Hola all


I'm looking for information about Poplar
and East Ham Bus Garages (depots? Not sure
what the correct word is) during the period
1946 to 1966.

I'm not only after information about the types of
vehicles used there (on the previous thread there
was mention of the differences between 'trolly buses'
and what we today call a 'bus'), but also the 'smaller'
facts of everyday life - How many people would be working
at these garages during this period?

Was all repair work done on site or were buses sent away
to be repaired?

What were the garages like during trolly bus era?

Were there peculiarities about trolly buses, for
example were they temporamental, were there power
outtages, or was it a perfect service?

Did both these garages run the same route service
or were there different routes from each?

Which were these routes? I know of the 277, the 15,
23, 40, but not sure which is from where and which
routes have long since dissappeared!

When did the trolly buses get replaced at these two garages?
What were the buses that replaced them?

Were the garages ever bombed? For example, if either bus
garage was hit, presumably there would still be damage in 1946?

Were the garages rebuilt at any time in this period, or moved location?

Was the nickname for Bus Conductors "a clippy"? Was the uniform
very formal and did it change with the times in the 1960's? In
particular, I'm after information about the uniform of female
bus conductors

What was the system/process of dropping off your money
at the end of a shift? Were the garages ever robbed?

Do you know of any pictures or references online of these garages?


All very strange and wide ranging questions, I know,
but all your assistance in answering any of them or
adding information is very much appreciated!

Many thanks for your help

Poplar trolleybus depot (code PR) was operational electrically from June
1940 to November 1959 and sent out vehicles on routes:

567 Barking Broadway - Commercial Road - Smithfield (jointly
operated with WH West Ham depot)

569 North Woolwich - Commercial Road - Aldgate (peak hours only)

665 Barking Broadway - Commercial Road - Bloomsbury (jointly operated
with WH West Ham depot)

Don't know how many people worked there, but in terms of vehicle capacity
(149 trolleybuses) it was the third largest trolleybus depot in London.
Daily run-out needed 86 trolleys, so I guess that called for at least some
400 drivers and conductors ........... and a clippie was a conductress
rather than a conductor!


"Rizla Ranger UK" wrote in message
om...
Hola all


I'm looking for information about Poplar
and East Ham Bus Garages (depots? Not sure
what the correct word is) during the period
1946 to 1966.

I'm not only after information about the types of
vehicles used there (on the previous thread there
was mention of the differences between 'trolly buses'
and what we today call a 'bus'), but also the 'smaller'
facts of everyday life - How many people would be working
at these garages during this period?

Was all repair work done on site or were buses sent away
to be repaired?

What were the garages like during trolly bus era?

Were there peculiarities about trolly buses, for
example were they temporamental, were there power
outtages, or was it a perfect service?

Did both these garages run the same route service
or were there different routes from each?

Which were these routes? I know of the 277, the 15,
23, 40, but not sure which is from where and which
routes have long since dissappeared!

When did the trolly buses get replaced at these two garages?
What were the buses that replaced them?

Were the garages ever bombed? For example, if either bus
garage was hit, presumably there would still be damage in 1946?

Were the garages rebuilt at any time in this period, or moved location?

Was the nickname for Bus Conductors "a clippy"? Was the uniform
very formal and did it change with the times in the 1960's? In
particular, I'm after information about the uniform of female
bus conductors

What was the system/process of dropping off your money
at the end of a shift? Were the garages ever robbed?

Do you know of any pictures or references online of these garages?


All very strange and wide ranging questions, I know,
but all your assistance in answering any of them or
adding information is very much appreciated!

Many thanks for your help

That's great! Thanks very much Peter!




"peter" wrote
Poplar trolleybus depot (code PR) was operational electrically from June
1940 to November 1959 and sent out vehicles on routes:

567 Barking Broadway - Commercial Road - Smithfield (jointly
operated with WH West Ham depot)

569 North Woolwich - Commercial Road - Aldgate (peak hours only)

665 Barking Broadway - Commercial Road - Bloomsbury (jointly operated
with WH West Ham depot)

Don't know how many people worked there, but in terms of vehicle capacity
(149 trolleybuses) it was the third largest trolleybus depot in London.
Daily run-out needed 86 trolleys, so I guess that called for at least some
400 drivers and conductors ........... and a clippie was a conductress
rather than a conductor!

