Trolley Buses
Notts & Derby Traction Company
Trolleybuses
By 1928, Notts & Derby was given power to operate a trolleybus system in the area. The first part of the system opened between Bridge Street, Cotmanhay and Hallam Fields, Ilkeston on 7 January 1932. On 5 October 1933 the last tram ran on the Nottingham to Ripley route.The trolleybus system was very efficient and reliable, the journey from Ripley to Nottingham taking 90 minutes, with some 230 stops along the way. When the electricity industry was mostly nationalised in 1948, Balfour Beatty sold the Midland General Group to the British Transport Commission.Trolleybuses continued until 25 April 1953, when they too gave way to the increased versatility of the bus. The fleet of trolleybuses was sold to Bradford Corporation.
Notts & Derby trolleybus RB 5570, fleet number 302, pictured on Nottingham Road, Ilkeston in May 1935.
The first Notts & Derby trolleybuses were a batch of six English Electric single-deckers with forward-entrance bodywork seating 32 passengers. Numbers 300 - 305
(RB 5568 - RB 5573) entered service in 1932, servicing the Ilkeston area.
, The new fleet of ten Notts & Derby Traction Company AEC 662T-English Electric B32F trolleybuses are posed for a publicity photograph outside Langley Mill Depot. Registration Numbers were RB 6613 to RB 6622 and Fleet Numbers ran from 306 to 315 respectively.These vehicles were withdrawn between 1941 and 1948
Notts & Derby RB 6613 AEC 662T-English Electric B32F trolleybus, fleet number 306, pictured in 1933 on Gregory Boulevard, Sherwood, Nottingham.
Note the Nottingham City tram in the background.
Notts & Derby RB 8954 AEC 661T-EEC / MCCW H31/24R trolleybus, fleet number 320, in early lined-livery pictured in Trinity Square, Nottingham; circa 1933-1935.
Destination reads: Ripley. In the background can be seen the Victoria Station Hotel.
A spotless condition Notts & Derby RB 8961 AEC 661T-EEC / MCCW H31/24R trolleybus, fleet number 327, in the more familiar later unlined-livery.
Pictured at the trolleybus terminus at the junction of King Street and Queen Street, Nottingham. Destination: A1 Ripley.
Notts & Derby DRB 616 AEC 661T-EEC / Weymann H30/26R trolleybus, fleet number 300.
1937, official Associated Equipment Co. Ltd. photograph 00357.
The first of the AEC-English Electric Company Weymann-bodied trolleybuses operated by Notts & Derby Traction Company.
Notts & Derby DRB 617 AEC 661T-EEC / Weymann H30/26R trolleybus, fleet number 301, on the Ripley to Nottingham service.
The location is probably Basford, Nottingham. Destination reads: A1 Nottingham King Street via Heanor, Eastwood, Basford.
1949, The new fleet of 15 Notts & Derby BUT 9611T-EEC / Weymann H30/26R trolleybuses (NNU 224-238, fleet numbers 343-357) replaces all the remaining single decker and AEC 661T-EEC / MCCW H31/24R (RB 8951, fleet number 317, etc.) half-cab double decker trolleybuses.
The new trolleybus destinations display: A1 Nottingham (King St) via Heanor Eastwood Basford
The now withdrawn 1933 period AEC 661T-EEC / MCCW trolleybus destinations show: A2 Garage
1953, 25th April - the end of an era
9.50 pm: two Notts & Derby BUT 9611T-EEC / Weymann H30/26R trolleybuses wait at the trolleybus terminus at the junction of King Street and Queen Street, Nottingham on the last day of service. The A1 Langley Mill service via Heanor, Eastwood, Basford departed first leaving the A1 Ripley trolleybus the honour of being the last Notts & Derby trolleybus service from Nottingham
9.55 pm: the last Notts & Derby trolleybus service from Nottingham waits to leave for Ripley. The location is the trolleybus terminus at the junction of King Street and Queen Street; less than 100 yards from the Council House and Old Market Square.
Pictured is NNU 228 BUT 9611T-EEC / Weymann H30/26R trolleybus, fleet number 347, with (left to right) the conductor and driver are K. Laing (Traffic Manager of the Group) and K. Wellman.