Life after Death A review of activities after the system was closed
Contributions for this page have come from: Geoff Bannister, Irvine Bell, John Hinson, Brian Maguire, Marco Montanarini, Roger Rettig, George Moon, Hugh Taylor, Terry Russell and Ian Smith. Other listings of preserved trolleybuses [and other vehicles] can be found within the Old Bus Garage site and also at the British Trolleybus Database site.

The last classes of trolleybuses operating in London were 'L3s' out of Fulwell Depot and 'K2s' based at Hounslow Depot, as all previous examples of other classes had either been scrapped, or exported aboard, by early 1962. The phased withdrawal programme came to its ultimate conclusion on the night of 8 May 1962, with the last service vehicle entering Fulwell Depot. The remaining infrastructure was removed in the months that followed, leaving almost no trace of what was once one of the world's largest trolleybus system. The Capital had lost 1811 environmentally friendly vehicles from its streets, together with the visual intrusion of 253 miles of overhead.

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Picture LTM1 Removing the overhead wire minutes after the last trolleybus had passed. Why the undue haste to remove the overhead?

Picture 146 All rather sad

Picture 147 Using the trolley pole as a wind direction indicator

Picture TMR9 Did it really have to end like this? Goodbye old friend

Some vehicles escaped destruction by an extra term of revenue earning duties with foreign operators while others were earmarked for preservation. The rest were broken up and were last seen in the breakers yard, pictured above.

Today few vehicles survive, and they are to be found scattered far and wide. Those used abroad have since been scrapped although three vehicles have been preserved in their last identities. The table below shows the current locations of all these vehicles and if in running order are shown on a white background. There is a plan to repatriate #1348 back to England with an appeal for funds for this new preservation project. If you wish to contribute. just click on the red square for details:

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1	HX 2756	Class A	Picture Gallery of Last Day Tour on 8 May 1962
260	CUL 260	Class C2	Picture Gallery of special tour in Reading Berkshire, 1967
796	ELB 796	Class H1	AMTUIR In November 2009, AMTUIR agreed to loan 796 to EATM for ten years. From October 2010 it can see at this museum. A website dedicated to this vehicle is at: www.796.org.uk.
1201	EXV 201	Class K2	The vehicle's journey into preservation.
1253	EXV 253	Class K2	On display at Covent Garden Picture from the Raymond Winkinson Collection [March, 1990]
1348	EXV 348	Class K2	In 2010 agreement was reached with the Transport Museum Society of Ireland for a long loan to the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft. 1348 arrived at Sandtoft o Friday 2 July 2010. A website dedicated to this vehicle is at: 1348.eavb.co.uk.
1521	FXH 521	Class L3	Pictured in the museum workshop, September 2000 Another picture of 1521 on the last day of London trolleybus operations
1768	HYM 768	Class Q1	Caught on camera while at the old Clapham museum site Another picture of 1768 while at the East Anglia Transport Museum
1812	HYM 812	Class Q1	There is also an enthusiast site at:	Background Story
1836	HYM 836	Class Q1	Private museum at Ejea de la Caballeros [north of Zaragoza].
1837	HYM 837	Class Q1	Ex-Zaragoza 73 preserved at Azpeitia. It is in immaculate condition in the beautiful San Sebastian livery [though it never ran there] and is a credit to the enthusiasts who restored it. Picture from the Asociacion Zaragozana Amigos dos Ferrocarriles y Tranvias [Zaragozan Association of Railways and Trams Enthusiasts] website at www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/2928/
1839	HYM 839	Class Q1	Ex-Zaragoza 75 resides outside Tusza Bus Depot in Zaragoza. The heighten booms give the appearance of the trolleybus being ready to enter into service. Picture from the Asociacion Zaragozana Amigos dos Ferrocarriles y Tranvias [Zaragozan Association of Railways and Trams Enthusiasts] website at www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/2928/

All information is given in good faith but should not be relied upon when planning a visit.