Trolleybuses in Bournemouth
Encyclopedia
The Bournemouth trolleybus system once served the town of Bournemouth
, then in Hampshire
, but now in Dorset
, England
. Opened on , 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
. It was closed on .
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. The turntable was manually operated and was in use from 19 June 1936 until the closure of the system.
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
.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, then in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, but now in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Opened on , it gradually replaced the Bournemouth tramway network
Bournemouth Corporation Tramways
Bournemouth Corporation Tramways served the town of Bournemouth in Dorset from 23 July 1902 until 8 April 1936.. The system extended to the suburb of Winton to the north and to the adjacent towns of Poole to the west and Christchurch to the east.-Infrastructure:Routes were centred on The Square at...
.
By the standards of the various now-defunct trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
systems in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, 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
Trolleybuses in London
The London trolleybus system served the city of London, England, and the rest of the London Passenger Transport Area, for just over thirty years in the mid twentieth century....
. It was closed on .
The most notable feature of the Bournemouth system was probably the Christchurch trolleybus turntable
Christchurch trolleybus turntable
The Christchurch trolleybus turntable formed part of the Bournemouth trolleybus system, which served the town of Bournemouth and its environs, on the south coast of England.-History:...
, 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. The turntable was manually operated and was in use from 19 June 1936 until the closure of the system.
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
Parkstone
Parkstone is an area of Poole, Dorset. It is divided into 'Lower' and 'Upper' Parkstone. Upper Parkstone - "Up-on-'ill" as it used to be known in local parlance - is so-called because it is largely on higher ground slightly to the north of the lower-lying area of Lower Parkstone - "The Village" -...
, the East Anglia Transport Museum
East Anglia Transport Museum
The East Anglia Transport Museum is an open air transport museum, with numerous historic public transport vehicles . It is located in Carlton Colville a suburb of Lowestoft, Suffolk...
, and The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft
The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft
The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft is a transport museum which specialises in the preservation of trolleybuses. It is located by the village of Sandtoft, near Belton on the Isle of Axholme in the English county of Lincolnshire.-Description:...
. One is in the National Transport Museum of Ireland
National Transport Museum of Ireland
The National Transport Museum of Ireland is based in the grounds of the Howth Castle in the Republic of Ireland.The museum is located in the Heritage Depot, Howth Demesne, Howth, Ireland. On 1 September 2001, the collection, increasing at an annual average rate of five, totalled 170...
.
See also
- History of BournemouthHistory of BournemouthThe History of Bournemouth and human settlement in the surrounding area goes back for thousands of years.In 1800 the area was largely a remote and barren heathland, used only by smugglers and revenue troops...
- Transport in Bournemouth
- List of trolleybus systems in the United Kingdom
External links
- Bournemouth Corporation Trolley Buses: A Brief History
- Bournemouth trolleybus picture gallery
- SCT'61 website - photos and descriptions of Bournemouth trolleybuses and early motorbuses
- British Trolleybus Society, based in Reading
- National Trolleybus Association, based in London