West Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

CONTENTS

West Hartlepool Corporation Transport - Fleet History 1912-1967...... … Page 3 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport - Fleet List 1912-1927...... … Page 8 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport - Fleet List 1924-1953… Page 13 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport - Bus Fleet List 1920-1967...... … Page 19

Cover Illustration: West Hartlepool 37, EEF37D, was a Leyland L1 Leopard with an Eastern Coachworks B42D body. (John Kaye).

First Published 2015 by the Local Transport History Library.

With thanks to Hartlepool Library Services, Donald Hudson, Roy Marshall and John Kaye for illustrations.

© The Local Transport History Library 2015. (www.lthlibrary.org.uk) For personal use only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise for commercial gain without the express written permission of the publisher. In all cases this notice must remain intact. All rights reserved.

PDF-058-1

2 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

Although proposals for a tramway to connect the two towns of West Hartlepool and Hartlepool were put forward during the early 1880's it was not until November 1883 that construction commenced. Authorised by the Hartlepool Tramways Order of 1883, it was built to a gauge of 3ft 6ins, and operated by the Steam Tramways Company Ltd. The first section constructed was a single-track line from Northgate, in Hartlepool, and travelled via Millbank Crescent, Cleveland Road (where, at the junction with Hart Road, it passed the depot) and Clarence Road, terminating in Church Street, West Hartlepool. It opened on 2nd August 1884 and the initial services were worked by two steam locomotives (Nos. 1-2), hauling top-covered double-deck trailers (probably also numbered 1-2), all of which were built by Falcon. More Falcon-built locos (Nos. 3-6) and trailers (probably Nos. 3-6) arrived in the following years, although three of the locos (Nos. 1-3) had been withdrawn by the end of 1885. The tramway was not a financial success, possibly because the remaining authorised sections were never constructed, and it closed in 1891.

Four years later, on the 28th February 1895, the General Electric Tramways Company was registered to rebuild the disused steam tramway as an electric traction system under the Hartlepool Electric Tramways Order of the same year.

On the 19th May 1896 the line was re-opened, worked by five (Nos. 1-5) Milnes open-top double-deck cars, and a new depot constructed on Cleveland Road at Greenland. Later that year, on the 15th October, the Hartlepool Electric Tramways Company Limited was registered in order to construct the remaining sections of the

3 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967 authorised routes and in 1897 work began. In January 1899 the Hartlepool Electric Tramways Company gained control of the whole system when its parent company (the British Electric Traction Company) purchased the General Electric Tramways Company. By the 10th March 1899 the first of the newly constructed sections, from Clarence Road to Foggy Furze along Stockton Street, and a branch from Stockton Street to via Grange Road were ready for opening. Five Brush-built open-top double-deck cars (Nos. 11-15) inaugurated the service.

On 28th March 1902 a 2¼-mile extension from Church Street to , via Seaton Road and travelling as a reserved track along the seafront, was opened. This necessitated the purchase of four additional cars (Nos. 16-19) built by the Electric Railway and Tramway Carriage Works, followed shortly afterwards by two (Nos. 20-21) Brush bogie open-top double-deckers.

The Company continued to operate the system until 31st August 1912 when, after three years of negotiations, West Hartlepool Corporation purchased the parts of the tramway that lay within its boundaries, although the section within Hartlepool re- mained in Company ownership until 1925 (when it was bought by Hartlepool Corpora- tion) and had to be leased. In 1914 five new UEC-built open-top double-deck cars (Nos. 1-5) joined the fleet, followed in 1920 by six Brush-built open-top double- deckers (Nos. 27-32). In 1923, two cars (Nos 8-9) were rebuilt with new English Electric open-top double-deck bodies, although by this time the decision had already been taken to abandon the tramway in favour of .

4 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

After early experiments with motorbuses on a local route in July 1920, West Hartlepool inaugurated its first regular motorbus service on 4th April 1921, jointly with Middles- brough Corporation, between Seaton Carew and Port Clarence, via the Tees Transport- er Bridge. Five AEC YD types were used (Nos. 1-5), which were subsequently converted to front entrance layout when the route became one-man operated in 1925. relinquished their share of this route in 1927.

On the 4th October 1923, the Foggy Furze ceased running, to be temporarily replaced by motorbuses until the trolleybuses began running the following year. The Ward Jackson Park line closed in November 1925, followed by the Hartlepool line on 22nd February 1927. One month later, on 25th March 1927, the Seaton Carew line closed bringing the tramway era to an end in the Hartlepools.

Although the trolleybus network mirrored the former tramway routes, complications arose when the through route to Hartlepool was converted, as Hartlepool themselves wished to use motorbuses, and had obtained powers to operate them in 1925. Protracted negotiations resulted in Hartlepool purchasing the tramway within their boundary and obtaining powers to operate trolleybuses (which they did under the Hartlepool Corporation Trolley Vehicles Act of 1926). Subsequently West Hartlepool operated and maintained the service on behalf of both authorities, although both parties nominally jointly owned the trolleybuses used. Hartlepool Corporation agreed to pay half the running costs in return for half the revenue. The first trolleybuses were four (Nos. 1-4) 4-wheel vehicles with Short Brothers 36-seat bodywork,

5 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967 followed by two similar vehicles (Nos. 5-6) and a double-deck version (No. 7) in 1926. The first jointly owned vehicles were twelve Straker-Clough single-deckers (Nos. 8-19) in 1927, replaced by more jointly owned Daimler vehicles (Nos. 32-39) in 1938. These vehicles bore the armorial devices of both boroughs on their side panels.

