Incredible images of our Yellow Buses through the years

The tramway company that later became Yellow Buses started trading in July 1902.

Included in this collection of pictures is an early photo of Tramcar No 1 – a saloon, single-decker known as the Mayor’s Car.

The tram was furnished with Bentwood chairs, thick red pile carpet, and deep cream curtains and used for special occasions.

By 1906 the tramway system had reached its full quota so the first bus services started as ‘feeders’ to the tram. They were expanded only on this basis until 1930 when the bus fleet was doubled as Kinson and Holdenhurst were subsumed into the County Borough of Bournemouth.

A trolley bus ran experimentally for the first time in 1933, and the entire tramway system switched to trolley buses over the next few years.

During the First World War, eleven Bournemouth Corporation employees died, and one of these photos was taken at a remembrance service. The company’s canteen had a wooden plaque engraved with all their names.

There is also a picture showing a bus that was converted to run on coal gas during the First World War. In the Second World War, the same thing happened.

Another snap shows a bus from 1937 decorated with more than 1,000 lamps to mark the coronation of George VI and his wife Elizabeth.

Other photographs show trolleybuses in the centre of Bournemouth with Second World War bomb damage still visible.

The war years saw a large-scale replacement of the fleet and expansion, but by the end of May 1950, petrol was de-rationed and private motoring grew in popularity. There was consequently a decline in the use of public transport.

The trolleybuses ran until 1969 when the overhead wires were cut down.

In 1985, Bournemouth Transport became a private limited company with the shares mostly owned by the Borough of Bournemouth.

As competition began to appear in 1986, the company successfully fought off the various competitors, even taking one over in the process.

1990 marked the change from primrose yellow and maroon to primrose and azure blue.

Yellow Buses were sold by Bournemouth Borough Council to Transdev in late 2005, and in early in 2006, the company moved from its home of 53 years in Mallard Road to a £5m purpose-built facility on Yeomans Way.

During 2009 and 2010, Yellow Buses were shortlisted for and won the prestigious 'Shire Operator of the Year' award.

Additionally, the Yellows won the Route One Large Bus Operator Of Excellence award in 2010.