Longwood trolleybus turntable
Encyclopedia
The Longwood trolleybus turntable formed part of the Huddersfield trolleybus system
, which served the market town
of Huddersfield
, in West Yorkshire
, England
.
was used to turn around all Huddersfield trolleybus
es terminating at Dod-Lea, where there was insufficient space for the trolleybuses to reverse their direction under their own power.
Manually operated, the turntable remained in use only until 1940. By that time, wartime conditions had led to the recruitment of female conductresses who were not strong enough to help the driver operate the turntable, and blackout
regulations had made it difficult for crew to see what they were doing after dark. The turntable was therefore replaced by alternative arrangements, and was not put back into service after the end of the war. However, it remained in situ for many years, until finally being removed in the second half of the 1980s.
, in Bournemouth
, England
(in operation 1936–1969; now a Grade II listed building), and the Unterburg trolleybus turntable in Solingen
, Germany
(still in use for heritage trolleybus services). A fourth known trolleybus turntable was one used on the Guadalajara trolleybus system
in Mexico
in the 1980s, in a since-closed trolleybus-only tunnel in the city centre, on a temporary basis in 1982–1983 and again from 1985 until early 1988 (when the tunnel closed for the start of work to convert it for use by Guadalajara's light rail system).
Trolleybuses in Huddersfield
The Huddersfield trolleybus system once served the market town of Huddersfield, in West Yorkshire, England. Opened on , it gradually replaced the Huddersfield tramway network....
, which served the market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
of Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
, in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, 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...
.
History
Opened on , the turntableCar Turntable
A car turntable or driveway turntable is a rotating platform designed for use by a car; they can be motorized or manually rotated and are usually installed in a driveway or in a garage floor. They rotate a motor vehicle to facilitate its easier or safer egress...
was used to turn around all Huddersfield 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...
es terminating at Dod-Lea, where there was insufficient space for the trolleybuses to reverse their direction under their own power.
Manually operated, the turntable remained in use only until 1940. By that time, wartime conditions had led to the recruitment of female conductresses who were not strong enough to help the driver operate the turntable, and blackout
Blackout (wartime)
A blackout during war, or apprehended war, is the practice of collectively minimizing outdoor light, including upwardly directed light. This was done in the 20th century to prevent crews of enemy aircraft from being able to navigate to their targets simply by sight, for example during the London...
regulations had made it difficult for crew to see what they were doing after dark. The turntable was therefore replaced by alternative arrangements, and was not put back into service after the end of the war. However, it remained in situ for many years, until finally being removed in the second half of the 1980s.
Significance
The Longwood turntable is said to be one of only four trolleybus turntables ever to have been constructed worldwide. Two other such turntables are the similarly abandoned Christchurch trolleybus turntableChristchurch trolleybus turntable
The Christchurch trolleybus turntable formed part of the Bournemouth trolleybus system, which served the town of Bournemouth and its environs, on the south coast of England.-History:...
, in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, 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...
(in operation 1936–1969; now a Grade II listed building), and the Unterburg trolleybus turntable in Solingen
Solingen
Solingen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the northern edge of the region called Bergisches Land, south of the Ruhr area, and with a 2009 population of 161,366 is the second largest city in the Bergisches Land...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(still in use for heritage trolleybus services). A fourth known trolleybus turntable was one used on the Guadalajara trolleybus system
Trolleybuses in Guadalajara
The Guadalajara trolleybus system serves Guadalajara, the capital city of the state of Jalisco in Mexico.Opened on 20 November 1976, the system is owned and operated by Sistema de Transporte Colectivo de la Zona Metropolitana . , it had two lines, each of which connected the area west of the city...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in the 1980s, in a since-closed trolleybus-only tunnel in the city centre, on a temporary basis in 1982–1983 and again from 1985 until early 1988 (when the tunnel closed for the start of work to convert it for use by Guadalajara's light rail system).
See also
- History of Huddersfield
- Transport in Huddersfield