Teesside Trolleybus route map
National Grid references are shown to the nearest kilometre square.
Teesside Trolleybus RouteThe Tees-side Railless Traction Board began running single-deck trackless trams in 1919. These early trolley buses had solid tyres. Power for the electric motor was drawn from two overhead electric wires, using two long wooden booms. At junctions the bus conductor could change the route by altering the overhead points. Double-deck trolleybuses were used from the 1940s.The western terminus was in Smeaton Street, North Ormesby NZ5020. This area has been covered by the modern A66 road. The Depot was near the steelworks offices on Middlesbrough Road NZ5220. To avoid using the level crossing with the former Cleveland Railway, a new bridge was built across the railway for the trolleybuses. This bridge is still in use by road traffic, even though the railway has long since closed. The route continued to the junction of Middlesbrough Road and Normanby Road in South Bank. This was known as Bennett's Corner NZ5320. The trolleybuses then ran southwards to Normanby NZ5418, where the overhead wires turned in a loop. A later extension of the wires ran from South Bank to Grangetown NZ5420. A subway allowed buses to dip under the Bolckow and Vaughan mineral railway which ran from Eston Mines. This subway was levelled after the railway bridge was removed. The trolleybus route continued along Bolckow Road where it turned into Whitworth Road, with a terminus in Holden Street. The final extension of the system ran from Grangetown via Bailey's Corner or Lanny's Corner and followed Birchington Avenue to Eston NZ5518, eventually connecting with the wires at Normanby. This trolleybus system was closed in 1972.
Tees-side Trolleybuses by Stephen Lockwood, 2005
There are many photographs of Teesside Trolleybuses online - www.communigate.co.uk/ne/slaggyisland/page40.phtml - "Slaggy Island" or the South Bank Nostalgia Society www.Flickr.com - Trolley Bus reverser at Hampden Street, North Ormesby. The bus was reversed into a side street, with the trolley heads going through spring-loaded points in the overhead triangle.
www.sandtoft.org.uk - The Trolleybus Museum, Belton Road, Sandtoft, Doncaster, North Lincolnshire,
DN8 5SX
www.500group.org.uk - The 500 Group was formed in 1989 for people who have an interest in the buses and operations of Cleveland Transit and its predecessors. www.communigate.co.uk/ne/cardboardcity - Grangetown or "Cardboard City" www.Flickr.com - North Ormesby Community History Group, Transport set
 Trolley Bus on Flickr North Ormesby Community History Group, Transport set
Waggonways Home Page |
