Trolleybus Popularity Still Growing
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S011E indication of the growing interest in trolleybuses may be gained from the fact that, since the beginning of December, Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, has supplied 51 trolley-buses to four different operators,
Wolverhampton Corporation took delivery of five 58-seater six-wheelers with 75 h.p. compound-wound motors and patent control equipment. The up-to-date all-metal type of body built by Metropolitan-Cammell-Weymann Motor Bodies, Ltd., is fitted. Incidentally, these vehicles represent the ninth repeat order from Wolverhampton Corporation for Guy trolleybuses, and brings the number of vehicles of this make operated by the municipality up to 64 six-wheelers.
Another important purchaser of these vehicles is Derby Corporation, which has recently taken delivery of 20 56-seater six-wheelers, with Brush bodies, for use on the Ashbounie Road and Normanton Road routes. Derby Corporation is making rapid progress with the conversion of its entire tramways system to trolleybus operation.
The first trolleybuses—six Guy vehicles—were placed ill service in January, 1932, on the Nottingham Road route, and, with the recently delivered machines, the local authority now owns 52 trolleybuses of this make, out of a total of 56. An order from the corporation for a further 10 has also been received.
Sixteen Guy four-wheeled doubledeck trolleybuses are being used by the South Lancashire Transport Co. on its new route to Leigh, via Bolton and Swinton. These vehicles are equipped with low-height bodies with the uppersaloon seats on the near side. As the transmission is on the off side, notable stability is provided when the vehicles are running on normally cambered roads. The company operates Guy trolleybuses exclusively, its fleet now numbering 46 machines.
Rotherham Corporation is noted for its high-speed trolleybus system, in connection with which 10 new Guy 32seaters have been added to the fleet, Five of the bodies were built by Cravens Railway Carriage and Wagon Co., Ltd., Sheffield, and the remainder by Charles Roberts and Co., Ltd., HorbUry Junction, near Wakefield.
Although the vehicles are singledeckers, they are equipped with 75 h.p. compound-wound motors, instead of the standard 60 h.p. type, so that ample power is available in order to maintain exacting schedules. Although such a speed is not required, over 40 m.p.h. is said to be possible with these vehicles, so that a useful reserve of power for hill-climbing, etc., is available, The vehicles average 14 m.p.h. on a 4.441-mile route, containing 20 eight-second stops.