| Hobart trolleybus system | |
| Locale: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
| Open: | 29 October 1935 |
| Close: | 22 November 1968 |
| Status: | Closed |
| Operator: | Hobart City Council Metropolitan Transport Trust |
| Route Length: | 22NaN |
The Hobart trolleybus system operated in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia from 1935 until 1968.
The Hobart trolleybus system opened on 29 October 1935 when a route from the Hobart City Centre to South Hobart commenced replacing a tram. Starting at Hobart Town Hall in Argyle Street it travelled along Macquarie Street, Davey Street and Huon Road terminating at the intersection with Congress Street.[1] [2] [3] [4]
On 14 October 1937, a second route began running to New Town station and in mid-1939 was extended to Cornelian Bay.[5] A further service to Cascades commenced on 24 August 1942, being extended along Strickland Avenue on 11 October 1948.[6] Further lines opened to Dynnyrne on 4 June 1945 and Sandy Bay on 7 December 1952.[7]
On 1 March 1955, operation of the network passed from the Hobart City Council to the Metropolitan Transport Trust. A final line opened to West Hobart on 23 February 1958.[1] [4] At this stage the network, extended for 22 kilometres.[3] [8] In February 1967, much of the Strickland Avenue route infrastructure and one bus was destroyed by fire.[9] [10]
The Cornelian Bay line closed in 1959 with the rest of the network closing in stages in 1968.[1] [2] [3]
Hobart's trolleybus routes were as follows:
| Route | Extension | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 October 1935 | 22 November 1968 | ||
| 14 October 1937 | 23 August 1968 | ||
| 1939 | 30 March 1959 | ||
| 24 August 1942 | 22 November 1968 | ||
| Cascades - Strickland Avenue | 11 October 1948 | 22 November 1968 | |
| 4 June 1945 | 22 November 1968 | ||
| 7 December 1952 | 11 October 1968 | ||
| 23 February 1958 | 23 August 1968 | ||
Operations commenced with a single Leyland TTB bodied by Hobart Municipal Tramways. A further four were acquired in 1937.[11] [12] Between 1939 and 1946, 22 Leyland TB5s were purchased. Between 1950 and 1952, 36 BUT ETB/1s bodied by City Body Works were delivered with the five Leyland TTBs withdrawn in 1953.[13] In 1964, five second-hand BUT RETB/1s were purchased from Launceston.[1] [2] [14]
BUT ETB/1 no. 235 has been preserved by the Tasmanian Transport Museum.[15] [16]
| Image | Fleet nos. | Quantity | Chassis | Body | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1 | Leyland TTB | 1935 | renumbered 65 in 1946 | ||
| 66-69 | 4 | Leyland TTB | Hobart Municipal Tramways | 1937 | ||
| 70-91 | 22 | Leyland TB5 | Hobart Municipal Tramways | 1939-1946 | 72 renumbered 92 in October 1958 | |
| 201-236 | 36 | BUT ETB/1 | City Body Works | 1950-1952 | body frames manufactured by Commonwealth Engineering, Sydney | |
| 237-241 | 5 | JA Lawton & Sons | 1950 | ex Launceston 326-330 | ||
Initially housed at the city tram depot on the corner of Macquarie and Campbell Streets, in 1944 a trolleybuses depot opened on Collins Street. On 29 October 1954, a new depot opened on Davey Street.[1]