Portsmouth City Transport

 
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Destination Blinds

19

FRATTON BRIDGE
BRADFORD ROAD
GUILDHALL

When the last trolleybus ran on 27th July 1963 a century of guided traction came to an end on the streets of Portsmouth. On 8th June 1863 an Act of Parliament came into force setting up the Southsea Tramway Company. On the 1st January 1900 the Corporation took over this company and started to electrify the system. Between 1934 and 1936 the trams were replaced with 100 AEC trolleybuses. 

Turning to motor buses, by the1930's a fleet of Crossleys and Leyland TDs was built up. Four of these TDs operated in open top form on Southsea seafront until the late 1960's. The Corporation was always a Leyland fan and the trolleybuses were replaced by Atlanteans with MCW bodies. At one time trolleybus routes were lettered and  motor bus routes numbered, but from 1963 all routes were numbered. 

The City council appeared to want to dispose of its bus operation with indecent haste on deregulation, firstly selling out to a Southampton Citybus consortium which subsequently sold to Stagecoach. The monopolies commission ordered Stagecoach to sell this company and if fell into the hands of Harry Blundred's "bread van" minibus operation, Portsmouth Transit, trading as Red and Blue Admiral. In the late 1990's this was taken over by First Provincial and now proper buses are restored to the streets of Portsmouth.

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

A Leyland Tiger Cub 148 (148 BTP) en route to North End.


In 1959, 5 Leyland PD3/6 were bought. Shown here is 125 (STP 997). They had Weymann Orion H70R bodies


In open top form and in the later livery 6 (RV 6360) is one of the 1935 Leyland Titan TD4s passing along Southsea seafront 


Portsmouth was one of the first users of the Leyland Atlantean. They were used for trolleybus replacement. This is one of the 1964 batch 236 (BBK 236B) with MCW body, seen outside CPPTD where it is now preserved


One of the 1935 AEC 661T trolleybuses with English Electric bodywork is seen at the Hard


In 1994 Blue Admiral hired in ex Lancaster AEC Regent II KTF 589 for the Southsea seafront service 


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