758 in Preservation

As the closure of the Bradford system approached, 758 was a prime candidate for preservation and it became the unique survivor of its type. It was purchased in June 1972 by local enthusiast David Mitchell and stored privately, initially in Baildon and later at a garage in Colne. After a change of owner it moved to The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft in late-1974 and was later donated to the BTA.

Little work was done on 758 and in 1989 the BTA transferred its vehicles to a storage yard in Manningham, but this proved unsatisfactory and vandalism led to their return to Sandtoft three years later. 758’s broken windows were soon reglazed, then a long period of inactivity followed whilst other trolleybuses received attention, until 758 eventually became the BTA’s top priority.