</strong>t<br />
Trolleybus Museum in North Lincolnshire. We are both there to see 203<br />
launched after a major £25,000 overhaul. This has included reupholstering<br />
the seats in both the upper and lower deck saloons,<br />
repairing and rewiring the burnt out traction motor and a complete<br />
exterior and interior repaint.<br />
As I pay my entrance fee to the Museum, I am given an old style penny<br />
coin which am I directed to give to the conductor <strong>of</strong> 203 when I take a<br />
ride on it -- not quite the same as Cardiff’s penny in the slot P-A-Y-E<br />
scheme but nevertheless an interesting way to pay your fare.<br />
12
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