Former trolleybus turntable, Longwood, near Huddersfield

Image: © Dr Neil Clifton Taken: 30 Oct 1985

When Huddersfield Corporation replaced the Dod-Lea tram service with trolleybuses, they found that the new vehicles had one disadvantage: Instead of being able to reverse without turning, (as the trams could), the trolleys needed space for the vehicle to turn round. At Dod-Lea space could not be found for this, so the route was slightly shortened to this point at the foot of Dod-Lea lane where a trolleybus turntable was built. The vehicle drove onto the table, which was then pushed round manually by the crew. The trolleybuses took over from 1 September 1939, but the turntable was not in use for long, as after the outbreak of war, (1) women were recruited as conductresses who were not strong enough to help the driver push the turntable round, and (2) blackout regulations meant that the crew could not see what they were doing. So in 1940, other arrangements were made and the turntable fell out of use. It was removed not long after this 1985 photograph was taken. There was only one other trolleybus turntable ever built in Britain, a long way away at Christchurch, Hampshire for Bournemouth Corporation.

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