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Original Text (Annotation: EAW035311 / 2034587)
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Poplar trolleybus Depot. Built by the the London County Council 1n 1906 for the electric tram services commencing in Auust of that year. Extended by 320 feet, more than doubling its length to 532 feet in preparation for conversion to trolleybuses to commence running on 9th June 1940. This being the 23rd depot to be so converted, and as it turned out the last, as the war reprieved all other tram routes which were subsequently converted to diesel bus operation. This depot was capable of accommodating 149 trolleybuses used on the heavily loaded Commercial Road services. Due to its location Poplar depot sustained damage on no fewer than eight times during the war, the worst being on the 5th October 1940, when thirty trolleybuses were damaged with the unfortunate loss of 2 members of staff. Another 'last' for the depot was that along with West Ham it was the last on the system to convert from the use of giving tickets from a rack and using a punch to the Gibson ticket issuing machine. Stage four of the trolleybus conversion scheme saw Poplar cease trolleybus operations on 10th November 1959 and at 19 years and five months making it the shortest lived trolleybus operating depot. This conversion however did have a 'first' - the commencement of using Routemasters in service in london. '
