In the summer of 1969 i was a University of Illinois senior. The CTA was hiring college kids for summertime work so that their fulltime drivers could take summer vacations. We received training for about a week or so and then were deployed throughout the city. I ended up in the northwestern most bus barn on North Elston Avenue near Central Avenue. I was frequently assigned to routes utilizing Marmon-Herrington trolleys. Namely Central Ave, Lawrence Ave, Montrose Ave, and Irving Park. Theses vehicles had just tremendous torque unlike their propane counter parts. Even with a bus load of passengers i could take off from a stoplight in right-most lane and quickly merge back into the main traffic lanes. Frequently I would draw a night time slot starting around 10 PM and finish up after th morning rush hours. The streets were mostly vacant and passengers scarce. I found out that you could brake the vehicle by putting it in reverse and stepping on the accelerator. I’m sure this wasn’t discussed during our training. A peculiar electrical smell would emanate from the rear of the bus so I didn’t do it often. These buses were retired starting in 1970 or 1971. These were quite amazing vehicles.

I rode the 'trolley buses' as a kid ,the 47th st line in particular. They were fast but the cars complained that they took too much space up on the road. I was too young for the streetcars ,though. i remember the conductor getting out of the bus to rehook the 'pick up' to the overhead line when it came loose.

Rode these buses quite frequently, and to/from school between 1964 and 1968. The MH bus was large and the seats were decent. Nice and warm in the winter. Perhaps the best bus in Chicago IMO. During most of the time I rode, the driver was responsible for collecting fares, etc.. I was impressed by their "Multitasking" especially when it was rush hour and standing room only. Just driving those monsters among increasing auto traffic took guts I thought. It was impressive how drivers "Jumped" the red light from the curb (Going to Green) just to get a leg up on autos. Buses always seemed to win on that. The north side was full of these trolley routes. Amazing how the CTA junked the whole system. We lived not far from the huge bus barn at North & Cicero. Today, there is no sign of it left except for a few trolley wire support poles (They are cast iron painted Black and still can be found in the city I noted).

I rode these buses everyday going to high school. Route 80, Irving Park Road.

Like the PCC L and subway trains this electric bus has the same bullseye indirect lights! 😊

También en México en la ciudad de México hubo de estos trolebúses marmon herrington los cuales estuvieron originales hasta mediados de la decada de los 80s y posteriormente los reconstruyeron por la empresa moyada para modernizarlos hasta que finalmente desaparecieron en 1999 y los últimos 5 trolebúses de esta marca llegaron todavía al año 2001, actualmente ya se extinguieron los trolebuses pero dejaron un bonito recuerdo de quienes los usamos en la ciudad de México

I own three Marmon-Herrington trackless trolleys in my vintage transit vehicle collection. I have the only TC-46 ever saved. It has a single stream center exit door and was built in 1949. My other Marmons are both 1955 TC-49 coaches, with double stream center exit doors. By the way, how is the restoration coming along on the IRM's CSL J. G. Brill T-40 trolley coach. I assume it was stored away in the car barn on Bus Day 2021. Also, I have a Dayton trolley coach too. It's a 1947 Pullman-Standard. I also have a 1947 ACF-Brill trackless trolley and a 1939 Mack trackless trolley.

In the Northeast they were/are called trackless trolleys and Philadelphia still runs newer ones.

That’s cold!

Trolebús estilo FIAT Alfa Romeo de la Marmon- Herrington

4:07... 1. STILL does the same thing today. 2. Do they know who you are, seems like it timed out quite well to throw an arm off the line.

What day is bus day usually on?

Looks like 9553 is unrestored.

Nice trackless trolley busses but I still prefer the real trolleys which everyone outside the Northeast call streetcars.

автобусы шумные и вонючие от дизеля!