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Ashton-under-Lyne Corporation trolleybus fleetnumber 80 registered LTC774, an all-Crossley Empire TDD42/2 of H30/26R layout with Metropolitan Vickers MV209NO motor is being restored at the Manchester Museum of Transport.
It was new in 7/50 as part of a batch numbered 77-81 and was one of only 45 Empire trolleybus chassis built, as Crossley only supplied the product to three operators Ashton(5), Manchester(38) and Cleethorpes UDC(2).

Peter Gould's website says that in 1955 Ashton Corporation had 21 trolleybuses and 50 motorbuses. It operated on 5 trolleybus routes, but over the next decade or so, these were converted to motorbus operation. The last trolleybuses ran from Ashton on route 217 to Haughton Green on 3/7/60, route 219 to Manchester Piccadilly via Audenshaw and Guide Bridge on 10/10/64 and the final services between Stalybridge and Manchester via Ashton, ceased on 30/12/66. Ashton shared these latter services with Manchester Corporation as SHMD Board, (the joint Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Corporations), did not operate trolleybuses but officially owned the equipment passing within its boundary. SHMD therefore maintained these poles and wires without actually using the system and in an agreement reached by the local authorities, SHMD had the sole right to operate the 21 route between Dukinfield and Manchester using motorbuses.

LTC774 was the last Ashton Crossley trolleybus in regular service and was set aside for preservation, but subsequent open storage at Carlton Colville caused extensive structural damage. It was acquired by Manchester Museum of Transport about 1980 and major restoration work began in the early 1980s and this is now nearing completion. It has been repainted to Ashton's pre-1954 livery of dark blue, red and white, in which it initially operated.

The Museum also has Manchester trolleybus fleetnumber 1250 registered JVU755 a Crossley Dominion TDD64/1 built in 1951, but no system on which to use them. It should be interesting to see if they are kept as static exhibitions, or are maybe loaned to say, Sandtoft in the future.
Similar LTC771 is featured in service on this website wearing Ashton's latter livery of Peacock blue and cream.

Photo taken by Peter Hadfield, Sunday 4 September 2016, Manchester Museum of Transport, Boyle Street, Cheetham

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