Trolleybuses in Bournemouth
 A Bournemouth trolleybus at the Iford roundabout, March 1966 | |
| Operation | |
|---|---|
| Locale |
Bournemouth, Hampshire (now Dorset), England |
| Open | 13 May 1933 |
| Close | 20 April 1969 |
| Status | Closed |
| Routes | 22 |
| Operator(s) | Bournemouth Corporation Transport |
| Infrastructure | |
| Stock | 104 (maximum) |
The Bournemouth trolleybus system once served the town of Bournemouth, then in Hampshire, but now in Dorset, England. Opened on 13 May 1933,[1][2] it gradually replaced the Bournemouth tramway network.
By the standards of the various now-defunct trolleybus systems in the United Kingdom, the Bournemouth system was a medium-sized one, with a total of 22 routes, and a maximum fleet of 104 trolleybuses. It was also the second largest trolleybus system in southern England, after the London system.[2] It was closed on 20 April 1969.[1][2]
The most notable feature of the Bournemouth system was probably the Christchurch trolleybus turntable, which is said to be one of only four such turntables ever to have been constructed worldwide. It is now a Grade II listed building.[3] The turntable was manually operated and was in use from 19 June 1936 until the closure of the system.[1]
Seven of the former Bournemouth system trolleybuses are now preserved, in their distinctive primrose and maroon livery. Six of them are in the United Kingdom, at the Bournemouth Heritage Transport collection in Parkstone, the East Anglia Transport Museum, and The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft. One is in the National Transport Museum of Ireland.[4]
See also
References
Notes
- 1 2 3 Joyce, J.; King, J. S.; and Newman, A. G. (1986). British Trolleybus Systems, pp. 28–32, 159. London: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-1647-X.
- 1 2 3 Short, Peter. "Former UK systems". British Trolleybus Society website. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
- ↑ "Grade II and II* listed buildings in Christchurch". Dorset For You. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ↑ Zebedee, John (30 November 2010). "A List of Preserved Trolleybuses in the UK". British Trolleybus Society website. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
Further reading
- Bowler, David R H (2001). Bournemouth Trolleybuses. Yateley, Hampshire, UK: Trolleybooks. ISBN 978-0-904235-19-7.
- Chalk, D L (1969). Bournemouth Trolleybuses. Bournemouth, Hampshire, UK: Bournemouth Corporation.
- Pearce, Malcolm N (1998). Bournemouth Trolleybuses. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 978-1-901706-10-9.
- Roberts, C G (1972). Bournemouth Trams and Buses. Lingfield, UK: Oakwood Press.
- Yellow Buses, 85th Anniversary. Bournemouth, Dorset, UK: Bournemouth Transport Ltd. 1987.
External links
Media related to Trolleybuses in Bournemouth at Wikimedia Commons
- Bournemouth Corporation Trolley Buses: A Brief History
- Bournemouth trolleybus picture gallery
- SCT'61 website – photos and descriptions of Bournemouth trolleybuses and early motorbuses
- National Trolleybus Archive
- British Trolleybus Society, based in Reading
- National Trolleybus Association, based in London
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
