Bournemouth trolleybuses - five things you may not know

To mark this grand occasion, the Daily Echo has prepared five facts you may – or may not – know about the much-loved but long-lost service.

1. Trolleybuses entered service 90 years ago

From Westbourne to Christchurch and north to Wallisdown and Castle Lane, they had been known as the town's "silent service" for 36 years.

It was on May 13, 1933, that the much-loved public vehicles made their debut in the town and gradually replaced its trams.

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2. They became very popular - although popularity did decline

The popularity of trolleybuses grew rapidly and so did the network. In the year ending March 1937, the vehicles carried 26.3 million passengers. Just 10 years later, the figure had risen to 42.7 million.

But by 1957, usage was clearly on the decline - numbers dipped to 29 million.

3. Motorbuses and private car ownership to blame for the decline

Times were changing in favour of motorbuses. Spares for the existing fleet were more difficult to come by, the overhead wiring was costly, and private car ownership was beginning to rise rapidly.

The trolleybuses were out phased by diesel-powered buses in much the same way as they had to the tram system 30 years prior. But by the 1960s they had become uneconomical to run and maintain.

4. The end came in April 1969

By 1969, the end had finally come, and April 19 was the last day of scheduled services.

That Sunday, a procession of 17 buses left the Pier Approach at 3pm for a farewell trip through the town.

5. More than half a dozen have been preserved

Around 70 trolleybuses had already been disposed of, most of them to be scrapped, leaving fewer than at the depot. At least six were preserved.

Two can be found at East Anglia Transport Museum, with two Sunbeam MF2B trolleybuses and one other at The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft. One is in private ownership in England while the National Transport Museum of Ireland is home to another.