Trolleybuses in Launceston, Tasmania

The Launceston trolleybus system operated in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia from 1951 until 1968.

Launceston trolleybus system
Operation
LocaleLaunceston, Tasmania, Australia
Open24 December 1951
Close26 July 1968
StatusClosed
Operator(s)Launceston City Council
Metropolitan Transport Trust
Statistics
Route length24 km (15 mi)

History

After a protracted conversion with multiple delays in delivery of buses and other infrastructure, the Launceston trolleybus system opened on 24 December 1951 from the Launceston city centre to Quarantine Road via Wellington Street replacing a tram service.[1][2] A second line opened to Mowbray Heights on 13 September 1952, being extended to Newnham Park on 21 November 1952. On 1 July 1955, operation of the network passed from the Launceston City Council to the Metropolitan Transport Trust.[3][4][5][6][7]

Further lines opened to Basin Road and Quarantine Road via Talbot Road, both on 24 February 1957 to form a cross-city service, followed by Norwood on 27 November 1961. The network closed in stages in 1968.[3][5][7][8]

Services

Launceston's trolleybus routes were as follows:

RouteExtensionOpenedClosed
Launceston - Quarantine Road
via Wellington Street		24 December 195126 July 1968
Launceston - Mowbray Heights13 September 195226 July 1968
Mowbray Heights - Newnham Park21 November 195226 July 1968
Launceston - Basin Road24 February 195715 July 1968
Launceston - Quarantine Road
via Talbot Road		24 February 195713 July 1968
Launceston - Norwood27 November 196128 June 1968

Fleet

The fleet comprised 30 BUT RETB/1s.[9] These were bodied in Adelaide by JA Lawnton & Sons, each being trialled on the Adelaide network before being sent to Launceston.[6] In 1964, five were sold for further use on the Hobart system.[3][4][7]

Depot

The Howick Street tram depot was doubled in size to accommodate the trolleybus fleet.[7]

References
  1. New Trolleybus System: Launceston System Inaugurated Electric Traction December 1951 page 4
  2. First Stage in Launceston Trolleybus Conversion Truck & Bus Transportation February 1952 page 8
  3. Cooper, Ian (1979). Trolley Buses of Tasmania. Sydney: Australian Electric Traction Association. pp. 52–73. ISBN 0-909459-05-3.
  4. Lynas, Ian (1983). Buses & Trams of Australia's Government & Municipal Operators. pp. 58, 63. ISBN 0-9592580-0-0.
  5. Jones, David (2000). Australian Trolley Buses. City Tramway Publications. p. 15-17. ISBN 0 473 07118 5.
  6. Cooper, Ian (2006). Launceston Municipal Transport 1911-1955. Rozelle: Transit Australia Publishing. pp. 110–128. ISBN 978-0-909459-20-8.
  7. Cooper, Ian (2010). Tasmania's Trolley Buses. Rozelle: Transit Australia Publishing. pp. 129–182. ISBN 978-0-909459-22-2.
  8. That Curiosity - the trolley bus Trolley Wire issue 171 August 1977 pages 12-17
  9. 40 per cent of BUT output for overseas Commercial Motor 22 July 1949
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