Trolleybuses in Perth facts for kids
Preserved Midland Railway Workshops bodied Leyland TB5 no 38 at Whiteman Park in 2011
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The Perth trolleybus system was a special type of public transport in Perth, Western Australia. It used electric buses that got their power from overhead wires. This system connected the main city area of Perth with its nearby northern suburbs, across the Swan River. It was the very first permanent trolleybus network in Australia, starting in 1933. It was also the last one to close down, operating until 1969.
Contents
How the Perth Trolleybus System Started
The first trolleybus route began on October 1, 1933. It ran between East Perth and West Leederville station, going along Wellington Street. This was Australia's first permanent trolleybus system. Another city, Adelaide, had tried a test service in May 1932, but Perth's was the first to stay.
In 1938, the route was made longer. It went along Cambridge Street to a loop at Keane Street in Wembley. In the same year, a new route opened to Claremont. This new route used Mounts Bay Road and the Stirling Highway. It took the place of an old tram route. Another new route branched off from the Wembley line. It went to the corner of Grantham and Reserve Streets, using Gregory Street. Trams had never served this area before.
Changes and Closures of Routes
In the late 1940s, there were plans to replace more tram routes with trolleybuses. These included routes to Victoria Park, Welshpool, South Perth, and Como. However, people thought the overhead wires would look messy on the new Causeway Bridge. So, regular motor buses were used instead for these areas.
On August 8, 1951, trolleybuses took over the tram line to Mount Hawthorn. This line started from William Street in the city. The Claremont route was also extended along the Stirling Highway to the Swanbourne Fire Station. The Wembley routes were extended along Louth Road and Dumfries Road to Floreat Park.
In 1959, trolleybuses replaced trams on the routes to Mount Lawley. These new trolleybus routes went even further than the old tram lines. They reached Dianella via Grand Promenade and also went to Bedford Park. But in the same year, the Swanbourne route was replaced by motor buses. This change happened because of road work near the Narrows Bridge in the city.
The Mount Hawthorn route closed on March 17, 1963. The routes along Beaufort Street closed at the end of 1968. This was because Barrack Street became a one-way street, only allowing traffic to go north. The very last trolleybus routes, which went to Floreat Park, closed on August 29, 1969.
What Kind of Trolleybuses Did Perth Use?
To start the system, Perth received three special Leyland TTB trolleybuses on June 10, 1933. One of these had its body built by a company called Park Royal. The other two had their bodies built locally by the Midland Railway Workshops.
When the network grew in the late 1930s, 19 more Leyland TTBs were ordered. Again, the first one was built by Park Royal, and the rest were built by Midland Railway Workshops. Another 18 Leyland TB5 trolleybuses were also used. These were originally meant for a city in China called Canton, but they ended up in Perth. Their bodies were also built by Midland Railway Workshops.
In 1950 and 1951, 50 Sunbeam F4 trolleybuses joined the fleet. Ten of these had their bodies built by Commonwealth Engineering in Sydney. The other 40 were built by Boltons in Perth.
Images for kids
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Perth trolleybus number 2 in 1933.
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Perth trolleybus number 22 in 1949.
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Perth trolleybus number 39 in 1951.
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Perth trolleybus number 41 in 1950.
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Perth trolleybus number 57 in 1951.
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Some of the old Perth trolleybuses are now kept safe by the Perth Electric Tramway Society. You can see them at their heritage tramway in Whiteman Park.
