BusTalk

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 1:12 am Post subject:

The Kingsway Subway served several North London tram lines until 1952, not long before all trams in London were replaced by buses.

It had been proposed to run trolleybuses in the Subway, and one unit (#1379) was fitted with folding doors on both sides for entrance/exit at the station platforms.

However, the tests were not successful, as the clearances would have given issues with the overhead, and the trolleybuses would have had to use battery power while underground.......

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

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 1:24 am Post subject:

Here are several rare photos of the Subway in operation, serving double-deck trams.......

https://dewi.ca/trains/conduit/subway.html

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 1:40 am Post subject:

Great Britain, not surprisingly, is home to the "World's Largest Collection Of Restored Trolleybuses"; this collection is truly impressive.....

https://sandtoft.org/wp/gallery/

https://sandtoft.org/wp/

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 9:49 am Post subject:

Trolley poles and trolley booms:

Interestingly enough, in London (and elsewhere in Great Britain) the poles used by trams were referred to as "trolley poles", as they have always been here at home.

But, on the trolleybuses, however, the poles (much longer than those on the trams) were referred to as "trolley booms".

London was one of only three cities to use conduit collection for power pickup where there were no wire; New York and DC were the other two. (Conduit operation was also briefly used in India)

Though basic conduit operation was about the same as in New York and DC, when it came to changeover points, there was no underground "pit man" stationed there; "shooting the plough" was a term only used in London.......

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 9:54 am Post subject:

Vintage photos and information on London's conduit operations.....

https://dewi.ca/trains/conduit/ploughs.html

https://dewi.ca/trains/conduit/oddities.html

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:08 am Post subject:

ASV's in London?

Before LT firmly decided that the trolleybuses would all be replaced by diesel buses, there was talk of a new fleet of trolleybuses, that would have been able to switch between electric and battery power (somewhat reminiscent of PSNJ's fleet of ASV's)

These new "hybrid" trolleybuses would have been designated the "R12" class; this idea, sadly, never got beyond the drawing board.

In the meantime, several classes of prototype "RM" (ROUTEMASTERS) were going through testing, and also, evaluation in limited revenue service.

As I had mentioned previously, one of the "tasks" to be accomplished by the new "RM" was to convert the last trolleybus routes; indeed, this was the case, but older "RT" class buses also assisted in the trolleybus replacement programme, which was completed in 1962.......

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:16 am Post subject:

London's trolleybus replacement programme (1959-1962)........

https://londonbuses.co.uk/routes/tb-replace.html

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 11:30 am Post subject:

Outstanding collection of rare London trolleybus/tram/bus photos......

https://tottenham-summerhillroad.com/trolleybuses_buses_tottenham.htm

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 4:09 pm Post subject:

......in London, most of the vehicles used to maintain the trolleybus and tram overhead were converted from retired buses (single- and double-deck)

These were known as "tower wagons"; the very last of which were retired in 1962, when the remaining trolleybus lines were converted.

These cut-down vehicles were also referred to as "breakdown lorries" "breakdown vans, and "towing lorries.

Some actual lorries (trucks) were used in this capacity, but, most often, retired, modified buses were used.

"Breakdown vans" also towed disabled buses/trams/trolleybuses back to their depots for repair, if they broke down en-route.

"Tower Wagons" were also used to lubricate the overhead wires.

A few of these unusual vehicles have been preserved......

"NYO"

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 5:39 pm Post subject:

Here are a few photos of old LT "tower wagons" (click on thumbnails).....

https://trucksplanet.com/models/aec-mercury-london-transport-tower-wagon/

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 5:45 pm Post subject:

More old photos of LT tower wagons, breakdown vans, etc......

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/583145851748786583/

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 8:00 pm Post subject:

Trolleybus "tower wagon" in Bradford (GB).........

www.sct61.org.uk/gallery/trolleys/bfo33

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 8:05 pm Post subject:

Excellent, extensive gallery of the trolleybuses which once operated in various British cities.......

www.sct61.org.uk/gallery/trolleys

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 9:20 pm Post subject:

An interesting article from 2019........

https://www.theengineer.co.uk/march-1948-trolleybus/

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 · Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 9:27 pm Post subject:

Massive, monolithic power stations, much along the lines of the historic Battersea Power Station, once generated the electricity to keep London's trams, trolleybuses, and Tube trains running.......

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

https://nineelmslondon.com/features/the-history-of-battersea-power-station/

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

*("The Moving Spirit Of London")