Subject: London United 61 (AHX 801)
Chassis: AEC 691T
Body: London General H40/34C
Location: Southall, AEC works
Date: 1933

London United 61 was a generation removed from the rest of the London trolleybus fleet (the Diddlers) when introduced and incorporated many construction and styling features which were to become standard for new trolleybuses both for London and elsewhere.

The AEC 691T chassis was unique to this vehicle and featured a lowered nearside frame to accommodate the central entrance. It incorporated English Electric control and traction equipment.

Being a one-off, 61 led a varied life. It demonstrated in Brighton in January 1936 and helped to make the case for the construction of the trolleybus system in the town. In Mar-1945 it was converted to operate using a "Pay as you board" system, which involved a conductor seated under the staircase collecting fares as passengers boarded. The experiment didn't last long and it was restored to normal operation in October that year, by then just a 71-seater.

It ran in service until 1951 and spent some time used for driving instruction before being sold for scrap in 1954.

This photograph is a copy made by GEC in 1973 (as indicated in the number) from an AEC photograph

Photograph from the GEC archive