Topics

Buses and Trams

PCRO DR/P/88

Portsmouth had many independant companies providing transport links across the town ranging from horse buses and electric trams to motorbuses.

Portsmouth corporation took control over the transport infrastructure on the 24^th September 1901

In 1934 the portsmouth corporation began to replace the prevailing tram system with trollybuses.

On the 8^th June 1988 Portsmouth Council released control of the public transport system.

PCRO DR/P/27

PCRO DR/P/31

PCRO DR/P/52

Comments

“There were trolley buses with big long poles which went down the side of the bus on each side. At Copnor road, the bus had to turn round, and to do this you had to take the poles down or they fell off. It would use batteries to turn the buses round then the poles would have to be put back up. Cars and people had to get out of their way. It was the cheapest form of transport on the road and there was no exhaust. People used to jump on the buses. It was the No. 12 that went to Copnor Road.”- A Portsmouth resident.

“There used to be a tram system in Portsmouth. Lord Hawhaw said, in his radio propaganda, you should not bother with tram lines in Portsmouth as we’re going to blow them up”. - A Portsmouth resident.

( Lord Haw-Haw was the nickname of several announcers on the English-language propaganda radio programme Germany Calling, broadcast by Nazi German radio to audiences in Great Britain. )

 Follow the link below for more information http://www.petergould.co.uk/local_transport_history/fleetlists/portsmouth1.htm