Wonderfully nostalgic, i can just about remember the old trolley buses, and it's great to 'car spot' all the old british cars. Bournemouth looked better in those days too!
My parents took me on a holiday to Bournemouth in about 1959 and I remember the trolleybuses very clearly. I recall a trip to Christchurch and seeing the turntable, and I also remember seeing a trolleybus de-wire on a very wet day. Once you have seen a trolley boom flailing in the air it's an image you don't easily forget.
We went to Bournemouth on holiday and apart from the celebrated turntable at Christchurch one thing really stuck in my mind. The wiring in one road consisted of oly three wires, so trolleys in each direction shared one wire. Bournemouth trolleys were very classy compared with the ones from my home town of Bradford and I often wondered about this example of apparent stinginess.
These were used along Southcote Road (and also Palmerston Road ) for depot runs to and from Southcote Depot . The Palmerston Road only had two wires , and these could used in both directions by reverse polarity.
Thanks for the information. I assumed it might be for depot trips or something like that. Bournemouth was a beautiful system that I came to admire during my short stay there in 1965. There was some talk of Bradford buying the Sunbeams in 1969 but nothing came of it. I believe that Walsall tried to convert one of them into a trolleybis with auxilliary diesel but the work ended when they were taken over by West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive.
2:54 that the Lansdown! Next to the once Bournemouth library which is now located in the square. SIGH I was trying to place the image earlier but most vintage footage is colour and B&W.
I phoned my dad had he remembers. He said it was Sunday April 20th guess my dad travelled on the ole trolleybuses now then. They look so grand and passive to the noise yellow buses of today. I noticed the cake plate turning the bus around and I think that plate is still there at Christchurch?
3:14 WOW heading down Old Christchurch road past the pub on the right. 3:17 is coming out of Christchurch road. Hmm number 23. 3:29 cant tell where that is because its B&W? WOW the ole double Decker red buses. Yes now I know its Christchurch road next to Boscombe gardens!
4:13 Tuckton bridge 10MPH and few hoarse riders number 21. 4:29 now that looks like Christchurch road Boscombe high street to me! 4:43 thats the cake plate not sure how many they had in the town but one of them is still at Christchurch intact.
Co-Op is still around today LOL Yeah that is Christchurch 100%!
6:35 Bournemouth pier seafront. 6:45 going down Exeter Road with the pier just behind!
Wow that modern church just behind the hotel wow when was that built?
7:35 looks like Tuckton and shell garage to the left of the image I think it went years ago. Yeah Boscombe is right behind the image of the rear of the bus or Christchurch road.
0:38 LOL yeah the bubble-car I remember seeing the odd one now then in the early 1970s. That must be vintage rare car. As far as I remember the front part opened and you climb into your egg. LOL
A60 Stock heart warming clips, a little sad, as was young then-old now. Trolleys lack of speed a snag then, but wouldn't be now.....everyone forced to snail now, massively more vehicles on B'mouth roads
Much of my interest lies in London Transport (LUL) trains, both tube and surface stock, but I have always enjoyed seeing how trolley buses operated, in particular, how the turntable was used. This is a wonderful video, showing motorbikes, cars and scenes from a wonderful era. The music is wonderful too, fitting perfectly with the images. Thanks A60stock, an absolutely top video.
Drivers were trained not to deviate from the wires more than the length of a trolley boom. If you did then you came off the wires and your conductor would have to re-wire you. At junctions the conductor would jump off and set the route by pulling a lever on an adjacent traction pole, or as was the case in Bournemouth the driver would select the route by either coasting or powering over a skate on the wires.
Wow thanks A60stock for putting this up. I was born 1967 only few years before the system was shut down but dont have any memory of this. Guess I was only being pushed around in pram at the time. LOL I live in Bournemouth still do, and wow the days when you can drive though the Square are long gone now. The roundabout is gone but the clock is still there.
@A60stock I always thought there would be some guide to which direction the wires would switch, being two. Coasting or powering over a skate (isolated section) would give the opportunity to change direction.
That takes me back, playing on the old turntable at the end of Christchurch High Street, then going to Seafoods chip shop, thanks for posting.
Adeybaby100 3 weeks ago
I can remember when they used to come off the wires and we had to wait until the conductor (or driver) put them back on.
dstanl 1 month ago
thank you it brings it all back
42hz 2 months ago
I remember travelling on these as a boy, when we visited Bournemouth!
123barriejohn 4 months ago
Wonderfully nostalgic, i can just about remember the old trolley buses, and it's great to 'car spot' all the old british cars. Bournemouth looked better in those days too!
stereogrIm 7 months ago
Great video.
juliag2 8 months ago
Comment removed
mekydro 9 months ago
Wow, what great memories.
I was at Mallard Road Depot that day - very sad indeed. I loved those trolleys, the town didn't seem the same without them.
mekydro 9 months ago
They are just classic!
sprinks11 9 months ago
Fantastic , bought a tear to my eye - thanks for posting
rondeco30 1 year ago
My parents took me on a holiday to Bournemouth in about 1959 and I remember the trolleybuses very clearly. I recall a trip to Christchurch and seeing the turntable, and I also remember seeing a trolleybus de-wire on a very wet day. Once you have seen a trolley boom flailing in the air it's an image you don't easily forget.
leach1527 1 year ago
BOSCOMBE BOYS
sgtpeppesrband 1 year ago
We went to Bournemouth on holiday and apart from the celebrated turntable at Christchurch one thing really stuck in my mind. The wiring in one road consisted of oly three wires, so trolleys in each direction shared one wire. Bournemouth trolleys were very classy compared with the ones from my home town of Bradford and I often wondered about this example of apparent stinginess.
oldsyphilitic 1 year ago
@oldsyphilitic
These were used along Southcote Road (and also Palmerston Road ) for depot runs to and from Southcote Depot . The Palmerston Road only had two wires , and these could used in both directions by reverse polarity.
