This web site is devoted "transit's step child": the electric trolleybus. Our aim is to provide a link to every known trolleybus site on the web. Additionally we provide many photos as well. Some other photos are on individual sites. We attempt to provide certain information that is not on the web such as a list of trolleybus routes. Much information is provided though some of the sites. Although we use the term trolley and trolleybus here, we recognize that the term electric trolleybus or electric trolley bus as the official phrase. This is mainly to differentiate electric trolleys from those horrendous things out there called "a trolley bus" referring to a contraption with a body that mimics an old fashioned streetcar (trolley car, tram) attached to a chassis with two axles and rubber tires. Other terms include trolley bus, trackless trolley, trolley coach, curbliner (Des Moines, IA), and trackless tram. For a discussion on the term "interurban", see the page on it listed on the main menu.
Basically there were two types of power collection: the Stoll system and the Schiemann system. In the Stoll system, a contraption which was placed on top of the wires and guided, was pulled by the vehicle. This system did not last long. In The Schliemann system the trolley pole(s) make direct contact to the overhead wire through a small mechanism called trolley shoes and associated parts. It originally used one pole, but two poles became standard as single poles tended to dewire frequently. One single pole system lasted in Drammen, Norway until 1967. This system had no special work.
I am thankful in particular to Ken Josephson, Ken Wuschke, Wolfgang Auer, Vadims Falkovs, Charlie Brown, Kevin Brown, Zhiyuen Jiang, Zack Willhoite, Leo Sullivan, Ray Piestiuk, Irvine Bell, Emídio Gardé, Allen Morrison, Martin Grosberg, Don Galt, R. T. Morrow, Keegan Hartman, Wayne Hom, Erik Groswold, David McLoughlin, Ric Francis, Graeme Bennett, and Dennis Linsky for their help in getting this site up and keeping it going and/or who have submitted photos or details on certain systems, to Don Galt and Charlie Brown for their large contributions to the bibliography, and to the many members of the etb discussion group who sent in one or more sites including trolleybuses or information about trolleybuses. Without their help this site would not be as far along as it is.
Needless to say, we still have a long way to go on the site. If anyone has any photos, information, or corrections to the site, they are strongly encouraged to send them in. This project is too big for a one man operation. Information from other readers will help make this site more complete.
Richard
