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Unification tank is OK?
Against the box
Feb 6, 2006 04:03
18 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term

trolley bus - "a bus wearing braces"

English Art/Literary Automotive / Cars & Trucks popular name for trolley buses
In Polish "trolley buses" are sometimes referred to as "buses wearing braces". I am sure this does not work in English, but is there a similar (or any) tongue-in-cheek expression for these relatively rare vehicles?
Many thanks for your help.
Responses
2 +4 bus with suspenders
4 trackless trams
3 trackless trolley coaches.
3 a bus on rails
3 tramway

Discussion

petrolhead (asker) Feb 9, 2006:
Many thanks everyone for your contributions I am afraid "trackless tram" is not what is meant here. See this quote:
"As the 1930's saw the trolleybus turn from a trackless tram into an electric bus, ..." and this is precisely what they are - electric buses. But thanks for the links - I am bit of transport historian myself, so thay are valuable.

I am afraid "tramway" is to close to "tram".

Colette, a "trolley bus" is not a "bus on rails" at all

Responses

+4
2 hrs
English term (edited): trolley bus -
Selected

bus with suspenders

I've never heard this expression, but I don't know why it wouldn't work in English. I'm not even sure, though, what the Polish expression refers to. Is it what is called "braces" in UK, i.e. elastic straps to hold up your pants? That's what I'm picturing, with the trolley car's attachment to overhead cables. If so, US English would use "suspenders." However, if it's what we in the US call "braces," i.e. devices to straighten one's teeth, then I don't get the picture at all.
Peer comment(s):
agree Mikhail Kropotov : I think you got it right :) They do look a lot like suspenders
5 hrs
That was my mental image when I read the question! Thanks, Mikhail.
agree William [Bill] Gray : This could work in this context.
15 hrs
I thought so--since petrolhead wants "tongue-in-cheek." Thanks, Bill!
agree Peter Skipp : Yes, witty and mildly risque; definitely works for me
15 hrs
And me. Thanks, Peter!
agree Seema Ugrankar
17 hrs
Thank you, ugrankar
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Many thanks. "Suspenders" is what is meant, and as such it is better than braces as it avoids abmibuity. "
2 hrs
English term (edited): trolley bus -

trackless trolley coaches.

another name for trolley bus. Please read the text about the history of trolley buses showed by the reference.
Reference:

http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/facts/ffhist.htm

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4 hrs
English term (edited): trolley bus -

trackless trams

A far more logical term in British English...and 130 googles, for example:
http://www.g4orx.btinternet.co.uk/beginnings.htm

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Note added at 5 hrs (2006-02-06 09:14:50 GMT)
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BTW, this site give Leeds and Bradford as Britain's oldest trolleybus systems, dating from 1911, though I don't think these were the world's first.

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Note added at 5 hrs (2006-02-06 09:19:41 GMT)
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In fact they were not; the site below gives Dresden as the birthplace of the trolleybus, and the year as 1903:
http://www.tramways.freeserve.co.uk/Tramframe.htm?http://mys...

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Note added at 5 hrs (2006-02-06 09:22:09 GMT)
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And that site also makes it clear why they were called "trolley"buses; they collected their power through a "trolley" which ran along the overhead wires....I learn something new every day!
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8 hrs
English term (edited): trolley bus -

a bus on rails

I seem to understand that it is wearing braces because it is running on a track. I don't think there is anything exactly like that in English, but this could work.

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Note added at 8 hrs (2006-02-06 12:42:16 GMT)
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the track would remind one of braces (for your teeth), wouldn't it?
Peer comment(s):
neutral Peter Skipp : actually, Polish, Bulgarian and generally Euro trolleybuses are electric buses (no tracks, electric wire overhead and the said "braces"/"suspenders" or power pick-up poles). Euro trams have tracks. In the US, the picture gets occluded :)
9 hrs
Here in Italy, what you are describing is called a "filobus" and is not considered a trolley/tram, but there are trolleys on rails, too, of course. I've seen them in Switzerland, too. I've never been to Poland, but I'll ask some friends since it's funny.
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1 day 3 hrs
English term (edited): trolley bus -

tramway

i that's what they call it in france
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