Return of the trolleybus?

London once had the largest trolley-bus system in the world, with a web of wires and poles stretching almost 40 miles from Hampton Court to Dartford.

In 1939, when war broke out, more than 4,000 trolleybuses a day clicked through Manor House while at the Nag's Head, Holloway, almost two tons of equipment was suspended above the road.

They were looked on as transport saviours when they were introduced during the Thirties and, 40 years after they disappeared, they could return.

Transport for London is looking at bringing them back as an option in its Cross River and West London plans.

The Cross River plan links King's Cross, Camden, Euston, Holborn, Aldwych and Waterloo before dividing - one branch going to Brixton and the other through Elephant & Castle to Peckham.

The West London scheme would link Uxbridge, Shepherd's Bush, Ealing and Acton and could be working by 2006, with the cross link two years later.

It was exactly 40 years ago tomorrow that the last trolleybus ran on London's streets.

The day before, Diddler No 1 made a special ceremonial run from Fulwell depot to Kingston, where it was de-poled and sent to the then Museum of Transport at Clapham.

The end came when the number 1521 returned from Kingston to the Fulwell depot, through cheering crowds. The fleet was broken up - with more than 120 London trolleybuses sold overseas - the last being withdrawn in Spain in 1979.

Martin Jenkins, from the LCC Tramways Trust, said: 'It was the end of an era - but they could be back.'

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