I READ with interest the letter “time to bring back the trolley bus” by the Hon Alderman George Dennis.
Trolley buses were last used on the Bolton to Leigh route up until 1958. I remember travelling on them once or twice as a child and I remember them being quite fast on acceleration (by 1958 standards).
It is a pity that batteries have not improved enough to enable a trolley bus to run on its own power. A milk float of course does, and I had the pleasure of having a drive in one in the 1970s when we had a friendly milkman. The milk float was quick off the mark, and was just like driving a “dodgem”.
To set up a trolley bus service would of course mean wiring the ugly system of overhead cables shown on the photograph. I always remember the two telescopic pick-up arms. As I worked near that route, my foreman told me when on the subject of trolley buses, he saw one of the buses pull over too much, leading to the uncoupling of the arms which shot through a window!
There is a trolley bus at the Leyland Museum, from 1962 — the year they were last used in London. We could build better buses, but still with overhead cables, but I would say it would pay off.
Speaking of modern transport. I was on a 540 bus on March 19. It was meant to stop at the “Howfen” where Molyneux Road starts. I got up from my seat and rang the bell a little too late. I had to because I had a dizzy spell come on me and nearly fell off the bus. The driver shouted abuse at me as though I’d done it on purpose. It wasn’t my fault I had a “turn” and, don’t worry, driver, you have been reported! B Howarth Westhoughton
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