THE LOSS OF AN ICON
As the 120-year-old operation comes to an end, MARK LYONS looks over its history, and the wider industry’s response to the news
Bournemouth Corporation Transport ran trolleybuses from 1933 – 1969. Its fleet included the last new trolleybuses built for a UK operator, 39 Weymannbodied Sunbeam MF2Bs delivered between 1958 and 1962. In common with most Bournemouth Corporation buses, these buses featured dual rear entrance / front exit and twin staircases.
THE BUS ARCHIVE
Less than a week after the appointment of administrators on July 29 (News, last month) Bournemouth-based Bournemouth Transport Ltd, which traded as Yellow Buses, had ceased operating.
Services ended at around 18:00 on August 4 and all vehicles returned to the depot. Hopes that a large national group, now known to be National Express, might acquire the 125 vehicle operation as a going concern were dashed. Leased vehicles have returned to their owners and a number have been offered for sale by auction. Other buses have been acquired by Ensignbus for onward sale.
