Trolleybuses in Belfast
Encyclopedia
The Belfast trolleybus system once served the city
of Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. It was the only trolleybus
system ever to be built in Ireland. Opened on , it gradually replaced the Belfast tramway network
.
The Belfast system was the second largest of all the now-defunct trolleybus systems in the United Kingdom
, after the London system
. It had a total of 17 routes, and a maximum fleet of 245 trolleybuses. It was closed on .
Five of the former Belfast trolleybuses are now preserved. Two of them are based at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
, Cultra
, Holywood
, County Down
, one at the East Anglia Transport Museum
at Carlton Colville
, Suffolk
, and one at Warnham
, Sussex
. The fifth one is at the National Transport Museum of Ireland
, in Dublin, Republic of Ireland
.
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It was the only trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
system ever to be built in Ireland. Opened on , it gradually replaced the Belfast tramway network
Belfast Corporation Tramways
Belfast Corporation Tramways formerly served the City of Belfast, Northern Ireland.Belfast's first trams operated in 1872 and were horse-drawn. Initially the system was owned and operated by the Belfast Street Tramways Company...
.
The Belfast system was the second largest of all the now-defunct trolleybus systems in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, after the London system
Trolleybuses in London
The London trolleybus system served the city of London, England, and the rest of the London Passenger Transport Area, for just over thirty years in the mid twentieth century....
. It had a total of 17 routes, and a maximum fleet of 245 trolleybuses. It was closed on .
Five of the former Belfast trolleybuses are now preserved. Two of them are based at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum
The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum is situated in Cultra, Northern Ireland, about east of the city of Belfast. It comprises two separate museums, the Folk Museum and the Transport Museum...
, Cultra
Cultra
Cultra is a residential suburban area adjacent to Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland, part of Greater Belfast. It is also the name of an electoral ward of North Down Borough Council. It is comfortably one of Northern Ireland's most affluent areas...
, Holywood
Holywood
Holywood is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the shore of Belfast Lough, between Belfast and Bangor. Holywood Exchange and Belfast City Airport are nearby. The town hosts an annual jazz and blues festival.-Name:...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, one at the East Anglia Transport Museum
East Anglia Transport Museum
The East Anglia Transport Museum is an open air transport museum, with numerous historic public transport vehicles . It is located in Carlton Colville a suburb of Lowestoft, Suffolk...
at Carlton Colville
Carlton Colville
Carlton Colville is an area in the suburbs of Lowestoft in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk, located south-west of the centre of the town. Significant residential development has occurred in the area since the 1960s, including more than 1,000 homes built in Carlton Park...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, and one at Warnham
Warnham
Warnham is a village and civil parish in the Horsham district of West Sussex, England. The village is some three kilometres north west of central Horsham to the west of the A24 road...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. The fifth one is at the National Transport Museum of Ireland
National Transport Museum of Ireland
The National Transport Museum of Ireland is based in the grounds of the Howth Castle in the Republic of Ireland.The museum is located in the Heritage Depot, Howth Demesne, Howth, Ireland. On 1 September 2001, the collection, increasing at an annual average rate of five, totalled 170...
, in Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
See also
- History of BelfastHistory of BelfastThe history of Belfast as a settlement goes back to the Bronze Age, but its status as a major urban centre dates to the 18th century. Belfast today is the capital of Northern Ireland. Belfast was, throughout its modern history, a major commercial and industrial centre. It suffered in the late 20th...
- Transport in BelfastTransport in BelfastTransportation systems in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland include road, air, rail, and sea. It is still a relatively car dependent city however it is also served by a comprehensive rail and bus network. Belfast also ran electric trams prior to 1954...
- List of trolleybus systems in the United Kingdom
External links
- British Trolleybus Society, based in Reading
- National Trolleybus Association, based in London