trolleybus (also known as trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tram

4 min readFeb 15, 2022

A trolleybus (also known as trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tram — in the 1910s and 1920s[1] — or trolley[2][3]) is an electric bus that draws power from dual overhead wires (generally suspended from roadside posts) using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires, and two trolley poles, are required to complete the electrical circuit. This differs from a tram or streetcar, which normally uses the track as the return path, needing only one wire and one pole (or pantograph). They are also distinct from other kinds of electric buses, which usually rely on batteries. Power is most commonly supplied as 600-volt direct current, but there are exceptions.

Currently, around 300 trolleybus systems are in operation, in cities and towns in 43 countries.[4] All together, more than 800 trolleybus systems have existed, but not more than about 400 concurrently.[5]

1History
2Vehicle design
3Advantages
3.1Comparison to trams
3.2Comparison to motorbuses
4Disadvantages
4.1Comparison to trams
4.2Comparison to motorbuses
5Off-wire power developments
6Other considerations
7Wire switches
8Manufacturing
9Transition to low-floor designs
10Double-decker trolleybuses
11Use and preservation
12See also
13Notes
14Further reading
15Periodicals
16External links

History[edit]

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The “Elektromote”, the world’s first trolleybus,[6] in Berlin, Germany, 1882.

The trolleybus dates back to 29 April 1882, when Dr. Ernst Werner Siemens demonstrated his “Elektromote” in a Berlin suburb. This experiment continued until 13 June 1882, after which there were few developments in Europe, although separate experiments were conducted in the U.S.[7] In 1899, another vehicle which could run either on or off rails was demonstrated in Berlin.[8] The next development was when Louis Lombard-Gérin operated an experimental line at the Paris Exhibition of 1900 after four years of trials, with a circular route around Lake Daumesnil that carried passengers. Routes followed in six places including Eberswalde and Fontainebleau.[9] Max Schiemann on 10 July 1901 opened the world’s fourth passenger-carrying trolleybus system, which operated at Bielatal (Biela Valley, near Dresden), in Germany. Schiemann built and operated the Bielatal system, and is credited with developing the under-running trolley current collection system, with two horizontally parallel overhead wires and rigid trolleypoles spring-loaded to hold them up to the wires. Although this system operated only until 1904, Schiemann had developed what is now the standard trolleybus current collection system. In the early days there were many other methods of current collection.[7] The Cédès-Stoll (Mercédès-Électrique-Stoll) system was first operated near Dresden between 1902 and 1904, and 18 systems followed. The Lloyd-Köhler or Bremen system was tried out in Bremen with 5 further installations, and the Cantono Frigerio system was used in Italy.

Throughout this period, trackless freight systems and electric canal boats were also built.

A double-deck trolleybus in Reading, England, 1966.

Leeds and Bradford became the first cities to put trolleybuses into service in Great Britain on 20 June 1911.[8] Supposedly, though it was opened on 20 June, the public was not admitted to the Bradford route until the 24th. Bradford was also the last city to operate trolleybuses in the UK; the system closed on 26 March 1972. The last rear-entrance trolleybus in service in Britain was also in Bradford and is now owned by the Bradford Trolleybus Association. Birmingham was the first UK city to replace a tram route with trolleybuses, while Wolverhampton, under the direction of Charles Owen Silvers, became world-famous for its trolleybus designs.[10] There were 50 trolleybus systems in the UK, London’s being the largest. By the time trolleybuses arrived in Britain in 1911, the Schiemann system was well established and was the most common, although the Cédès-Stoll (Mercédès-Électrique-Stoll) system was tried in West Ham (in 1912) and in Keighley (in 1913).

trolleybus (also known as trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tram

Contents

History[edit]

Written by Caxec