Museums
Fortunately there is a good number of ex Wellington trolleys preserved around New Zealand - mostly in transport orientated museums. Unlike Te Papa, The Museum of New Zealand, these museums have the modest aim of preserving a little bit of history rather than re-interpreting it from a nineties perspective. Their storage barns are also a lot nicer to look at than the Te Papa building.
New Plymouth's Crossleys are also included here as they are almost identical to the ones that were operated in Wellington.
As always, if you have any additional information please let me know.
Ferrymead Historic Park
Ferrymead is a large historic park situated near Christchurch in the South Island.
The museum has nine trolleys, representing all five New Zealand systems, in various states of repair. Ex Christchurch No. 210 (1931) is the oldest operable trolley bus in Australasia. The trolley bus circuit which runs along Truscotts Road, commences at the bus barn just inside the Gate A entrance to Ferrymead.
| Make | Year | Fleet Number | Condition |
|---|
| Crossley | 1950 | 3 (New Plymouth) | Operational |
| BUT | 1964 | 103 | Operational |
Welcome to Trolleybus Information
Foxton Trolley Bus Museum
Situated at 55 Main St Foxton, this museum features a system that runs on public roads using Rebosio overhead from the scrapped Auckland redevelopment. As well as a good selection of trolleys from around the country, there are a number of diesels including a London Routemaster.
| Make | Year | Fleet Number | Condition |
|---|
| BUT | 1956 | 48 | Operational |
| BUT | 1964 | 80 | Operational |
| BUT | 1964 | 82 | Operational |
| BUT | 1964 | 83 | Operational |
| BUT | 1964 | 101 | Operational |
| BUT | 1964 | 107 | Operational |
| BUT | 1964 | 117 | Operational |
Omnibus Preservation Society
Not a museum as such but rather a group of enthusiasts dedicated to preserving all types of buses from around the country. There are over 30 buses in the fleet which are stored at Stagecoach's Wellington depots at Kilbirnie and Karori.
Some of the society's diesels are available for hire: obnz@ihug.co.nz
.
Ex Wellington AEC and Leyland diesels
| Make | Year | Fleet Number | Condition |
|---|
| Crossley | 1949 | 2 | Poor |
| BUT | 1955 | 39 | Operational |
| BUT | 1958 | 55 | Moderate |
| BUT | 1964 | 88 | Operational |
| BUT | 1964 | 90 | Operational |
| BUT | 1964 | 119 | Good |
Wellington Tramway Museum
Situated a McKays Crossing near Paekakariki, this tramway museum features a 1.8km tram line down to Wharoa Beach. There are a number of trams, both operational and awaiting restoration, a Wellington cable car and trolley buses from Auckland, Dunedin and New Plymouth. The trolley buses are not generally open for display. The rest of the museum is open at the weekends and most public holidays. (PO Box 2612, Wellington)
Dunedin No.1 is likely to go on long term loan to the Foxton Trolley Bus Museum.
| Make | Year | Fleet Number | Condition |
|---|
| Crossley | 1950 | 1 (New Plymouth) | Moderate |
| BUT | 1964 | 91 | Near Operational
(at Kilbirnie for minor repairs) |
Stonem@ihug.co.nz
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