On Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:50:41 -0800 (PST), harry
wrote:

No time was needed. If a bus broke down, the conductor immediately
unhooked it so following buses could pass.

On every junction? I think not.
More than once I saw them stuck in awkward positions, so that
unhooking the overtaking one was needed, or there was a problem with
the supply on that stretch, etc.