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Trolleybus Route
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East Suffolk Light Railway
____ Tramway
Route
Key To Map |
| 1) Tram
Body Exhibition Rooms |
10)
Generator House/Power Substation |
19)
Woodside Railway Station |
| 2)
Museum Entrance/Exit & Car Park |
11)
Vintage K2 Telephone Box |
20)
D.A.Jones Shop |
| 3) Tram
Depot |
12)
Utility/Storage Buildings |
21)
Woodland Tram Route |
| 4)
Bus/Commercial Vehicle Depot |
13)
Vehicle Display Area |
22)
Park Area |
| 5)
Workshop Building |
14)
Trolleybus Depot |
23)
Picnic Area |
| 6)
Toilets / Baby Changing |
15)
Woodside Tram Stops |
24)
Small Commercials Display Building |
| 7) Car
Showroom Display Building |
16)
Chapel Road Tram & Trolleybus Terminus |
25)
Proposed Roadway |
| 8)
Terminus Tearooms Cafe |
17)
Chapel Road Railway Station |
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| 9) Book
& Souvenir Shop |
18) Signal
Box |
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| The museum was founded on its present site in
1965 when a group of local tramway enthusiasts who had rescued the body of
Lowestoft Tram No.14 from its use as a summerhouse, decided that it would be a
good idea to develop a museum in which to run their tram. The newly formed
East Anglia Transport Museum Society was faced with the task of transforming a
disused meadow (kindly donated by our founder and first chairman - Mr. A. V.
Bird) into a working museum with depots, stores, workshops, display buildings,
refreshment facilities and toilets, not to mention roads, tram tracks, overhead
wiring and a light railway. The first buildings were erected late in 1966,
and since then development has been continuous, culminating in the museum that
exists today. Most of the work on developing the site over the years has
been done by museum members, with all but the larger buildings being home-made
jobs. However, there is always much more to be done, and the museum,
however complete in its current existence, is a long way from being finished! |
The
Woodland
Tramway
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The museum was first built around the
idea of a working tramway and we are very fortunate to have a tramline
that is relatively compact and easy to manage, whilst being long enough
for our visitors to fully appreciate a ride by vintage tram. After
setting out along the museum street, the trams stop to allow passengers
for the trolleybus depot to alight, before turning off onto our
wonderfully atmospheric woodland tramline, finally terminating at Hedley
Grove picnic area.
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From the terminus visitors may return to
the museum on either the same or another tram, or even take a leisurely
stroll along the woodland path, from where unique views of the trams
running through the picturesque woodland can be seen. On many days
during the season there are two different trams operating along the line,
and as all rides are included in the admission price, visitors have ample
opportunity to sample both of these as many times as they wish.
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The
Trolleybus
Route
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On 10th January 1971 history was made at the
museum when London Transport trolleybus 1521 was the first of its kind to
run under trolleybus overhead in a museum anywhere in the country.
From these early beginnings regular operation of trolleybuses at Carlton
Colville finally began in May 1981, when a suitable road surface had been
laid.
Now the museum circuit is probably the most complex of
its kind in the country, in
terms of the large number of possible movements around the roadway
constrained by overhead wiring. Known by some as the 'silent death',
due to the stealthy approach of the vehicles, all visitors have the
opportunity to sample the more affectionately and appropriately named
'silent service' at its very best. |
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The museum has always been known among 'London'
enthusiasts as the 'home' of the preserved London trolleybus, with No's
260, 1201 and 1521 in residence. Additionally, we have just returned
No.1768 to its owners - the London Transport Museum, and have in the past
operated London No.1 - The Diddler. In the future we hope to hold
events specifically featuring the three buses, possibly joined once again
by others from elsewhere within the preservation movement.
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