Bournemouth Trolleybuses

On April 20th 1969 Bournemouth closed its fine trolleybus system. The system had a number of features that were unusual. Christchurch High Street was too narrow for a conventional turning loop so trolleys used a turntable. The driver held the booms clear of the wire while the clippie pushed the bus round. Trolleys had a open rear platform for boarding and a door operated exit at the front. The doors were opened and shut by the driver. These trolleys had two staircases, at the rear for boarding passengers and at the front for alighting passengers. This system of boarding and alighting was devised to cope with heavy demand during the holiday season. Bournemouth's trolleybuses covered some 39 route miles with 127 vehicles at its peak.


Plans to build a town centre by-pass spelled the end for the trolleys. Soon after this film was shot the Pier area was to despoiled by a flyover of monumental ugliness.

Trolleybuses last operated in Britain in Bradford in 1972. However it was announced in March 2011 that a trolleybus system for Leeds, the city which introduced trolleybuses in Britain back in 1911, has government approval and once a the bureaucratic hurdles have been overcome construction will start in 2014 with an opening planned by 2016. This should the signal to all other large cities and conurbations to follow suit. For more on this visit
http://filmcrusty.blogspot.com/2010/03/return-of-silent-service.html

This film is brought to you by Beulah
http://www.eavb.co.uk

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• bournemouth
• trolleybus

[justinfoulger]

how do they know were the wires are when they have no gide on the road and what not???

[A60stock]

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.

[Adeybaby100]

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.

[dstanl]

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.

[42hz]

thank you it brings it all back

[123barriejohn]

I remember travelling on these as a boy, when we visited Bournemouth!

[Isochest]

@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.

[stereogrIm]

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!

[juliag2]

Great video.

[mekydro]

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.

[sprinks11]

They are just classic!