Trams and Trolleybuses
Photo © ERO. Please do not re-post without permission.
This picture shows the two trolleybuses that Southend Corporation converted to mobile toilets in 1950 and which regularly appeared at events in the town thoughout the fifties and into the sixties - they were sold for scrap in 1967.
On the left is ex-Southend 116, JN2086, an AEC 663T new in 1930, while on the right is ex-Bournemouth 69, LJ7702, also an AEC663T which entered service in May 1933 - it was converted to a petrol bus by Bournemouth in 1936.
Click here for fleet details of 116.
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I may regret asking this, but what was the reason for the strange conversion of the front nearside with handrails and what looks like a canvas sheet on 116 and possibly something more substantial on 69.
I notice that, at least 116, was a lowbridge trolley; would this - the restricted headroom upstairs - be the reason for it being ladies only or were gentlemen just expected to make do with something less formal?
Alan Hall
I think it may be covering an exit/entrance to upstairs with steps attached when the toilets were in place. Looks like handrails on 116 which would support this theory.
Added... confirmation
Buses Illustrated number 8 had a one page article on the conversion.
"Six cubicles are provided on the top deck at the rear of which is seated the attendant who collects the fee and issues a ticket. The exit is via a staircase at the front of the vehicle at the bottom of which is a folding step."
The photo accompanying the article shows that downstairs contains a large tank.
Apparently Birkenhead converted two Leyland TD6s, one for men and one for women.
David
Thanks for that, David. It all starts to make sense now, but fancy still making the ladies pay to use the loo in an old trolleybus. Pity the poor attendant too; there isn't much obvious sign of ventilation.
Alan Hall
One aspect.....ummm......one fact that impresses me is that the bodywork had given twenty years of PSV service before going on to give a further seventeen years of Relief Work. If you think of how much floor washing, water, bleach and ...errr....steam there must have been sloshing about during those times, the body frames must have been very well made. Also, when being towed to their location with a big tank of water on the roof, they must have been quite vulnerable during cornering although I suppose the weight of the lower tank might have helped....but how did they get the tank in there then?. now sleuth's, there are a few thoughts for you to go on.
Update....I was thinking of them being towed but looking again there does not appear to be any form of tow hook so were they also converted to diesel power and thus drivable?
Richard Leaman
Could they be driven? Richard, they have no lights...even if they did have engines!
Peter Stobart
Ah yes indeed Peter but maybe they had some tolerant help from the local Police to drive in daylight on trade plates. If that is not the case then how they were moved is an interesting question.
Richard Leaman
They were towed - to quote the article "The vehicle is towed to such places as the seafront, race meetings, galas etc by an ex W.D. Morris six wheeled truck"
The photo shows nearside downstairs that two bays have been completely removed from floor to the top of the windows and the tanks are visible behind.
David