Trolley Buses - any enthusiast?

[Tim Streater]

Smartarse. You add extra bridges.

[Bob Eager]

That's what he just said, shit-fer-brains.

[Bob Eager]

In Brighton, there were a couple of hills that diesel buses struggled with. The trolley buses sailed up them.

(three different bus companies, one of which was all trollies, one was almost all diesel, and one was all diesel. Overlapping routes)

[Andy Burns]

actually I think TimS said each bus wanting to get past would lower its poles, but harry said the broken down bus would lower its poles so all others could get past.

[Scott]

This was my understanding too.

[Tim Streater]

You are right, and is probably what would happen. But, in any case, there would be the flexibility to drive on the battery past any sort of blockage or even a take a short detour if there were roadworks. Just reconnect later.

[williamwright]

Yes., but oddly none of them running away uphill.

Bill

[Paul]

Steer one side or other, until the poles come off.

Runaways would be more common if they used long extension cords.

There would likely be a requirement for the parking brake to hold them on a hill.

I don't remember a lot of them getting towed.

Whereas for diesel buses here, the "need-a-tow rate" and "fuel leak" rates are pretty high. When a bus has a fuel leak, it leaves diesel for miles... Most impressive.

We've actually had engine fires on diesel buses here. I guess, if the leak is in the wrong spot...

Paul

[Max Demian]

I suppose Andrew means trolley bar.

[Max Demian]

Hardly cheap, as they will have to add long ramps or cuttings so the road can go over or under the rail. And, if in a town (which is often the case), demolish the row of shops or houses that lines the road.

[Tim Streater]

The Swiss managed it. I remember a level crossing on the way to CERN from home, when I worked there. Replaced by a bridge. Mind you, all such costings tend to be state secrets and no one questions it.

[Tricky Dicky]

Round here they were always referred to as booms, but it could one of these things that depends on which region you are from.

Richard

[The Natural Philosopher]

There are other options, f****it

[The Natural Philosopher]

Or tunnels

[The Natural Philosopher]

And HS2 is cheaper?

[harry]

No he didn't. What's the point of reconnecting a broken down bus?

[Chris J Dixon]

I was once told that a long while ago, a team were towing a trolleybus to Crich, and stopped at a services, parking out of the way at the far end of the lorry area. One guy stayed in the cab to keep guard, whilst the others took the towing vehicle nearer the services.

Along came a police car, the occupants came over for a chat. After a while the tram driver remarked "I suppose you are going to ask me to move along?"

"Yes", they replied.

He selected "Battery Manoeuvring", and pulled forward a couple of metres, much to the astonishment of the officers.

However, Battery Manoeuvring was an option that was not available on all trolleybuses. I believe that some outfits had sets of what were effectively giant jump leads to cope with such disruption.

Chris

[Jeff Layman]

I think it depended on exactly where and how the "blocking" trolleybus broke down. If it was out in the road, more-or-less under the wires or even to the right of them, then it is possible other trolleys couldn't pass and keep their poles on the wires. I can certainly remember being on a trolleybus which came up behind a broken-down vehicle and the poles had to be disconnected to allow the trolleybus to move on battery power past the obstruction.

Anyone know if the poles were slightly telescopic or how they were connected to the turntable on the bus roof? The poles were always parallel, and to keep to that they had to be able to move separately from each other.

One other thing. In London there were so many routes that occasionally at junctions some went straight on while others turned left or right. I seem to remember the bus conductors had to get off just before the junction and pull a handle on a pole which switched the wires over to the wanted route (like railway points). I think they returned automatically to straight ahead after the bus passed. I assume there any modern trolley systems which do this automatically if routes diverge from a common line. Are there any which do this?

[harry]

No, you put the road (or rail) on a viaduct.

[harry]