Early Days of Motor Buses in Penang
By Eugene Quah
October 2023 FEATURE
It is often thought that the first motor buses, four Thornycrofts, were introduced in Penang in 1921 by the municipality. While Ric Francis and Colin Ganley covered the history of trolleybuses (introduced in 1923) and municipal buses comprehensively in their excellent book, Penang, Trams, Trolleybuses & Railways—Municipal Transport History 1880s-1963, almost nothing is known about bus services before the 1920s—that is, until now. The following is the untold story of the entrepreneurs who introduced buses to Penang a full decade...
References
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Eugene Quah
is an independent researcher and writer who is working on a book tentatively called “Illustrated Guide to the North Coast of Penang”. He rediscovered the joys of writing after moving back to Penang from abroad.
