IT was always something of an adventure back in the 1950s visiting my grandparents in The Meadows.
Not only did it usually mean a trip from West Bridgford into the city centre on the fondly remembered brown-and-cream West Bridgford UDC number 24 motor bus, but you then caught either a 40 or 47 trolleybus to a stop close to where they lived at 200 Wilford Road.
And it always seemed as though the conductor on the trolleybus was the same ever-smiling West Indian gentleman who often asked whether I would like the important job of ringing the bell for him when we wanted to get off.
To a six or seven-year-old in that era, believe me. it was a thrill equalled only by actually hurrying a Murray mint!
I also remember that smile still being in place when he had the job of using the long pole when the bus came adrift of the overhead wires.
Tomorrow at 7.45pm, you have the opportunity to share some memories of the trolleybuses at a meeting of the Nottingham Industrial Heritage Association, in the
International Community Centre, 61b Mansfield Road.
A charge will be made of £1.50 for members and £2.50 for guests. Light refreshments will be available.
David Franks, once of Ilkeston Road but now living in Sheerness, will join other speakers to tell the story of the Nottingham system – its history, routes and vehicles – and how some of the Nottingham buses are being preserved so we can still see them running.
Along with friend Steve Collins, David can lay claim to owning the oldest extant Nottingham trolleybus – a 1934 Karrier rescued from a farmer's field where it had been used as living accommodation. The pair are now restoring it from virtual dereliction.
Steve has fond memories. "You never minded missing a trolleybus because you knew that there would be another in two minutes.
"It was a fantastic service. There were always at least two buses at the terminus.
"As one pulled away, another would roll in to take its place."
Thursday's main speaker is Rod Bramley, an authority on trolleybuses in general and Nottingham in particular.
He now lives in north Wales and is making the journey back to the city to help tell the story of this much-loved and remembered mode of transport.
Also speaking will be David Astill, of NCT, who will try to bring people up to date with modern trolleybuses and what is being done in Leeds, where the trolleybuses look set to make a surprise return.
The trolleybus system operated by Nottingham City Transport ran from April 10, 1927, to June 30, 1966.
In 1925, the city council decided to convert some tram routes as the tram network was largely single line down the middle of the road with periodic passing loops, which didn't allow a very frequent or punctual service to be run.
The following year, an order was placed for "ten Railless Trolley Vehicles" and a service appears to have started on the northern section of tram route 5. The vehicles were double deckers with outdoor staircases.
As the system grew, it operated routes which served the most densely populated areas of Nottingham, including The Meadows, St Ann's, Basford, Bulwell, Radford and Lenton and strayed beyond the city boundary to Carlton.
The Second World War saw a revival in the fortunes of trolleybuses and, when hostilities ended, the system entered into its halcyon days, with the delivery of new, modern vehicles and a well-maintained system that was admired at home and abroad.
In the 1960s, trolleybuses – victims of cheap oil and the internal combustion engine – were replaced by a fleet of new motor buses. There were emotional scenes in June 1966 on the last day of normal service.
On Thursday, June 30,1966, the Nottingham Evening Post and News warned readers – "Last chance for a trolley ride." When the big day came, Albert Parish and Fred Cooper went down in history as the last driver and conductor on the final trolleybus.
The last 12 vehicles were sold as scrap for £1,725.00.
While it's a fact that trolleybuses disappeared from our streets not far short of 50 years ago, they are still deployed worldwide.
In the UK, Leeds got the Government go-ahead last year for design work on a new system.
Could it happen in Nottingham?
At one time you wouldn't have believed that trams would make such a successful comeback. So never say never!
