Created 8-Jan-22
Modified 8-Mar-24
This batch of trolleybuses remain unique as the only ones owned and operated by three completely separate systems. They were new to Darlington Corporation in 1949 as 68-73 (LHN 780-785), BUT 9611T chassis fitted with East Lancs bodies, very similar indeed to the St. Helens BUTs also bought by Bradford. They were Darlington's only double-deck trolleybuses and the last additions to their fleet as the Council had already decided to replace trolleybuses with motorbuses.
Their use in Darlington had been rather limited and it was decided to sell them when they were still quite new, in the hope of not just finding a buyer but getting a good price. They were bought by Doncaster Corporation in 1952 and became 378-383 in that fleet. Upon withdrawal there in 1959 they were sold to Bradford to become part of a pool of vehicles for rebodying to modernise the fleet. This didn't happen for the vehicles intended to be 820-825 and 827 but these BUTs were, with one exception, more fortunate. The first of the batch was used as a source of spares, in particular for its EE410 motor, so LHN 780 joined the selection of chassis bought only for spares which are covered in a separate gallery.
The remainder were refurbished and sent to East Lancs where they were fitted with new 27'-6" long and 8'-0" wide H37/29F bodies. These differed from earlier bodies as they featured deeper windscreens, fluorescent lighting and plastic (instead of painted) ceiling panels, another step forward in the evolution of the Bradford trolleybus.
They entered service in July and August 1962 and with the exception of 832, withdrawn a couple of months earlier, they all lasted until the end of July 1971 when the Clayton, Wibsey and Buttershaw services were converted to motorbus operation. Their withdrawal marked the end of operation of BUT trolleybuses in the UK.
© David Beilby
