Post by Les on Sept 4, 2015 12:40:47 GMT
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There are three railway stations in Maidstone, and there were two bus stations in Palace Avenue. now long since gone, one the Granada end and the other on the far end nearest to Bishops Palace.
Maidstone and District / East Kent & the Maidstone Corpuration that ran
the Trolley Buses and diesal Buses
While kids these days rant on about football, in those days we seemed more interested in the two companies running bus services. One was "Maidstone and District" the other was "East Kent". "Maidstone and District" were in green and cream colour and to my mind were more Spartan inside, "East Kent" was deep red and cream and these were my personal choice being plusher. You know the sort of thing that kids say, my buses are better than your buses, yes they are, no they’re not, I hear you say.
Maidstone Corpuration buses were Brown and Cream
While kids these days rant on about football, in those days we seemed more interested in the two companies running bus services. One was "Maidstone and District" the other was "East Kent". "Maidstone and District" were in green and cream colour and to my mind were more Spartan inside, "East Kent" was deep red and cream and these were my personal choice being plusher. You know the sort of thing that kids say, my buses are better than your buses, yes they are, no they’re not, I hear you say.
Trolley Buses
Trolley buses were different again, they were dangerously quiet when you crossed the road without looking (yes, yes I know we shouldn't have). Many people were knocked down by these old beasties. They had a fair turn of speed and the acceleration was pretty good too.
I have seen the trolley buses at the top of the town by the Queens monument stranded. They would try to cut the corner and lose the connection with the overhead wires. The trolleys buses carried a long bamboo pole with a hook which they used to reconnect the bus back to the overhead wires.
Photo courtesy of John Meakin collection
Even trolley buses needed to be tested for tipping.
19
There are three railway stations in Maidstone, and there were two bus stations in Palace Avenue. now long since gone, one the Granada end and the other on the far end nearest to Bishops Palace.
Maidstone and District / East Kent & the Maidstone Corpuration that ran
the Trolley Buses and diesal Buses
While kids these days rant on about football, in those days we seemed more interested in the two companies running bus services. One was "Maidstone and District" the other was "East Kent". "Maidstone and District" were in green and cream colour and to my mind were more Spartan inside, "East Kent" was deep red and cream and these were my personal choice being plusher. You know the sort of thing that kids say, my buses are better than your buses, yes they are, no they’re not, I hear you say.
Maidstone Corpuration buses were Brown and Cream
While kids these days rant on about football, in those days we seemed more interested in the two companies running bus services. One was "Maidstone and District" the other was "East Kent". "Maidstone and District" were in green and cream colour and to my mind were more Spartan inside, "East Kent" was deep red and cream and these were my personal choice being plusher. You know the sort of thing that kids say, my buses are better than your buses, yes they are, no they’re not, I hear you say.
Trolley Buses
Trolley buses were different again, they were dangerously quiet when you crossed the road without looking (yes, yes I know we shouldn't have). Many people were knocked down by these old beasties. They had a fair turn of speed and the acceleration was pretty good too.
I have seen the trolley buses at the top of the town by the Queens monument stranded. They would try to cut the corner and lose the connection with the overhead wires. The trolleys buses carried a long bamboo pole with a hook which they used to reconnect the bus back to the overhead wires.
Photo courtesy of John Meakin collection
Even trolley buses needed to be tested for tipping.
19