Breakdown delays MTT Trolleybus

[LocoLes]

I just had to share this 'Examiner' newspaper photo from 1965! Tassie viewers will fondly remember the Leyland trolleybus fleet but there will be many who were glad to see the demise of Launceston's system in 1968 [and Hobart's in 1969]. The photo shows a 'broken down' Ford Consul sedan [with NSW rego!] stopping MTT TB 304 from continuing it's run outside GJ Coles store in Brisbane Street. This scene is now of course the Brisbane Street Mall - no more traffic along that section of Brisbane Street. Notable businesses in the picture include Fitzgerald's & The Cleaver's [hardware store]. vehicles of the day include Vanguard, Ford Falcons, Ford Prefect 100E, FE Holden plus other Holden vehicles, Ford SV pickup truck etc. There was insufficient clearance for a trolleybus to safely pass by without de-wiring.

Trolleybus 304 was shipped by catamaran by it's new owner to a small island off Bridport [N.E. Coast] presumably to be used as a storage room!
The quality of the 'Examiner' photo is not up to our usual standard but the scene depicted was once a regular occurrence when trolleybuses were plentiful.

Loco Les [Thanks to the 'Examiner' newspaper].

[LocoLes]

I just located this ' Examiner' photo of MTT #304 loaded aboard the catamaran ready for it' s [probably] last trip to an island off Bridport N.E. coast.

Loco Les

[LocoLes]

Whilst on the subject of Launceston trolleybuses, this item appeared in ' Boomer letters' in ' The Advertiser' [Adelaide] today of LMT #1 under MTT Adelaide wires on it' s way to be loaded aboard a steamer at Port Adelaide for the delivery trip to Hobart where it was then towed to Launceston behind H. C. Heathorn's Morris Commercial truck. Interestingly #1 was delivered to Launceston LMT in 1950 but did not enter service until 1953. After LMT #30 [the last one] was badly damaged in an accident on the Tamar Street Bridge that year, # 1 was placed into service. LMT #1 differed from the rest of the fleet in having a lower ceiling height but doubt that reason caused it to languish in the rear of the depot shed. TB #1 also had a stained ply-board ceiling that was later painted white when receiving MTT's Larch green & Golden cream livery. TB #30 received frontal damage in the accident and later was renumbered #241 when transferred to Hobart in the early 1960' s [1964?]