2010Rayes 1 year ago
@2010Rayes
Thanks for the information. I assumed it might be for depot trips or something like that. Bournemouth was a beautiful system that I came to admire during my short stay there in 1965. There was some talk of Bradford buying the Sunbeams in 1969 but nothing came of it. I believe that Walsall tried to convert one of them into a trolleybis with auxilliary diesel but the work ended when they were taken over by West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive.
oldsyphilitic 1 year ago
Thankyou so much for the trip back in time! It's nice to see Bournemouth and christchurch before the council messed it up
bus140808 1 year ago
Councils : spending lots of YOUR money on things they got rid of a few years before.
Progress?
cgisarecrap 1 year ago
My wife has a private plate 290 LJ - was this also allocated to a trolley here?
starstorm55522 1 year ago
@starstorm55522 No, trolley 290 was registered YLJ 290; the last batch were 297 - 303 LJ
MrAndybye 1 year ago
2:54 that the Lansdown! Next to the once Bournemouth library which is now located in the square. SIGH I was trying to place the image earlier but most vintage footage is colour and B&W.
EmpireLS56KW 2 years ago
I phoned my dad had he remembers. He said it was Sunday April 20th guess my dad travelled on the ole trolleybuses now then. They look so grand and passive to the noise yellow buses of today. I noticed the cake plate turning the bus around and I think that plate is still there at Christchurch?
EmpireLS56KW 2 years ago
3:14 WOW heading down Old Christchurch road past the pub on the right. 3:17 is coming out of Christchurch road. Hmm number 23. 3:29 cant tell where that is because its B&W? WOW the ole double Decker red buses. Yes now I know its Christchurch road next to Boscombe gardens!
EmpireLS56KW 2 years ago
4:13 Tuckton bridge 10MPH and few hoarse riders number 21. 4:29 now that looks like Christchurch road Boscombe high street to me! 4:43 thats the cake plate not sure how many they had in the town but one of them is still at Christchurch intact.
Co-Op is still around today LOL Yeah that is Christchurch 100%!
6:35 Bournemouth pier seafront. 6:45 going down Exeter Road with the pier just behind!
Wow that modern church just behind the hotel wow when was that built?
EmpireLS56KW 2 years ago
6:50 The square Bournemouth with Bournemouth gardens to the right of the image.
6:58 now thats got me. Hmm number 22 I see Lansdown but the roundabout, no that is not still around it might have been remodelled years ago or has it?
7:31 now that looks like Southbourne to me!
EmpireLS56KW 2 years ago
7:35 looks like Tuckton and shell garage to the left of the image I think it went years ago. Yeah Boscombe is right behind the image of the rear of the bus or Christchurch road.
8:00 heading over a bridge towards Boscombe.
EmpireLS56KW 2 years ago
Hope some of the time marks helps where the buses are on the video. Wow it was like looking though a time portal into the past. 41 years ago!!!!
EmpireLS56KW 2 years ago
LOVE the bubblecar at 38'! And what superb music.
chamade16 2 years ago
0:38 LOL yeah the bubble-car I remember seeing the odd one now then in the early 1970s. That must be vintage rare car. As far as I remember the front part opened and you climb into your egg. LOL
EmpireLS56KW 2 years ago
A60 Stock heart warming clips, a little sad, as was young then-old now. Trolleys lack of speed a snag then, but wouldn't be now.....everyone forced to snail now, massively more vehicles on B'mouth roads
woodlandglade9 2 years ago
Much of my interest lies in London Transport (LUL) trains, both tube and surface stock, but I have always enjoyed seeing how trolley buses operated, in particular, how the turntable was used. This is a wonderful video, showing motorbikes, cars and scenes from a wonderful era. The music is wonderful too, fitting perfectly with the images. Thanks A60stock, an absolutely top video.
Mr6292 2 years ago
Fantastic. thanks for sharing
razzinitup 2 years ago
Fantastic nostalgic clip ... {sigh}
gwrexile 2 years ago
how do they know were the wires are when they have no gide on the road and what not???
justinfoulger 2 years ago
Drivers were trained not to deviate from the wires more than the length of a trolley boom. If you did then you came off the wires and your conductor would have to re-wire you. At junctions the conductor would jump off and set the route by pulling a lever on an adjacent traction pole, or as was the case in Bournemouth the driver would select the route by either coasting or powering over a skate on the wires.
A60stock 2 years ago
Wow thanks A60stock for putting this up. I was born 1967 only few years before the system was shut down but dont have any memory of this. Guess I was only being pushed around in pram at the time. LOL I live in Bournemouth still do, and wow the days when you can drive though the Square are long gone now. The roundabout is gone but the clock is still there.
EmpireLS56KW 2 years ago
@A60stock I always thought there would be some guide to which direction the wires would switch, being two. Coasting or powering over a skate (isolated section) would give the opportunity to change direction.
Isochest 6 months ago
Excellent pictures and wonderful Charles Williams music.
haynestre 2 years ago
Brilliant!!!! Thank-you!!
paulmorfitt 2 years ago