Martin Curtis reports from Bristol, where an important part of not just the city’s, but the nation’s transport heritage was founded 150 years ago
The Bristol Tramways Company, one of the oldest established transport organisations in the country, began operations at 12 noon on 9 August 1875. As one of several events to mark the occasion, at precisely 12 noon on 9 August this year, a convoy of buses travelled past the city’s Upper Maudlin Street/Perry Road Junction, the exact location where Bristol’s first horse tram was photographed 150 years earlier. Several of the surrounding buildings remain identifiable today. Among the buses was a brand new electric double-decker from First Bus, which is a direct successor of Bristol Tramways.
Driven by Sharon Britton, the brand new bus represents the progress of 150 years, and is the very latest design joining Bristol’s bus fleet. It is finished in West of England Combined Authority green livery as promoted by the new WECA (West of England Combined Authority) Mayor.
The Tramways company was also later known as Bristol Omnibus Company for many years, while its bus manufacturing department became Bristol Commercial Vehicles and supplied operators throughout the country.
The buses taking part were:
● Brand new Yutong U11DD 30100
(YH25 DFE);
● 1948 all-Bristol L-type 2388
(LHT 911);
● 1961 Bristol/ECW MW bus 2514 (536 JHU);
● 1966 Bristol/ECW Greyhound
coach 2150 (FHW 156D);
● 1973 Bristol/ECW RELL 1332
(OAE 954 M); and
● 1980 Bristol/ECW VRT/SL 5150
(AHW 201V).
Other than the Yutong, these were all from the former Bristol Tramways or Bristol Omnibus fleet with Bristol-built chassis.
