100 Years of Electric Public Transport in Wellington

13th June 2004

On June 30th 1904, Wellington saw its first electrically power public transport vehicles. Sadly none of the original electric trams survive, but the capital still has electrically powered public transport in the form of its iconic trolleybuses. Over the weekend of 12/13 June 2004, a number of historic trolleybuses once again plied the streets of Wellington. The event was organised by the Wellington Tramway Museum and the Omnibus Society. This album features some of the action before and during the weekend.

The first selection of photographs were taken on Friday 11th June at the Stagecoach depot at Kilbirnie. Present were English Electric 210, built in 1931 and transported from Ferrymead Museum in Christchurch for the event and also trolleybus 39, a British United Traction (BUT) example built in 1952. Also included are some views of current operational trolleybuses and some other diesel "old timers" found resting in the depot. Sadly, No.39, owned by the Omnibus Society was unable to participate in the weekend's events, catching fire during a final period of testing.

The action then moves to Karori were former Wellington City Transport 66, built by BUT in 1958 was visiting from a private collection in Masterton plus former Auckland Regional Authority 85, BUT built in 1955, former Dunedin City Transport 43, a 1953 BUT built in 1953 (both from the Foxton Trolleybus Museum), and ex WCT 119, a 1964 BUT built in 1964 owned by the Omnibus Society. Stagecoach Wellington provided trolleybus 301, the new prototype design for a replacement fleet of the current Volvos.

On Saturday 12th June, the participants were captured in Glenmore St, en route to the Interchange. More pictures were taken at the Interchange and the first trips made from there around the network.
Unfortunately No.85 "disgraced" itself with a small electric fire during the day which ended its day's work.

On Sunday 13th June, Tranz Metro placed electric locomotive Ew1805 in Wellington Station to support the event. The album concludes with the action seen around the city as 301, 210, 119, 66 and 43 provided shuttles between the Interchange and Courtenay Place. This is a BIG album, but it was a once in a 100 year event after all!

119 and 210 in Lambton Quay on an outward shuttle on 13.6.2004.	119 and 66, resplendent in their WCT colours stand in the depot at Karori.	119 arrives at the Interchange on 13.6.2004.	119 at the north end of Lambton Quay as it nears the Interchange on 13.6.2004.
119 gets some interested glances as it heads down Willis St on 13.6.2004.	119 heads off along Lambton Quay past Ballance St on 13.6.2004.	119 is seen having just left the Interchange on an outward shuttle on 13.6.2004.	119 is seen turning at the Interchange on 13.6.2004.
119 poses in the afternoon sun at Karori on 11.6.2004.	199 passing along Victoria St on a trip back to the Interchange on 13.6.2004.	210 and Leyland Leopard 462 seen parked at the north end of Lambton Quay on 13.6.2004 - duties over.	210 arrived from Kilbirnie during the afternoon to join the other trolleys.
210 arrives at the Interchange on 13.6.2004.	210 boards another load of passengers at the Interchange on 13.6.2004.	210 heads out along Lambton Quay on 13.6.2004.	210 is glimpsed as it heads along Manners St on an outward shuttle on 13.6.2004.
210 leaves Courtenay Place and crosses Wakefield Street on 13.6.2004.	210 passes Cable Car Lane where in 1902 a cable car service opened to Kelburn.	210 starts away from the Interchange on 13.6.2004.	210 waits in Kilbirnie depot for later movement to Karori for the start of the event.
210, 66 and 119 are lined up at the Interchange having just arrived back from shuttles to Courtenay Place on 13.6.2004.	228 in Wellington City Transport livery is seen pretty much in gutted condition.	301 arrives at the Interchange.	301 heads along Lambton Quay on 13.6.2004.
301 heads along Wakefield St on 13.6.2004.	301 is pictured at the north end of Lambton Quay on 13.6.2004.	301 poses in the glorious sunshine at Karori depot.	301, the newest bus in the celebrations moves down Glenmore St, Kelburn on 12.6.2004.
358, another bus associated with the event heads down Glenmore St.	39 (known as the Silver Ghost) is seen in this front end view.	39 arrives into the daylight outside Kilbirnie depot.	39 is connected to the overhead for electrical testing.
39 is seen shortly after the fire was extinguished.	39 is towed outside for testing.	39 was having final touches made before testing.	43 and 210 are seen at the Interchange on 13.6.2004.