Trolleybuses in Nottingham

The Nottingham trolleybus system once served the city of Nottingham, in the county of Nottinghamshire, England. It opened on 10 April 1927 (1927-04-10), and gradually replaced the Nottingham tramway network.

By the standards of the various now-defunct trolleybus systems in the United Kingdom, the Nottingham system was a medium-sized one, with a total of 8 routes, and a maximum fleet of 157 trolleybuses. It was closed on 30 June 1966 (1966-06-30).

Nottingham was also served by another system, the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire trolleybus system, which was in operation between 1932 and 1953.

Six of the former Nottingham system trolleybuses and parts of a seventh are preserved. Two of them are in a private collection in Boughton, Nottinghamshire, while another four and a fifth chassis are at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft, Lincolnshire, England.

Nottingham Corporation had operated an electric tramway system since 1897, when they took over the network of horse-drawn routes run by Nottingham & District Tramways. In 1913, they obtained an act of Parliament^[which?] to authorise additions to that system. Although trolleybuses were in their infancy, the bill included powers to operate trolleybuses between Market Place and Trent Bridge, and onwards to West Bridgford. The second half of the route was contested by West Bridgford Unrban District Council. It was not included in the act, although it did include powers to run trolleybuses along any of the tram routes in due course. The powers were not exercised at the time.

While much of the tramway had double tracks, there were some parts where there was only a single track, and it was these sections that were the first to be converted to trolleybus operation. Officials visited Birmingham in 1924 and were sufficiently impressed that they obtained powers to operate trackless vehicles on Nottingham Road. An order was placed with Railless for ten double-deck vehicles, with bodywork by Short Bros (Rochester and Bedford) Ltd. The new service commenced on 10 April 1927, running along Nottingham Road from the city centre to New Basford. The new venture was heralded by a new livery, the predominantly maroon paintwork of the existing trams and motor buses being replaced by green. The ten trolleybuses included the last nine built by Railless before they ceased producing them in favour of more lucrative work, so when the Corporation needed eight extra vehicles, they bought them from Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies of Ipswich.

The next extension to the network was a cross-town route, running from Wilford Road in the south to Wells Road in the north. The overhead wiring was extended beyond the original tram terminus along Wells Road to Kildare Road. Twelve more vehicles were purchased, six from English Electric and another six from Ransomes. The public service began on 23 February 1930. In order to assess the suitability of vehicles for further extensions to the system, the Corporation hired four trolleybuses in 1931, one each from Associated Equipment Company (AEC), Guy Motors, Karrier and Thornycroft. As a result of the trials, the first of several orders was placed with Karrier, although Ransomes also supplied additional vehicles.

By the time they submitted a bill to Parliament in 1930, the corporation had grand visions of what the system might become and sought powers to convert all of the remaining tram routes, and to extend the trolleybus routes, in several cases to well beyond the city limits. However, there was opposition from Nottinghamshire County Council and Trent Motor Traction, and only those routes within the city limits were authorised. The first of the new routes to open was to Wollaton Park, including the replacement of motor buses on Ilkeston Road, with services starting on 29 November 1931. Next came the route to Carlton on 29 November 1932, and the section from Nottingham Road to Cinderhill on 25 July 1933.