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Isleworth Trolleybus depot

Had an amazing short film clip emailed to me of Isleworth Trolleybus depot.Given the shortage of space even then, the ingenuity of London Transport was amazing.A turntable and traverser and operated by what looks like controls from a tube train!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1IoPWmFJ14&feature=youtu.be

Raymond Havelock ● 3618d2 Comments

An interesting commemoration of a Christchurch,Dorset trolleybus turntable. There's lots on the internet about that era... thankfully. Those trolleys were so peaceful and quiet. Mind you they were narrow inside.. and any current tubbies like myself would have had a problem sitting two to a seat!

Jim Lawes ● 3616d

http://youtu.be/GeItlv6Ry-sYes that was an unusual piece of machinery to turn the trolleybuses around and maneouvre them around the Depot.It was a tram depot once (from 1901 ish) servicing the newly electrified tram services from Shepherds Bush - Chiswick - Brentford - Hounslow Heath...and there was detached generating plant adjoining there until quite recently. I don't think trams needed a turnaround as they could be driven from either end. Isn't that so?The Depot was increased in size when trolleybuses were introduced in about 1935 and that must have been the time that the turntable was installed.I recall trolleybuses stopping outside ..as shown in the clip... and watching drivers change shift.In later years the Depot became a garage for BT/Royal Mail vans and then in around 1994 a Self Storage Unit..which I much used for over 10 years.Your clip is an extract from the original video posted on You Tube some 8 years ago and which has featured on this Forum and Chiswick's before. I first saw it features on a Hounslow TW3 website.Another unusual sighting is off Trumpters Way in Hanwell.. where the frontage of a Northern Line Underground Train is used as the frontage and entrance of an office dealing with  antique theatrical scenery hire.There is an Isleworth local history tale that some discarded trams were buried on Greenham Fiels at the bottom of Thornbury Road!I must dig the pictures out oneday.I recall recall when trolleybuses stopped outside and often cha

Jim Lawes ● 3617d