407:
33:
198:
480:
394:, Brazil, opened its trolleybus system with 45 Vétras in 1953. The Niteroi vehicles were model VBRh, which was Vétra's most widely sold model in the post-war era, bought by many cities. By contrast, the Santiago vehicles were a unique model, VA2, and were approximately the same size as, and bore a strong resemblance to, trolleybuses that the Santiago system had purchased from the U.S. company
194:. The vehicle bodies were fabricated by various different companies, Berliet included. In its 38 years of trolleybus production, the company made no less than 31 different models. Some were only small variations on another model. For example, the VBRh was basically the same as the VBR except was 2.9 m tall instead of 2.7 m, and the h suffix in the model number stood for "haute" (high).
24:
530:
906:
301:
178:
and began operation on 22 September 1927. In the decades that followed, Vétra had a near-monopoly on French trolleybus production. Trolleybus systems operating in France also bought their fleets nearly exclusively from Vétra. From the 1930s through the 1950s, the "overwhelming majority" of
282:
Vétra sold trolleybuses to transit systems in 12 different countries, on three continents, including as far away as Chile. However, the majority were sold to systems in France. The overall total was in excess of 1,750, a quantity that has been matched or exceeded by only very few other trolleybus
269:
By the early 1960s, several French trolleybus systems had closed, and most of those that remained were destined to close within a few years, so were not purchasing new trolleybuses. Facing a steep decline in orders, Vétra filed for bankruptcy. Production ended in 1964, with the completion of an
418:
By 1983, with the retirement of St. Etienne's last Vétra trolleybuses, Limoges and Lyon were the only systems anywhere that continued to use Vétras in service. The last active examples in
Limoges were ex-Paris VBRh vehicles built in 1949–54, and these were retired in June 1989. This left the
255:, the Spanish truck and bus maker, reached an agreement with Vetra to launch to the Spanish market a Pegaso trolleybus, called model 8010, based on Vetra technology. The operation, however, was a failure, due to the contemporary import to Spain of several tenths of ex-
150:. Founded in 1925, it became one of Western Europe's largest builders of trolleybuses during the middle decades of the 20th century, making in excess of 1,750 vehicles, for cities in France and in several other countries. The company ceased production in 1964.
438:
chose to refurbish seven of these, rather than buy a new batch of non-standard-length trolleybuses just for one route. As a result, these last Vétra trolleybuses (renumbered 1701–1707) received an extended life, remaining in service until early 2000.
328:(43). After the closure of the Paris system, in 1966, its 38 VBF trolleybuses were sold to the Grenoble system, and 40 of its VBRh trolleybuses were sold to Limoges; 24 of the latter entered service there, and some remained in service until 1989.
225:, three in the front section and one in the trailing section. It was tested on the Paris trolleybus system in January 1951. This prototype was unsuccessful, and it was eventually rebuilt into a three-axle rigid vehicle.
518:, in the UK, and operates occasionally at the museum. Lyon 1704, a 1963 Vétra-Berliet VBH85, from the batch that were the very last Vétra trolleybuses in service anywhere, joined the Sandtoft collection in 2006.
963:
968:
948:
331:
Other
European countries where Vétra found buyers were Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Spain and Switzerland. Most were small orders, but in Spain, 45 Vétras were purchased by
316:
trolleybus system purchased by far the largest number of Vétra trolleybuses of any system, a total of 372, comprising seven different models. Other large buyers in France were
978:
426:
Although Lyon once had a large fleet of Vétra trolleybuses, by late 1981 all that remained were ones from a batch of 22 VBH85 trolleybuses, built jointly by Vétra and
958:
983:
455:
Some are owned by transit agencies that are currently still operate trolleybuses, but the vehicles concerned may or may not be in operating condition. The
179:
trolleybuses in use on French systems were built by Vétra. On a smaller scale, the company also sold trolleybuses to systems located in other countries.
514:
At least three Vétra trolleybuses are preserved outside France, including
Limoges No. 5 (a 1943 CB60), which is owned by an individual but is kept at
493:
Most of the surviving Vétra trolleybuses are in the collections of museums or preservation groups. The largest number, by far, is owned by the
973:
543:
304:
953:
877:
796:
601:
570:
515:
447:
More than 30 Vétra-built trolleybuses have been preserved, with 33 examples accounted for as of 2000, all but four being in France.
468:
321:
859:
Bramley, R.N. (Jan.-Feb. 2008). "A Little 'Entente
Cordiale'" (feature about non-British trolleybuses at the Sandtoft museum).
