THERE was an outcry half a century ago over what an Evening Echo headline referred to as the “Hengistbury trackless train plan”.

But while residents’ groups, and councillors in neighbouring Christchurch, were up in arms, the Hengistbury Head land train went on to become a local institution.

“You may be able to take a train to Hengistbury Head next summer,” the Echo reported on December 27, 1967.

“Bournemouth Town Council will be recommended on January 2 to accept a tender for mechanically driven trackless trains to run from Double Dykes to the Sandspit between April 1 and September 30.”

The council had decided to ban private cars from the head but needed an alternative form of transport, especially for people carrying luggage a mile or so to the beach huts on the sandspit.

The idea would help combat erosion, which was being recognised as a serious problem at Hengistbury Head.

When it went before Bournemouth councillors, the plan for a land train was refused, then approved, then deferred for further consideration and finally approved again.

In Christchurch, meanwhile, it was claimed that councillors were “shocked” at the decision to stop cars and allow a train.

Cllr William Bentley told Christchurch Citizens’ Association: “I am sure we all have our personal views on this toy-town train and personally I don’t think much of it.”

In March 1968, Hengistbury Head Residents’ Association unanimously opposed the new service, arguing it was not suitable for the head.

But on April 1, 1968, the first ‘Noddy’ train ran between Double Dykes car park and Mudeford Sandbanks. “Noddy train sets off,” the Echo headline ran.

“Bournemouth’s controversial trackless ‘Noddy’ train was going ‘full steam ahead’ at Hengistbury Head today’,” the paper reported.

Roger Faris and his wife Joyce paid Bournemouth Corporation £750 for the chance to operate the experimental six-month service.

Parks inspector Alf Little quit his job after the train was introduced, telling the Echo: “I was in charge of the gate and issuing all the permits for the cars to go down to the chalets. At the moment I am a sort of referee, just staying by the gate to deal with problems and queries as they arise, and patrolling the area.”

He stressed he was not against the train itself,while his boss, the director of parks, said to the Echo; “I have no knowledge of it. What concern is it of yours?”

In its early days, the train experienced vandalism and sabotage. Sharpened roofing nails left in its path caused eight punctures.

One objection came from as far afield as Venezuela, where Hilary Brooke of the Institute of Geography and Conservation at the University of the Andes said the council should have “a strict plan for multiple, cooperative use of the whole harbour area”, which “should not include a vague policy for an indeterminate number of trackless trains”.

Southbourne Ratepayers’ Association was still opposing the train that July, but when the council voted in November on approving the train for another three years, only six councillors opposed it.

By that time, it was agreed that the trains should have roomier carriages, doors, windows and some suspension. A shelter would be added at Mudeford.

The Farises would also pay £1,000 a year for the rights to run the service.

In August 1977, the Echo reported on the trains’ successful ninth season. Roger Faris, proprietor of what was officially called the Hengistbury Head Transport Service, said; “We carry a quarter of a million passengers a year now.”

The paper noted that the Road Research Laboratory was delighted with the results of replacing cars with the train. Efforts to protect both the natural environment and the Iron Age earthwork of Double Dykes were increasingly important.

“There’s not much doubt about it,” Mr Faris said then. “The Noddy trains, as they are known, are playing a conservation role. They prevent people from trampling about on Hengistbury Head and encouraging the erosion.”

Roger Faris died in 1990 but Joyce kept the land train going in his memory.

But there was an outcry in 2014, when Bournemouth council planned to terminate the contract and run its own service instead.

The resulting row gained national publicity when Blur musician Alex James – who grew up in Bournemouth – raised it on his Classic FM show.

The father-of-five told the Daily Echo: “I used to love riding on the Noddy train when I was a kid and I’ve taken my own children on it – and they love it too.”

After 20,000 people signed a petition, the borough decided to renew the contract for three years. However, Joyce – who is now in her 90s – retired the following year and the council took up the service.

It runs the trains that have delighted families for generations, pulled by the three engines Dunlin (green), Mallard (orange) and Shelduck (blue).

n An exhibition celebrating 50 years of the land train continues at Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre until August 5, with a ‘selfie station’ where you can be pictured driving the train. Photos can be uploaded at visithengistburyhead.co.uk