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Post by Les on Aug 25, 2017 9:00:22 GMT
Maidstone was one of the last towns in England using a trolley bus system for part of its transport and to my mind, especially now we live in the age of green everything, it was very shortsighted to dismantle the system. The Trolley Buses stopped when Maidstones power station closed down goo.gl/photos/giUhu4g7nfuv4zTg8The trolleys themselves would travel from Barming in Maidstone via the town centre and then on to either Loose (The Kings Arms) or Nottingham Ave then on to Park Wood
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Post by Les on Aug 26, 2017 6:49:02 GMT
N. Morley
The trolley buses were interesting. They did go up through Shepway via Plains Avenue, Oxford Road(where we lived) and up Westmoreland Road, where they turned to come back. I have an idea also they did come down Sutton Road and joined Loose Road at The Wheatsheaf, where the Conductor would get out a long pole and transfer the contact-arms from the Sutton Road Cables to the the Loose Road Cables.
Thank You Mr. Morley Thought that someone would be old enough to remember. Hee Hee
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Post by Les on Aug 26, 2017 6:51:37 GMT
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Post by Norman on Aug 27, 2017 6:56:52 GMT
I lived in Shepway 1950 onwards did first paperround from Hooks shop in Loose Rd..my mates dad drove trolleys..used to take him snacks up to terminus..the Wheatsheaf junction was auto switching between loose rd and sutton rd...Sometimes driver forgot where hes going and poles came off.Quite funny to see a lightweight conductress trying to put poles back on as they had strong springs to hold them on the wires....At one time you could drive a trolley on an electric milk float licence.
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Post by Les on Aug 27, 2017 7:40:25 GMT
I lived in Shepway 1950 onwards did first paperround from Hooks shop in Loose Rd..my mates dad drove trolleys..used to take him snacks up to terminus..the Wheatsheaf junction was auto switching between loose rd and sutton rd...Sometimes driver forgot where hes going and poles came off.Quite funny to see a lightweight conductress trying to put poles back on as they had strong springs to hold them on the wires....At one time you could drive a trolley on an electric milk float licence. A late friend of mine complained that the poles that they used to put the contact arms back on were not long enouth. but he was only 5 foot tall Jim Cox
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Post by Les on Oct 21, 2017 5:44:45 GMT
Peter Capon 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. Even trolley buses needed to be tested for tipping. photos.app.goo.gl/3hxw7DMpSSr0cPuG2
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