Trolleybuses in London

The London trolleybus system served the city of London, England, and the rest of the London Passenger Transport Area, for just over thirty years in the mid twentieth century.

Opened on 16 May 1931 (1931-05-16),^[1][2] the system gradually replaced most of the London tramway network. Its trolleybuses were designed and built accordingly. Like the trams, they were large, high capacity double-deckers, with rapid acceleration. They were also fitted with three axles, and were much quieter in operation than contemporary trams or diesel buses.^[3]

For much of its life, the London system was the largest trolleybus system in the world. It had a total of 68 routes, and a maximum fleet of 1,811 trolleybuses.^[2][4] However, it was closed on 8 May 1962 (1962-05-08),^[1][2][4] with the trolleybuses being replaced mainly by the now much more famous diesel-powered Routemasters.

Some of the former London trolleybuses are now preserved, in various locations around the United Kingdom and abroad.^[5]

See also

• Buses in London
• Transport in London
• List of trolleybus systems in the United Kingdom
• East Anglia Transport Museum
• London Transport Museum
• The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft

References

Notes

Further reading

• Blacker, Ken (2002). The London Trolleybus. Volume 1: 1931–1945. Harrow: Capital Transport. ISBN 9781854142603. 
• Blacker, Ken (2004). The London Trolleybus. Volume 2: 1946–1962. Harrow: Capital Transport. ISBN 9781854142856. 
• Taylor, Hugh (2006). London Trolleybuses - A Class Album. Harrow: Capital Transport. ISBN 9781854143020. 
• Webber, Mick (2009). London Trolleybuses - a black and white album. Harrow: Capital Transport. ISBN 978-1854143334. 
• Wyatt, Charlie (2008). Beneath the Wires of London. Harrow: Capital Transport. ISBN 9781854143259. 

External links

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