Retford Men’s Probus Club’s monthly meeting on Friday 21st October was an Away Day, which the group enjoys every now and then! This outing was no exception at The Trolley Bus Museum based at Sandtoft near Doncaster.
Enthusiastic staff were on hand to offer a warm welcome to members on arrival. Then it was off to catch the first bus of the day – a nostalgic trip round the perimeters of the depot which brought back many fond memories for the group. Members gave their accounts of happy hours spent on these vehicles in their early years, often in the company of mums and dads.
Trolleybuses are powered by mains electricity connected by overhead wiring from two poles on the roof. The buses have rubber tyres, run on normal roads, and are one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transport ever invented. Although they disappeared from our streets in 1972, trolleybuses thrive in towns and cities elsewhere all over the world.
Another trip took passengers around a different route within the depot. The first trip in an older vehicle, the second on a younger type, somewhat updated and including luxury leather seats.
After lunch, it was time for a visit round the bus sheds where visitors could see and inspect a wide variety of buses spanning the period 1928 to 1986, from all over the UK plus examples from Europe, Canada and New Zealand.
The session ended with a photo call to remind everyone of an excellent day out. The club’s thanks go to the secretary and committee for organising such an event and to members for their support.