Somegreat trolleybus memories H
UDDERSFIELD’S trolleybus era lasted from 1933 to 1968 and still lives in the memories of many readers. Elsie M Eva lived in Dalton and used them going to school and work.
She said: “I was spoiled for choice: numbers 71, 72, 73 and 74. They ran every seven and-a-half minutes. Today, my route has only four buses a day and then only on weekdays.
“The conductors on the trolleybuses were many and varied. Some were comedians and a few were grumpy. If you only had a half crown to tender for your fare, you uttered: ‘I’m sorry, I have nothing less.’
“Some conductors thought they would be clever and give you the change in ha’pennies and pennies.”
Connie Pearson, of Golcar, says: “Your article about the trolleybuses brought back many fond memories.
“My grandparents lived at the bottom of Dodlee. I remember as a young child, more than 70 years ago, when on a visit to see them I would take their dog for a walk up the hill to the terminus to watch the trolleys being turned around. Happy memories.”
Graham Turton grew up in Crosland Moor in the 1950s. He recalls that sometimes the poles of a trolley bus would become detached as it left Manchester Road at Longroyd Bridge to go to Paddock.
“The conductor had to leave the vehicle and draw a long pole with a hooked end from the rear of the vehicle and re-attach the poles manually. I was always fascinated by this as I waited with my parents on the trolley behind which would head up to Crosland Moor.”
He adds: “During school holidays I used to ride on unfamiliar routes just for the fun of actually being on a trolley, my favourite being on the Marsden route which turned round at Fall Lane.”
Bronwen Cruickshank, now of Hove Edge, Brighouse, travelled by trolleybus when she started at Longley Hall School in 1949, buying a three ha’penny return from Linthwaite into town and another three ha’penny return from Byram Street to Longley on the Almondbury bus.
She said: “On the Almondbury bus the Longley Hall School girls had to travel downstairs while the Almondbury Grammar School boys had to travel on the upper deck: my first experience of segregation!”
Rules were strict and the girls had to wear hats or berets and not eat sweets or chew gum.
“Woe betide any girl caught doing either, as a black point or detention would be awarded.” Bronwen recalls there were characters among the conductors.
One would utter the words: “Ta”, “Q” or “Much” as he handed out tickets.
“A very pleasant lady conductor was obviously proud of her uniform, which was immaculate, as was her hair and make-up and she had polished her cash bag to such a high shine that it reminded me of the colour of a shiny new chestnut.” She adds: “When I reached the age of 15, dressed in my Saturday best outfit and feeling very grownup, I tried to buy a yellow full-fare ticket to Huddersfield for ‘thrupence’ but the conductor refused to give me one and, to my great
The conductors on the trolleybuses were many and varied. Some were comedians and a few were grumpy.
chagrin and embarrassment, insisted on giving me a three ha’penny one instead.
“Unfortunately, the bus drivers today do not challenge me when I show my bus pass, thinking that I’m too young to have one, more’s the pity!”
The book Sunbeams and Showers by trolleybus enthusiast Philip Jenkinson, contains memories and stories plus operational details and photographs of the much loved transport system in the 1950s and 1960s.
It is available to read in Huddersfield Local History Library and by mail order from, among other suppliers, the National Trolleybus Association website, price £18 plus postage.