Reading Trolleybus 186 , Wokingham Road, Reading
Recording the last days & hours of the Reading trolleybus system in 1968, the photographer has chanced their luck in capturing this precious moment from a moving car. Hoping the camera has fully framed the passing trolleybus at speed, the outcome will remain an unknown until the film is processed and returned.
Successfully captured to slide film, the image shows Reading trolleybus 186 accelerating up Wokingham Road towards the Three Tuns terminus on Wokingham Road. The 17 route was a cross-town service that operated between Tilehurst to the West of the town, to the borough boundary at the Three Tuns pub, to the East of Reading.
The petrol station in the backdrop was situated on Wokingham Road at its junction with St Peter's Road. Today, the site still remains dedicated to cars, but as a Hertz car hire concern. Sadly, the stylish period garage canopy is no more, replaced by a cabin.
On a more positive note, the trolleybus (VRD186) still exists. The bus was sold by Reading to Teesside Municipal Transport in 1968. The bus was one of several ex Reading trolleys that were to supplement the small fleet of Teesside trolleybuses in Middlesborough. The Teesside system closed in April 1971, and 186 was chosen as the last official trolleybus to operate the network.
Latterly owned by the late David Brown, the bus is now destined to operate at the Beamish industrial Museum in Co Durham. The trolley will feature as part of their 1950s townscape, currently being constructed on site.
Reading Trolleybus 186 , Wokingham Road, Reading
Recording the last days & hours of the Reading trolleybus system in 1968, the photographer has chanced their luck in capturing this precious moment from a moving car. Hoping the camera has fully framed the passing trolleybus at speed, the outcome will remain an unknown until the film is processed and returned.
Successfully captured to slide film, the image shows Reading trolleybus 186 accelerating up Wokingham Road towards the Three Tuns terminus on Wokingham Road. The 17 route was a cross-town service that operated between Tilehurst to the West of the town, to the borough boundary at the Three Tuns pub, to the East of Reading.
The petrol station in the backdrop was situated on Wokingham Road at its junction with St Peter's Road. Today, the site still remains dedicated to cars, but as a Hertz car hire concern. Sadly, the stylish period garage canopy is no more, replaced by a cabin.
On a more positive note, the trolleybus (VRD186) still exists. The bus was sold by Reading to Teesside Municipal Transport in 1968. The bus was one of several ex Reading trolleys that were to supplement the small fleet of Teesside trolleybuses in Middlesborough. The Teesside system closed in April 1971, and 186 was chosen as the last official trolleybus to operate the network.
Latterly owned by the late David Brown, the bus is now destined to operate at the Beamish industrial Museum in Co Durham. The trolley will feature as part of their 1950s townscape, currently being constructed on site.