Bournemouth and Poole Tramways

Early History

The first real application for tramways in the area was made in 1881 by the ‘Bournemouth, Poole and District Light Railways (Electric) Company’, a subsidiary of the ‘Provincial Tramways Company’. A route linking the East (now Central) Station and Poole was proposed, but this was turned down. Another company, the ‘British Electric Traction Company’ (BET) also had proposals for numerous tramways in Bournemouth but were also opposed by Bournemouth Council. At the time Bournemouth Council felt that if anybody was going to run services then the Corporation should do it themselves.

Poole and District Electric Traction Co. Ltd.

The ‘British Electric Traction Company’ (BET) in 1899 finally obtained the powers to operate a single line between Poole, Upper Parkstone and County Gates, but were not allowed to run the line across the county boundary into Westbourne and Bournemouth. ‘The Poole and District Electric Traction Company’ was founded and under the Light Railways act of 1896, the obtained the Poole & District Light Railway Order 1899.

The construction of the first tramway between Poole and County Gates started on the 4^th May 1900 and the three and three quarter mile line opened only eleven months later.

• Opened:- 6^th April 1901.
• The fare for the journey between Poole and County Gates was 3d.
• The first through tramcar between Poole and Bournemouth ran on the 3^rd July 1905. The first through tramcar between Poole Railway Station and Christchurch Priory ran on the 17^th October 1905. The cost of this 10 mile journey was 10d including the toll to cross Tuckton Bridge.
• Leased to Bournemouth Corporation Tramways from 22nd June 1905 for 30 years until final closure on 7^th June 1935 and replaced by Hants & Dorset buses.
• Gauge:- 3ft 6in
• Length:- 3.75 miles from Poole Railway Station to County Gates
• Livery:- Cambridge Blue & White

Poole around 1901 (Second batch car Nos. 12 to 17)

Bournemouth Corporation Tramways

Following the granting of the Poole & District Light Railway Order in 1899, BET again applied for powers to construct and run services in the Bournemouth area. Bournemouth by this time had started to realise that there was to be a need for this form of transport in the town, and proposed it’s own tramway system.

On the 4^th of May 1900 (the same day work started on the Poole to County Gates line), when both proposals were submitted to the Council, ‘The Christchurch and Bournemouth Tramways Act, 1900’, but the Bournemouth Corporation had precedence over BET, who would only get to exercise powers if the Corporation failed to construct the tramway themselves within two years.

Work eventually started on the Landsdowne to Pokesdown route and was eventually opened on the 23^rd July 1902, but there were numerous objections and legal hearings to follow, with even preparations being made to take the case to the House of Lords. Eventually plans were drawn up to dispose of the Poole system to the Corporation. Poole Council proposed that if BET sold the system, they should be allowed to purchase it themselves and lease it back to the Corporation. In 1903 this matter went to arbitration, and by the end of 1904 Bournemouth Corporation gained control of the whole system (both built or planned) for £112,000 plus arbitration costs of £5,850 making a total of £117,850. This cost also gave BET the right to construct tramways in Bournemouth and Christchurch. Poole Council were allowed to purchase their section of lines and lease them back to Bournemouth for 30 years which helped Bournemouth financially. Bournemouth officially took over the Poole system on the 22^nd June 1905.

• Opened:- 23^rd July 1902 with conduit operation in central Bournemouth only until 12^th May 1911 with cars running on the overhead from 13^th May 1911.
• The first through tramcar between Poole and Bournemouth ran on 3^rd July 1905.
• The first through tramcar between Poole Railway Station and Christchurch Priory ran on the 17^th October 1905. The cost of this 10 mile journey was 10d which including the �d toll charge to cross Tuckton Bridge.
• Progressively replaced by trolley buses on various routes which ran from 13^th May 1933 to 30^th April 1969
• Closed:- 8^th April 1936
• Gauge:- 3ft 6in
• Length:- 16.11 miles
• Livery:- Chocolate and Primrose Yellow

  Opening Dates Of Tram Routes

  Route	Date Opened	Notes
  Poole to County Gates (Via Upper Parkstone)	6th April 1901	Closed 7th June 1935
  Landsdowne to Pokesdown (Via Christchurch Rd & Boscombe)	23rd July 1902	Extended to Christchurch in 1905
  Landsdowne to Boscombe (Via Holdenhurst Rd & Ashley Rd)	16th October 1902	Converted to Trolley Buses
  Landsdowne to Westbourne (County Gates) (Via the Square)	18th Dec 1902	Converted to Trolley Buses
  Top of Richmond Hill to Capstone Road	22nd Dec 1902	Extended to the Square in 1903 Closed 22nd August 1935
  Landsdowne to Cemetery Junction	3rd January 1903	Converted to Trolley Buses
  Cemetery Junction to Winton	17th January 1903	Extended to Moordown in 1903
  Winton to Moordown	22nd January 1903	Converted to Trolley Buses
  The Square to the top of Holdenhurst Road	16th April 1903	Closed 22nd August 1935
  Pokesdown to Christchurch extension	17th October 1905	Converted to Trolley Buses
  Pottery Junction to Poole Park (Via Lower Parkstone)	3rd August 1906	Closed 5th January 1929

  Ticket Prices

  • Passengers travelling on journeys for which the fare was in excess of 5d were issued with two tickets. Poole to Bournemouth Square 5d.
  • The Tuckton Bridge opened on 17^th October 1905.
  • Bournemouth Square to Christchurch 5d (inclusive of the Tuckton Bridge Toll the ticket included a note that it included the toll).
  • Tuckton Bridge East to Christchurch 1d.
  • Tuckton Bridge West to Christchurch 1d (inclusive of the Tuckton Bridge Toll with a Pink Ticket).

  

  Tram No.108, built in 1921, seen here in Upper Parkstone.