Electric trolleybuses were a feature of Durban for a while, but they were affected by the odd incident, such as when a swarm of locusts entered the driver’s cabin, causing this accident.Electric bus enthusiast John Fann, with models he made of an old trolleybus, left, and two modern versions he would have liked to have seen in use. On the screen in the background is Durban’s last trolleybus, which was taken out of service in 1967.
“The motor industry wanted to secure orders for the diesel buses. Electric-powered buses last too long. The motor industry was motivated to sell more motorised buses that had a faster spares turnover.” The last of the trolleybuses quietly went to its garage, sporting a Clover advert for a Coronet ice cream, to be dismantled in 1967, with Durbanites blissfully unaware that it heralded the end of an era.“The children in Penzance all stood by the school windows to watch what they called ‘the electric horse’ pass by. Later they would ferry many schoolchildren.”