Trolleybuses in South Lancashire
Encyclopedia
The South Lancashire trolleybus system once served industrial South Lancashire
, England
, including the towns of Atherton
, Bolton
, Swinton
, Leigh
and St Helens
. Opened on , it gradually replaced the South Lancashire Tramways
network.
By the standards of the various now-defunct trolleybus
systems in the United Kingdom
, the South Lancashire system was a medium-sized one, with a total of 4 routes, and a maximum fleet of 71 trolleybuses. It was closed relatively early, on .
None of the former South Lancashire trolleybuses is recorded as having been preserved.
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, including the towns of Atherton
Atherton, Greater Manchester
Atherton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England, historically a part of Lancashire. It is east of Wigan, north-northeast of Leigh, and northwest of Manchester...
, Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, Swinton
Swinton, Greater Manchester
Swinton is a town within the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. Located on the A6 road it stands on gently sloping ground on the southwest side of the River Irwell, and within the bounds of the orbital M60 motorway. It is west-northwest of Salford, and west-northwest of Manchester...
, Leigh
Leigh, Greater Manchester
Leigh is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Wigan, and west of Manchester. Leigh is situated on low lying land to the north west of Chat Moss....
and St Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
. Opened on , it gradually replaced the South Lancashire Tramways
South Lancashire Tramways
South Lancashire Tramways was a system of electric tramways in south Lancashire authorised by the South Lancashire Tramways Act of 1900. The South Lancashire Tramways Company was authorised by the act to build over of track to serve the towns between St Helens, Swinton, Westhoughton and Hulton...
network.
By the standards of the various now-defunct trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
systems in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the South Lancashire system was a medium-sized one, with a total of 4 routes, and a maximum fleet of 71 trolleybuses. It was closed relatively early, on .
None of the former South Lancashire trolleybuses is recorded as having been preserved.
See also
- History of LancashireHistory of LancashireThe History of Lancashire begins with its establishment as a county of England in 1182, making it one of the youngest of the historic counties of England.-Early history:In the Domesday Book, some of its lands had been treated as part of Yorkshire...
- Transport in Lancashire
- List of trolleybus systems in the United Kingdom
External links
- Lancashire United Transport 1905–1981 - a history, by the Lancashire United Transport Society
- SCT'61 website - photos and descriptions of South Lancashire trolleybuses
- British Trolleybus Society, based in Reading
- National Trolleybus Association, based in London