(Rizla Ranger UK) wrote in message . com...
That's great! Thanks very much Peter!




"peter" wrote
Poplar trolleybus depot (code PR) was operational electrically from June
1940 to November 1959 and sent out vehicles on routes:

567 Barking Broadway - Commercial Road - Smithfield (jointly
operated with WH West Ham depot)

569 North Woolwich - Commercial Road - Aldgate (peak hours only)

665 Barking Broadway - Commercial Road - Bloomsbury (jointly operated
with WH West Ham depot)

Don't know how many people worked there, but in terms of vehicle capacity
(149 trolleybuses) it was the third largest trolleybus depot in London.
Daily run-out needed 86 trolleys, so I guess that called for at least some
400 drivers and conductors ........... and a clippie was a conductress
rather than a conductor!


I can't help about those depots I'm afraid but I used to travel to
school on London trolleybuses from the junction with Broad Lane,
Tottenham, just up to Stamford Hill (just under two miles I
think)...fare in Old English money for a child was one a half pence (I
think). They were pretty reliable so far as I know except during a
power cut when they ended up stranded everywhere, sometimes in the
middle of the road.

I think I used to get service 649 (and also 549). 649 was (I believe)
the longest trolleybus route (Liverpool Street Station to Waltham
Cross).

One funny story is that at Broad Lane there were many wires because
some routes (from memory 623) "turned right" at the junction while my
trolley went straight on. The conductor on my bus had to get off the
platform, get across the road, and pull on a handle attached to a
trolley pole to "change the points" so they could go straight on
rather than being forced to turn right if the previous trolley had
done so.

One morning, the conductor got off, pulled on the handle but the
driver went off so quickly (their acceleration was phenomenal, at
least to a child) and left the conductor in the middle of the road.
Several people started hammering on the driver's window behind his cab
but he went about 600 yards up the road (pursued by an unamused
conductor) before he got the message.

I also remember the "pea souper" fogs of that time and recall seeing a
trolleybus conductor walking in front of the trolleybus with a burning
flare....London fogs WERE that thick in those days and killed millions
over the years.

Just old memories but I remember one of those fogs coming down very
badly. I lived 45 miles away from my school (at Billericay in Essex)
and I was allowed out of lessons early. It was already bad by 3 p.m.
and I managed to get to Broad Lane on a trolley going at almost
walking pace because the driver could not see anything in front of
him.

I then had to cross the road and wait for the City Coach Company bus
going to Southend which passed my home. Well, one turned up after
about half an hour and normally the journey from Tottenham to
Billericay took about one hour 20 minutes or thereabouts.

It took us almost three hours to get as far as Brentwood and we did
not get there until almost 7 p.m. At Brentwood (and I quite
understand it) the driver said; "I can't go any further. I am
absolutely exhausted". That left me and several others (plus
passengers at Brentwood) stranded on that particular bus. City then
brought round another bus saying it would go as far as Billericay and
eventually I got to Hunters Chase, Hutton (where we lived) about 8.30
p.m. to be met by my "frantic" mother who had rung my school and been
told I'd been allowed to leave just before 3 p.m!

Bonus: I got the day off school the next day. I can tell a very funny
fog story about my days "on the back" for Premier Travel, Cambridge,
if old memories are of interest.

I loved the trolleys in London and isn't it bizarre that in these days
of "environmental awareness" they fitted that perfectly.

Kind regards,
Alan M. Watkins

On 27 Nov 2003 16:30:32 -0800, (Alan Watkins)
wrote:

snip
Bonus: I got the day off school the next day. I can tell a very funny
fog story about my days "on the back" for Premier Travel, Cambridge,
if old memories are of interest.

I loved the trolleys in London and isn't it bizarre that in these days
of "environmental awareness" they fitted that perfectly.

Kind regards,
Alan M. Watkins

Please do, 'old' stories are magic

Keith J Chesworth
www.unseenlondon.co.uk
www.blackpooltram.co.uk
www.happysnapper.com
www.boilerbill.com - main site
www.amerseyferry.co.uk