Re: Brisbane trolleybuses [was BRISBANE LIGHT RAIL / TRAMS

[David McLoughlin <davemcl@-DROP-iprolink.co.nz>]

Six was a very small order for trolleybuses, even though trolleybuses
were (and are) typically ordered in much smaller numbers than diesel
buses.

Just as a historical point, does anyone know why Brisbane's second
trolleybus order (of six buses) was so small, and how it came about? I
 have never read the explanation for this in any of the extensive
literature I have perused.
 
Even with a total fleet after 1960 of 36 trolleybuses, Brisbane never had
enough trolleys to fill the peak-hour requirements on the five trolley
routes and had to use diesels as supplements.
 
 The only smaller order of trolleybuses I know of was the four Crossley
ETBs bought by New Plymouth in New Zealand in 1950 (which became that
 tiny town's entire trolley fleet) -- but those vehicles were tacked onto
 an order for 10 similar buses bought by Wellington NZ.
 
Also, another query, why weren't retrievers fitted to the 30 earlier
 Brisbane trolleys, given the widespread international use of retrievers
by the 1950s?

David McLoughlin
Auckland New Zealand