The first public trolleybus service in London began on 16 May 1931 and by September 1931 there were four routes running, all replacing former tram routes. In 1954 it was announced that trolleybuses would be withdrawn and replaced by buses, just four years after the final trolleybuses were delivered. The first trolleybus route was withdrawn on 4 March 1959 and the last ceased on 8 May 1962.This book features the photographs of David Clarke taken on his periodic visits to London from March 1955 to 21 August 1960. The story continues until the end of the trolleybus system in London on 8 May 1962 with images from the Online Transport Archive. In these views the trolleybuses may be the main focus, but every picture tells a story. They feature myriad locations, which either no longer exist or are changed beyond all recognition. They comprise quiet roads with little traffic, period cars, vans, lorries and buses, and people and the fashions of the day. Advertisements of well-known products, some of which are still with us today and others long-lost, shops, businesses, buildings and churches are all present.Featuring a fascinating and nostalgic selection of contemporary images, Henry Conn documents London trolleybuses of seventy years ago.
Born in Aberdeen, Henry Conn’s first memory of trams was the Bridges route between the River Don and River Dee in 1958. His keen interest in buses, trams and trolleybuses developed from the 1960s and with his own collection of views and access to the wonderful archives of David and John Clarke, his first book was published in 2010.
The first public trolleybus service in London began on 16 May 1931 and by September 1931 there were four routes running, all replacing former tram routes. In 1954 it was announced that trolleybuses would be withdrawn and replaced by buses, just four years after the final trolleybuses were delivered. The first trolleybus route was withdrawn on 4 March 1959 and the last ceased on 8 May 1962.This book features the photographs of David Clarke taken on his periodic visits to London from March 1955 to 21 August 1960. The story continues until the end of the trolleybus system in London on 8 May 1962 with images from the Online Transport Archive. In these views the trolleybuses may be the main focus, but every picture tells a story. They feature myriad locations, which either no longer exist or are changed beyond all recognition. They comprise quiet roads with little traffic, period cars, vans, lorries and buses, and people and the fashions of the day. Advertisements of well-known products, some of which are still with us today and others long-lost, shops, businesses, buildings and churches are all present.Featuring a fascinating and nostalgic selection of contemporary images, Henry Conn documents London trolleybuses of seventy years ago.
Born in Aberdeen, Henry Conn’s first memory of trams was the Bridges route between the River Don and River Dee in 1958. His keen interest in buses, trams and trolleybuses developed from the 1960s and with his own collection of views and access to the wonderful archives of David and John Clarke, his first book was published in 2010.