The Hastings Trolley Busses

80 Years Ago in Hastings
By Roland Jempson

On April 1st 1928 Hastings experienced a new type of public transport. The opening of the towns new Trolleybus system, it was inaugurated by four of the newly delivered GUY BTX 60 Trolleybuses Nos 1, 2, 3 and 4 with Christopher Dodson open top bodies, on the No 4 route, Hollington to the Fish Market via Bohemia Road and The Memorial, replacing the Trams on the part of the route to the Memorial (Trams did not operate to the Fish Market or Old Town). One of the Trolleybuses was even driven by Mr Vincent Edwards the Manager, The First four were decorated with Flags and Bunting, and had as passengers invited guests and Ex Servicemen. Continue reading The Hastings Trolley Busses

Hastings 80 years ago

The Story of the Trolley Bus

By Roland Jempson

On April 1st 1928 Hastings experienced a new type of public transport. The opening of the towns new Trolleybus system, it was inaugurated by four of the newly delivered GUY BTX 60 Trolleybuses Nos 1, 2, 3 and 4 with Christopher Dodson open top bodies, on the No 4 route, Hollinton to the Fish Market via Bohemia Road and The Memorial, replacing the Trams on the part of the route to the Memorial (Trams did not operate to the Fish Market or Old Town). Continue reading Hastings 80 years ago

Happy Harold

A brief history of an unique vehicle by Ion Castro of the Hastings Trolleybus Restoration Group.

On the first of April 1928 Hastings was in the forefront of transport technology, the ageing fleet of tramcars on their worn out track was being replaced with trolleybuses; these electrically powered vehicles were freed from the constraint of rails and ran, quietly and efficiently on pneumatic tyres, just like ‘ordinary’ internal combustion engined buses but without the noise, vibration and fumes. Trolleybuses drew their power from wires suspended above the road carrying 500 volts DC. Continue reading Happy Harold

The Bus that Went to the Cinema

Rye Electric Palace Gets an Unwanted Visitor

The bus that went to the cinema, or almost, as can be seen from the picture (the Electric Palace in the Landgate is the building just beyond the bus with the coloured electric light bulbs in the shape of an arch) was an East Kent converted charabanc on the Camber Rye Harbour service. Continue reading The Bus that Went to the Cinema

The Last of the Prewar Drivers

The Last of the Prewar Drivers

By A. J. Leadbetter

I joined East Kent as a driver in 1937 and am now the last of the prewar drivers to survive. I was with East Kent until my retirement in 1977.

I remember back to the 1920’s when Timpsons were running charabangs in Hastings. They then uprooted and moved to Catford. Maidstone & District were running Tilling Stevens Petrol Electric double deckers in the late twenties. Continue reading The Last of the Prewar Drivers

Bus Operators of Rye & District

By Roland Jempson.

The article in the January issue of “Rye’s Own” telling of Rye in the 1930’s has inspired me to write about the Bus Services and their operators in and around the town from the 1920’s. Continue reading Bus Operators of Rye & District

Public Transport’s Not For Me

 By Pauline Kingswood

With the increases in the price of oil and pressure on roads the whole question of public versus personal transport again comes sharply into focus, and a little light on the subject is needed. There are a lot of misconceptions about public transport, which makes comparison of what is offered difficult. Continue reading Public Transport’s Not For Me