406:
383:. The trolleybuses sold to some of these systems in the 1930s were designed by Vétra but built by various other companies.
166:, the company made its first trolleybus in 1927. The first Vétra trolleybuses were two vehicles, model MV, supplied to the
471:
has preserved three different examples: 1952 VCR No. 72, 1955 VA3B2 No. 151 (ex-Marseille 155), and 1962 VBBh/ELR No. 126.
873:
435:
190:(now called Alstom) in all or nearly all cases, while many mechanical parts, often including chassis, came from
32:
920:
271:
256:
40:
was one of the last places where Vétra trolleybuses operated. This 1950-built example was photographed in 1988.
701:
Murray (2000), pp. 145–154 (chapter 6, worldwide list of preserved trolleybuses; mainly pp. 148–150, France).
456:
430:
in 1963, which had a short chassis and were used only on Lyon route 6, which follows narrow streets and has
325:
259:
233:
49:
933:
460:
420:
356:
119:
241:
163:
147:
726:
197:
910:
386:
The company sold trolleybuses to a total of only two systems outside Europe and North Africa.
792:
722:
597:
566:
499:(AMTUIR), in Paris, which counted 10 Vétra trolleybuses in its collection as of 2000. The
395:
214:
619:(detailed history, 1940 and 1947–1978). Allen Morrison. 2006. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
237:
351:, where it sold to all but one of the eight trolleybus systems in operation, including
183:
171:
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535:
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348:
245:
229:
479:
525:
391:
376:
368:
143:
115:
317:
213:
vehicles, with large numbers of each. In its history, Vétra only built one
210:
175:
23:
905:
221:, Algeria. Built in 1950/51, it was designated model VA4.SR and had four
717:
Buisson, Christian (March–April 1988). "The Paris
Trolleybuses: Part 2".
387:
202:
925:
Association pour le Musée des
Transports Urbains, Interurbains et Ruraux
756:
Priestley, John (January 1979). "The French
Trolleybus Scene, Part 2".
496:
Association pour le Musée des
Transports Urbains, Interurbains et Ruraux
835:
No. 138 (Nov.-Dec. 1984), p. 136. National
Trolleybus Association (UK).
820:
775:
No. 168 (Nov.-Dec. 1989), p. 147. National
Trolleybus Association (UK).
464:
427:
352:
218:
191:
167:
37:
786:
186:
and other electrical equipment in Vétra trolleybuses were supplied by
616:
380:
336:
332:
252:
187:
95:
205:
in 1965. This vehicle originally served the Paris trolleybus system.
478:
405:
372:
364:
263:
196:
159:
91:
596:, p. 12. Berlin: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Blickpunkt Straßenbahn e.V.
628:
411:
360:
313:
222:
305:
Seida-bodied three-axle Vétra trolleybus for the city of Madrid
721:
No. 158, pp. 32–42. National Trolleybus Association (UK).
505:(MPTUR), in La Barque, has three Vétra trolleybuses. The
228:
Vétra also made some freight vehicles for a non-passenger
379:, Morocco, which bought all of its trolleybuses from
209:
Models produced included both two-axle and three-axle
423:
as the last operator of Vétra trolleybuses anywhere.
414:
were the last Vétra trolleybuses in service anywhere.
612:
610:
486:
Musée des transports urbains, interurbains et ruraux
483:
Three restored Vétra trolleybuses on display at the
467:
ELR No. 10 (which is ex-Marseille 331 in 1977). The
162:. After initially experimenting with production of
964:
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1925
823:. Allen Morrison. 2006. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
293:
111:
101:
87:
79:
71:
63:
55:
45:
821:The Trolleybuses of Santiago: 1947–1978 (pictures)
174:trolleybus system, which was located just east of
855:
853:
502:Musée Provençal des Transports Urbains et Ruraux
375:, Tunisia. The sole exception was the system in
713:
711:
709:
707:
320:(145, of seven different models), Paris (133),
969:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1964
138:Société des Véhicules et Tracteurs Electriques
949:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of France
658:
656:
8:
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791:. New York: Bonde Press. pp. 118–119.
679:
677:
617:The Trolleybuses of Santiago, Chile, Part A
508:Amis du Rail et des Transports de Marseille
459:has preserved 1944/45 CB60 No. 18, and the
410:A small fleet of short-chassis vehicles in
158:Vétra was founded in 1925 and was based in
921:History of the French trolleybus (by city)
31:
22:
15:
788:The Tramways of Brazil: A 130-Year Survey
979:Electric vehicle manufacturers of France
934:Info on the Pegaso-Vetra 8010 trolleybus
768:
766:
565:. Yateley, Hampshire, UK: Trolleybooks.
