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London's Trolleybuses and Tubes
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here, in the greater NYC area, "traditional"-minded railfans lament the passing of the RFW, which is now, sadly, extinct on the subways. PATH tubes, and commuter rails.

Generations of boys and young (and not-so-young!) men once thrilled to the chance of "playing motorman" while stationed at the front window of a train.

In London, however, there were never "railfan windows"; these never existed, as, from the earliest day of MU equipment on the Underground, the "driving motors" (or "control trailers") had full-width cabs, just as the MTA's subway trains and PATH cars have today.

For many years, "DM's" (Driving Motors") were positioned only at the ends of a train; in later years, however, thee cars could also be found at mid-point in a consist.

Interestingly, London tube trains were equipped with intercom/PA since the 1920's; in Great Britain, they were called "loudaphones"......

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Mar 25, 2022 12:29 pm; edited 3 times in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here are two photos of 1972 Tube stock; it is easy to see that these units have full-width cabs.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?119465

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?119467

(courtesy: nycubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 12:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A clear view of the full-width cab on 1996 Tube stock.......

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?95492

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 7:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

....once reliable motor-buses became available, their entry into service in London soon became almost a tidal wave.

In 1905, there were but 20 "new fangled" motor-buses running in London; three years later, in 1908, nearly 1100 were in service.

London not only boasted the first underground railways in the world (the first electrification took place in 1890), they also operated the largest bus fleet in the world.

The new electric tramways in London also quickly spread during this time; the tramways that operated in London (all independent at that time) reached their zenith by the First World War.

As mentioned previously, the very last London trams ran in 1952, while the last trolleybuses ran in 1962......

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 9:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As I had mentioned earlier in this topic, unlike New York, the earliest (electric) Underground tube trains were hauled by locomotives; the first, entering service in 1890, were diminutive four-wheelers; by 1900, the engines had grown much larger, and resembled elongated steeplecabs.

But these big engines caused much vibrations up on the surface, so MU operation was soon implemented (the very first MU operation dated to 1899)

By 1903, however, larger MU "driving motors" were now hauling the former locomotive-hauled "gate stock", which, themselves, were converted into MU trailers.

At the onset, driving motors ("DM's") were only positioned at the front and rear of a consist.

In later years, the old "gate stock" were upgraded with modern sliding doors in place of the manually-operated gates......

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Fri Dec 03, 2021 2:37 am; edited 2 times in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 03, 2021 2:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

......another interesting fact is that, until the LGOC "GENERAL" introduced its motor-buses, the crews of both omnibuses and motor-buses id not wear uniforms; it was not until 1909 when the LGOC began issuing uniform jackets, trousers, and caps to bus crews.

About 1911, full-length greatcoats were also issued, a must indeed for those rainy, inclement, chilly London winter days.

Remember, also, that the first buses with enclosed cabs did not appear in London until the later 1920's; the drivers, without a doubt, surely appreciated this innovation!

Interestingly, the earliest windscreen (windshield) wipers were operated by a hand-wound clockwork mechanism.......

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 1:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

To anyone who's "well-read" about the history of London Transport, Mr. Frank Pick needs no introduction.

This excellent page deals with the many handsome, streamlined bus/coach stations (and garages) he designed, so any decades ago.....

https://www.londonreconnections.com/2017/streamlined-modernity-frank-picks-forgotten-bus-garages/
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 1:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interestingly, the last LT trolleybus lines in operation in 1962 were not replaced by newer classes of diesel buses, but, rather, the older "RT"-types.

In fact, the newest double-deckers in the LT fleet, by the early 1960's, were purchased largely to replace the oldest of the "RT" type, then over 20 years old.

"OPO" (One Person Operation) double-deckers were beginning to enter service by about 1965; these buses were the first to dispense with conductors, which had been a fixture of all London buses since the horse bus days of the 19th century.......

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 22, 2022 10:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Though 3rd rail mainline electrification (for suburban services) began in the early years of the 20th century, there were also early London-area MU stock that utilized overhead catenary.

The cars were unusual, in that the electric coaches utilized bow collectors, instead of pantographs.

One of the earliest suburban third rail electrifications out of London was the Metropolitan Railway ("The Met"); this service was quite unusual, in that Pullman cars, destined for "main line" trains, were carried in the suburban consists.

These unique MU trains ran between Baker St. and Aylesbury until the beginning of WW2, in 1939.......

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 22, 2022 11:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

BRITISH RAILWAYS "on the high seas"........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Railways_ships *

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Ferry

*(vessel photos/information links on left of page)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 12:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a nostalgic photo of a BR diesel shunter handling the Weymouth "Boat Train" in 1966.....

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/289778557259624045/
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 1:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mention must be made in this discussion of the luxurious, now long-gone "Blue Pullmans".......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Pullmans
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 23, 2022 9:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Beginning in the 1950's, and into the 1970's, a large number of retired LT buses (and trolleybuses) were shipped overseas for further service.

In the 1950's, many older ex-LT double-deckers and single-deck coaches (also, ex-GREEN LINE buses) were sold to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India, Ascension Island, South Africa, Crete, Greece, and Yugoslavia.

Some ex-GREEN LINE "Q" and "T"-class single-deck coaches were also shipped to Crete, for us by the US Army.

A number of retired LT trolleybuses were sold for further service in South Africa and in Spain.

In the 1960's and 1970's, many retired "RT"-class double-deckers were shipped to Ceylon (as well as other countries); given the poor maintainence there, it is no surprise that these once-proud London buses soon became rolling wrecks, looking more like scrapyard refugees than in-service buses.

Yet, somehow, these lopsided, listing, beat-up, banged-up, half-mangled ex-LT buses kept on rolling along, a proud tribute indeed to their manufacturers......

"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2023 12:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting bit of trivia, regarding LT's trolleybuses........

The "SA"-class (South African) trolleybuses were built to the order of of the Durban and Johannesburg undertakings, but, due to the threats posed by German U-boats to Allied merchant shipping during WW2, only essential convoys were dispatched.

In light of this, between 1941 and 1943, these non-standard trolleybuses became the first 8-foot wide vehicles in LT's fleet.

The successful operation of these 8-foot wide vehicles did much to overcome official prejudice, paving the way for the later RTW-class double-decker motor buses.....

"NYO"

["691 ILFORD-BROADWAY"]
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 02, 2024 10:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

And.......

To this very day, most non-transit "folks" would bet their life that it was NEW YORK that had the first underground railway in the world (London had New York beat by decades!) Wink

Indeed, as can be seen from the previous pages, London, indeed, was once a rich treasure trove for transit enthusiasts from around the globe.....so much rich and fascinating history! Very Happy

"NYO"

"653 CHIGWELL-CLAPHAM"]
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