01-08-2017, 09:15 AM
I think the early unreliability of the Borismaster was because the drive needs a different configuration for normal and long distance running. The earliest examples were, essentially, prototypes and needed on occasion to be returned to Wrights in Ballymena for modification. If the drive configuration wasn't changed they had a habit of failing on the Motorway!
There have been electric buses in London before - about 10 years ago, from memory - but these were hydrogen powered. Although they operated and were garaged in Central London, the refuelling plant was out near Brentwood!
So these buses were a common sight running back and forth along the A12.
I travelled on one of them and was rather disappointed. Being of an age to remember the silent running of the Trolleybuses, I was expecting to refresh my memories and enjoy the sensation again. Unfortunately, to make it easy for drivers to switch back and forth between these and there diesel engined versions they were fitted with the same gearboxes and automatic transmission system so, rather than being silent, they sounded like any other similar bus, albeit with the absence of engine noise.
As it happens I did travel on a London Trolleybus last Sunday at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft. However, four circuits round a small running track aren't quite the same ...
There have been electric buses in London before - about 10 years ago, from memory - but these were hydrogen powered. Although they operated and were garaged in Central London, the refuelling plant was out near Brentwood!
So these buses were a common sight running back and forth along the A12.
I travelled on one of them and was rather disappointed. Being of an age to remember the silent running of the Trolleybuses, I was expecting to refresh my memories and enjoy the sensation again. Unfortunately, to make it easy for drivers to switch back and forth between these and there diesel engined versions they were fitted with the same gearboxes and automatic transmission system so, rather than being silent, they sounded like any other similar bus, albeit with the absence of engine noise.
As it happens I did travel on a London Trolleybus last Sunday at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft. However, four circuits round a small running track aren't quite the same ...