262:units; and only one Pegaso 8010, with a
585:
390:, Chile, purchased 100 in 1952–53, and
959:Manufacturing companies based in Paris
290:
217:trolleybus. This was a prototype for
270:order for two VBH85 trolleybuses for
201:A 1957 Vétra VBF-model trolleybus in
7:
984:French companies established in 1925
847:No. 232 (July-Aug. 2000), pp. 89–90.
544:List of trolleybus systems in France
347:Vétra also found a good market in
14:
878:The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft
516:The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft
904:
528:
299:
662:Murray (2000), pp. 100 and 103.
511:(ARTM), in Marseille, has two.
240:, France. It also built small
142:, was a French manufacturer of
563:World Trolleybus Encyclopaedia
1:
880:. Summer 2006. Archived from
747:Murray (2000), various pages.
594:Straßenbahnatlas Schweiz 1993
811:Murray, pp. 12, 100 and 103.
434:. In 1984/85, Lyon operator
974:Bus manufacturers of France
359:(3 separate operators) and
1000:
592:Dölling, Gerhard (1993).
463:has preserved 1962 Vétra-
457:Limoges trolleybus system
298:
30:
21:
954:Trolleybus manufacturers
785:Morrison, Allen (1989).
134:), or more formally the
507:
501:
495:
490:
485:
421:Lyon trolleybus system
415:
339:, in multiple orders.
266:body, was ever built.
206:
137:
913:at Wikimedia Commons
884:on September 16, 2009
629:VETRA page at rail.lu
561:Murray, Alan (2000).
482:
409:
398:in 1946–48 and 1952.
335:and a total of 55 by
200:
402:Last active examples
242:electric locomotives
234:Villey-Saint-Étienne
164:accumulator railcars
148:electric locomotives
120:electric locomotives
861:Trolleybus Magazine
845:Trolleybus Magazine
833:Trolleybus Magazine
773:Trolleybus Magazine
760:No. 104, pp. 11–22.
758:Trolleybus Magazine
719:Trolleybus Magazine
18:
923:at website of the
863:No. 277, pp. 8–13.
491:
469:St. Etienne system
416:
207:
909:Media related to
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184:traction motors
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900:External links
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738:Murray, p. 90.
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671:Murray, p. 65.
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363:, in Algeria;
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343:Outside Europe
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294:External image
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886:. Retrieved
882:the original
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443:Preservation
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349:North Africa
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238:Varangéville
230:trolleytruck
227:
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144:trolleybuses
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131:
127:
126:
116:Trolleybuses
88:Headquarters
46:Company type
918:(in French)
874:"Lyon 1704"
461:Lyon system
357:Constantine
322:St. Etienne
244:for use on
215:articulated
103:Area served
943:Categories
550:References
489:, in Paris
475:At museums
369:Casablanca
324:(78), and
888:March 18,
727:0266-7452
367:, Egypt;
318:Marseille
278:Customers
176:Marseille
107:Worldwide
927:(AMTUIR)
522:See also
388:Santiago
272:Fribourg
251:In 1961
203:Grenoble
112:Products
83:Bankrupt
56:Industry
465:Berliet
428:Berliet
392:Niterói
377:Tétouan
353:Algiers
326:Limoges
219:Algiers
192:Berliet
188:Alsthom
168:Aubagne
154:History
72:Defunct
64:Founded
50:Private
38:Limoges
795:
725:
600:
569:
381:Saurer
337:Bilbao
333:Madrid
287:Europe
253:Pegaso
96:France
911:Vétra
581:Notes
555:Books
373:Tunis
365:Cairo
264:Seida
223:axles
211:rigid
172:Cuges
160:Paris
132:Vetra
128:Vétra
92:Paris
17:Vétra
890:2018
793:ISBN
723:ISSN
598:ISBN
567:ISBN
412:Lyon
361:Oran
314:Lyon
312:The
236:and
182:The
146:and
130:(or
80:Fate
75:1964
67:1925
436:TCL
260:BUT
945::
876:.
852:^
765:^
706:^
688:^
676:^
635:^
609:^
355:,
248:.
118:,
94:,
892:.
801:.
729:.
604:.
575:.
170:–
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