Colour Prestige 2 Bradford and its Trolleybuses

Bradford has the unique distinction of being the most long-standing trolleybus user, having operated them for over 61 years. Along with Leeds, they commenced operation on the same day in June 1911 and, when Bradford's system closed on 26th March 1972, it was the last survivor of the 50 municipalities or companies who had used this efficient, economical and silent form of transport for its citizens. The system enjoyed an Indian Summer made possible by the skilful management of the undertaking between 1951 and 1961 by General Manager Chaceley Humpidge, a devotee of electric traction, who made it possible for the system to survive until 1972, when the last two routes were withdrawn. That survival was largely ensured by the wholesale purchase and rebodying of surplus trolleybuses from other British systems as they closed down their networks. Geoff Lumb has drawn from his own collection of colour transparencies and those of other recorders of the Bradford trolleybus fleet, and has added informative captions.