BusTalk

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Experimental LT "X6" class trolleybus #1670...........

https://davidbeilby.zenfolio.com/p1064900086

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From London to Spain and back again.......

https://britishtrolley.org.uk/london-1812

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Excellent photos (and interesting article) about the double-decker trolleybuses that once operated in South Africa (links/photos to other trolleybus systems included).......

www.khanya.org.za/trolley1.htm

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This page show the numerous cities/towns in Great Britain that once operated trolleybuses......

https://www.britishtrolley.org.uk/former-uk-systems

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This in-depth page gives a thorough and fascinating look (as well as many illustrations) of the evolution of the trolleybus (note, also, that there was mention of an "electrified omnibus" far back as 1880).......

www.trolleybus.co.uk/history1.htm

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LT's Bexleyheath Garage was unique in that it was the only facility where both trolleybuses and motor buses were based.

All other London garages were either exclusively motor bus OR trolleybus; tram depots served trams only, and never any rubber-tyred vehicles.

When Bexleyheath became all-bus in 1962, only the "RT" types were based there; within a few years, however, "RM's" would also be stabled at this former trolleybus depot........

"NYO"

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Here's a beautiful portrait of two restored LT trolleybuses on museum display; on the left is the famous "Diddler", London's first modern trolleybus.

The trolleybus on the right represents the more modern style that ran until 1962, when the remaining LT trolleybus lines were converted to motor bus....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?23637

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

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Here's another interesting historical page......

www.historywebsite.co.uk/Museum/Transport/Buses/Sunbeam.htm

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"The Tubes".........

London boasts not only the oldest underground railways in the world, but, also, the world's first electrically-powered underground rail system.

Steam power hauled the original underground trains, beginning in the 1860's, but, in 1890, the first electrically-operated underground line opened (this was the City & South London Railway)

This pioneer rapid transit line utilized diminutive four-wheel electric locomotives and carriages dubbed "padded cells", due to their lack of windows and thick padded seating (it was thought at the time that, as the trains ran only underground, there was no need for windows; the guards called out the station names, thus informing the passengers where they were)

London was also the first "subway" to utilize MU equipment; this debuted in 1898, with the opening of the Waterloo & City Railway.

For some time, some underground trains were hauled by massive, low-slung "steeplecab" electrics, which, themselves, soon found themselves relegated to non-revenue dutie, as MU equipment became more the norm......

"NYO"

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The City & South London Railway.......

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

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The Waterloo & City Railway.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterloo_&_City_Railway

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The first "Tube Stock" of this type actually debuted in 1903; note how the forward section of the motor car is given over to electrical gear (behind the cab); it was not until the debut of the 1938 stock when tube trains had their electrical gear under the floor, thereby freeing the entire interiors of the motor cars for carrying passengers*.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_1906_Stock

(*In later years, these "gate stock" coaches were upgraded and modernized with modern, air-operated doors, replacing the steel gates at each end of the trailer cars, and the non-driving end of the motor cars)

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Though, nowadays, foreign-built rapid transit equipment is now the rule rather than the exception, the London "Tube" pioneered the use of equipment built overseas.

A number of the earliest MU tube trains were built by ACF; these coaches were shipped to Britain (unassembled) and then re-assembled upon arrival.

In fact, ACF even opened a plant near London, when again called upon to build further rolling stock for the Underground.

Many other early Tube coaches* were built in France, Hungary, and Belgium.......

"NYO"

"Tube" coach designations, over the years:

"DM" (Motor car w/cab)

"M" (Motor car without cab)

"CT" (Control trailer)

"T" (Trailer)

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See:

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

This "in depth" page has much information (and photos) of London Underground stock throughout the decades, including steam and early electric locomotives........

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London's own "Redbirds" (aka "The Red Trains")

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_1938_Stock

These trains were "state-of-the-art" when they debuted in 1938; as I mentioned previously, these iconic trains were the first Tube trains to have all electrical gear mounted under the floors.

These venerable, hard-working trains, long favorites with British "trainspotters"/historians, enjoyed long service lives, the last being retired in the early 1980's.

Interestingly, a number of the older, clerestory roof "Standard Stock" trailers were later converted to run in trains made up of the newer 1938 stock.......