EPW005216 ENGLAND (1921). Bryant and May Match Factory, Bow, 1921

Opened by the LCC in June 1908 on the site of a lunatic asylum, to accommodate 151 tramcars. This depot housed cars used in the ill fated Griffiths-Bedell [GB] Surface Contact Stud system for propultion. One of the cheapest surface contact system to install, compared to the expensive conduit the LCC chose to use. A steel cable (the conductor) is placed in an earthenware pipe beneath the track, and above this conductor at intervals of 6-9 feet are placed studs. A magnet on the car passes over the studs and a floating armature is forced against the conductor, a circuit made energized the stud. Three trams were fitted with skates to pick up power from the studs, but unfortunately the whole scheme wasn't successful and ran only from 25th June to 31st July 1908. The reason given for the failure of the system was the large quantities of glutinous mud which accumulated in Bow Road, due to the heavy flow of horse-drawn vehicles. Horse cars returned to the Bow Road until the LCC laid the conduit. Tunnels for the Central line tube extention were bored underneath the building. Extensively extended in preparation for the trolleybuses to operate from 5th November 1939. Bow could house 102 trolleybuses. Became a depot for the first RM's when trolleybuses ceased to operate from here on the 18 August 1959.