Bournemouth Corporation Transport

 

Bournemouth was a very early motor bus user, putting its first example into service in 1906, much in the way of an experiment. It was 1914 before the motor bus became established in this expanding Victorian "watering town"; initially they were used mainly as an extension of the tramway system, opened in 1902. 

The motor bus fleet increased steadily, early buses were Tilling-Stevens, Guy, Shelvoke & Drewry, W. & G. du Cros, Karrier Thornycroft and AEC before moving onto Bedfords and  of Leylands. In 1930 it was decided to replace the trams by trolleybuses, which began in 1933. The last teams ran in 1936. At their peak there were 125 trolleybuses, which all had two staircases and two doors, this was specified by the Corporation for almost all buses until 1962, including motor buses.  

After the war the trolley bus system was extended  and new vehicles were delivered up to 1962 (and some second hand). Most motor buses were Leylands, both double and single deckers. The Open-top fleet was revitalised with Leyland, Guy and even wartime Bedford conversions (and in the 1960s Atlanteans and Fleetlines).The first replacement vehicles, which arrived in 1964 and 1965, were Leyland Atlanteans and Daimler Fleetlines and these  continued to be purchased for many years. The last trolleybuses ran in April 1969. For more rural and special services, a small fleet of mini and midibuses was operated for over ten years whilst, since 1970, a few Leyland coaches have been purchased for private hire duties, this aspect forming an expanding area of the undertaking's activities which is now known as “Yellow Coaches”

  Fleet livery was traditionally primrose and deep red until 1973, when blue replaced the red relief, itself to he replaced by brown in mid 1982, and today the livery is predominately yellow with larger areas of blue. The operation whilst still council owned is now known as “Yellow Buses” which is the fleetname.  

Click here for details of preserved Bournemouth buses....


In 1964 a strike at Weymann caused Bournemouth to take two Daimler Fleetlines with MH Coachworks (Belfast) bodies. These were originally intended for Belfast Corporation. Not only were they the first rear engined Bournemouth buses but the only MH bodies for an english operator.


1965 deliveries were convertible Daimler Fleetlines with Weymann bodies. No 185 (CRU 185C) which later worked for London Transport is seen at Alum Chine


114 (DLJ 114L) is a 1973 Leyland engined Fleetline with an Alexander body. It is carrying the Yellow Buses fleet name introduced in 1982


The Daimler Roadliner was generally something of a disaster, but Bournemouth purchased 11 in 1967. They has short lives, this example 58 (KRU 58F) was withdrawn in 1972


Click here for more Bournemouth photos....