Since that time, volunteers have transformed a barren site into a museum with the addition of workshop, vehicle depot and exhibition building.

[3] The history of the museum really began in 1961, when a group of 14 people decided they would try to preserve one of Reading's pre-war AEC trolleybuses, which was soon to be withdrawn.

What was expected to be a purely local affair escalated, as members signed up from around Britain, and by 1964 they were custodians of three more trolleybuses from other British systems.

The storage facilities they had for the vehicles were inadequate, and they started to look around for somewhere which could provide covered accommodation for the collection, and also the chance to operate them.

There was an attached classroom, suitable for holding small exhibits, and the possibility of purchasing an adjoining field at a later date.

It was towed from Oldham by an elderly coach over the night of 28–29 July 1967, and two of the crew noticed that part of Sandtoft airfield was for sale.

It appeared that planning permission for a depot and overhead wiring was likely to be granted, and Reading Transport Society agreed to pursue this.

[11] By February 1969, planning permission for the wiring and buildings had been granted, and Mike Dare suggested that he buy the site, and rent space to the Society.

[12] Mike Dare took ownership of the site on 25 August 1969, by which time the size of the proposed depot had been reduced to eight vehicles.

The Reading Society then approached the Transport Trust for a loan of £5,000, to fund a second depot for 14 more vehicles and some overhead wiring components.

Following legal advice, a Trust was set up to hold the assets of the museum, to be known as the Sandtoft Transport Centre Association.

This was replaced by a diesel bus engine driving a trolleybus motor acting as a generator, again all mounted on the back of a lorry, until in the 1990s power was obtained from a mains electricity supply.

The oldest was a Mexborough and Swinton vehicle, dating from 1928, while the newest was part of an experimental scheme by the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, and was built in 1985.

[19] In addition to trolleybuses, 14 diesel buses are located at the museum, some of which are used to give tours around the locality on open days.