Trolley busses

[billyboy]

I remember the red trolley Busses around Brighton. great vehicles indeed. quiet, nippy and clean. Not exhaust emissions and very reliable as long as the poles didnt drop as they did at certain points. The conductor would withdraw a long pole from under the bus and set the trolleys back on the overhead wires and off they would go again.

[Energumen]

Hi Billyboy, I just knew you were a Brightonian in some degree, from the threads on the Guys and PD2's.

I was on the Southdown only for about three years and like all drivers, at Edward Street, was rostered over all the Pool Valley routes.

Ah the halcyon days on the Guys, on the 22 road, and the lovely people.
The lovely coastal run on the 31 road, including Walking Stick Way, (Worthing).

The 10 road to Arundel and sometimes Standing load for Eastbourne.

If we did not have those damned Town runs in Brighton and a few less 'city gents on the Peacehaven Coast Roads, whose arms used to swing up in a wide arc to look at their watches as you approached, I might have got a long service medal.

Regards
Enurgumen

[grandad]

Originally Posted by billyboy

I remember the red trolley Busses around Brighton. great vehicles indeed. quiet, nippy and clean. Not exhaust emissions and very reliable as long as the poles didnt drop as they did at certain points. The conductor would withdraw a long pole from under the bus and set the trolleys back on the overhead wires and off they would go again.

from 1947 to1959 i lived in lower tooting, south london and remember the trolleys vividly. sad to see them go. my dad drove a no. 44 out of wandsworth bus garage till we moved to bedfordshire. Grandad.

[Western SMT]

Some info on Brighton trolley busses

http://www.trolleybus.net/b1.htm

[Energumen]

Thanks for the link mate. Brighton bus services are particularly well served with historic pictures and finite detail of their fleets. Just google;
Southdown Motor Services and also Brighton Buses.

[bugadifino]

Used to love the Trolleybusses in Huddersfield when I were a lad, You could hear them coming for quite a distsnce, by putting your ear to the metal lampost and hear the vibration through the wires. Bit dodgy in the winter though, nearyl froze my ear to post a couple of times.
Couple of restored Huddersfield Trolleybusses running here...............

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bruce.lake/index.html

[robertdavey6]

I can remember Trolley buses in Bradford. My father worked at the Yorkshire Bank on Broadway and sometimes, on a Saturday, we would go meet him from work. The banking hall was upstairs and almost level with the wires. I would sit in a window and get a birds-eye view. Not sure I ever rode on one in service, though. Did have a ride at the ill fated Transperience once.

[Alan B]

If you get the chance to go to Carlton Colville near Lowestoft, you can re-live the experience on Trolleys and Trams. They also do night runs there.
Alan

[redd9]

The Black Country Museum has trolleybuses, in fact I had my first Ride on one there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-lm4...e=channel_page