Photo © Alan R Hall. Please do not re-post without permission.

The oldest trolleybus in the collection at Sandtoft is Mexborough & Swinton 34, WW4668. It was part of an order for six Garrett ‘O’ types with Garrett B32C bodywork and was completed on 31 December 1927, entering service in February 1928.

A further nine Garretts entered service in 1928 followed by twelve more in 1929 and a final three in 1930. All thirty Garretts were similar although all but the first six were delivered with front bumpers. 42, the last to be withdrawn, survived until 1950 although it had been out of service for some years during its years of service due to an accident and subsequent rebuilding.

34 was withdrawn in 1945 and became a hay store on a farm near Thorne. It was discovered there in 1973 by enthusiasts who negotiated a sale and on 29 September 1974, it was towed to Sandtoft where it has remained ever since.

The BTS, who own 34, have started a fund to pay for its restoration. Having been out of service for 70 years, it is accepted that this will be a lengthy process but, if anyone wants to make a contribution, I can supply the necessary details. It will be noted that, despite the passage of time, it retains the original red/brown livery; the familiar M&S green and cream wasn’t introduced until after the war.

This isn’t the best of photographs, unfortunately, due to the restricted space, but 34 only emerges from her covered accommodation on rare occasions (mainly due to the parlous condition of her bodywork) so I had to make the best of it.

The vehicle alongside is Liege 425 (1425P) a Fabriques Nationale with Fabrique Nationale B26D+30 bodywork which was new to that city in 1932.

Photo taken by Alan Hall, Saturday 25 July 2015, Sandtoft

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