After the cessation of World War II, West Hartlepool decided to replace the trolleybus- es with motorbuses, much to the annoyance of Hartlepool Corporation. In 1949 the first trolleybus route, to Seaton Carew was abandoned and replaced by West Hartle- pool motorbuses, with the other following afterwards. By April 1953, only the joint service between the two boroughs remained and on the 3rd April the trolleybuses on this route were replaced by motorbuses. At this juncture Hartlepool Corporation decided to exercise its powers obtained in 1925 and purchased four buses to operate jointly on the route, which it continued to do so until 1967.

In 1950, a batch of 15 (Nos. 65-79) Leyland PD2's with Leyland H30/26R bodywork were delivered enabling the trolleybus conversion to proceed.

By now the bus network had been largely established and remained fairly static, other than changes in frequency and minor route variations, until the middle of the 1960's, when West Hartlepool, in common with most other operators, began to suffer from a decline in passenger numbers and, as a result, the Corporation decided to introduce one-man operation. The first services to commence one-man operation were the Church Street to Park, via Grange Road service (No. 2), and the Church Street to West

6 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

Park, via Elwick Road service (No. 3) on the 5th March 1964. Five Leyland Leopard L1's (Nos. 19-23), with Strachan bodywork were used to inaugurate the services. Over the next few years more services were converted to one-man operation and more single-deckers purchased, with the intention of completely replacing the double-deck fleet.

On the 1st April 1967 the two boroughs of West Hartlepool and Hartlepool were merged to form a single new authority, the of Hartlepool and the fleets of both undertakings were merged, bringing to an end the separate municipal operations of West Hartlepool Corporation Transport after little under 55 years.

7 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

Tram Fleet List 1912-1927

This listing is in the format - Fleet No; Type; Trucks; Body; Seating.

1912

5-7; Double-deck open-top 4-wheel; Taylor; Milnes; 22/18 8; Double-deck open-top bogie; Brush B; Milnes/HETC; 42/42 9; Double-deck open-top bogie; Brill 22E; Milnes/HETC; 42/42 10; Double-deck open-top bogie; Milnes; Milnes; 62 11-15; Double-deck open-top 4-wheel; Brush; Brush; 24/22 16-19; Double-deck open-top 4-wheel; Brill 21E; ERTCW; 45 20-21; Double-deck open-top bogie; Brill 22E; Brush; 65 22-25; Double-deck open-top bogie; Brill 22E; ERTCW; 70

Nos. 5-7, 8, 9, 10, 11-15, 16-19, 20-21, 22-25 ex-Hartlepool Electric Tramways Company (new 1896, 1903, 1904, 1897, 1899, 1901, 1900, 1902 respectively). No. 5 re-numbered 26 in 1914. Nos. 8, 10 re-trucked with new UEC 22E bogies in 1914. No. 9 re-trucked with Brush 22E bogies in 1920. Withdrawn between 1921 and 1927 (5[26], 6-7, 10-25), 1923 (8-9).

8 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

West Hartlepool Corporation inherited this 1897 Milnes-built car No. 10 from the Hartlepool Electric Tramways Company in 1912. (Hartlepool Library Services). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

No. 23 was a 1902 car built by the Electric Railway and Tramway Carriage Works of Preston on Brill trucks that also came with the acquisition of the Hartlepool Tramways Company. (Hartlepool Library Services). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1914

1-5; Double-deck open-top 4-wheel; UEC; UEC; 35/23

Withdrawn 1927 (1-5).

1920

27-32; Double-deck open-top bogie; Brush 22E; Brush; 39/34

Withdrawn 1926 (29, 32), 1927 (27-28, 30-31).

1923

8-9; Double-deck open-top bogie; UEC 22E; English Electric; 38/28

Nos. 8-9 fitted with UEC trucks from former Nos. 8-9. Withdrawn 1927 (8-9).

11 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

West Hartlepool Corporation purchased six tramcars in 1920 to replace some of the original cars on the system, which had been worked hard during the First World War. Car No. 30 was a Brush built car on Brush 22E trucks. (Hartlepool Library Services). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

Trolleybus Fleet List 1924-1953

This listing is in the format - Fleet No; Reg. No; Chassis; Chassis No; Body; Seating.

1924

1-4; EF2121-2124; Railless; - ; Short; B36F

Withdrawn 1930 (1-4).

1926

5-6; EF3025-3026; Railless; - ; Short; B36C 7; EF3027; Railless; - ; Short; O26/22RO

Withdrawn 1928 (7), 1937 (5), 1938 (6).

13 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

West Hartlepool Corporation Railless trolley- bus No.1 with Short Brothers bodywork en route to the delightfully named Foggy Furze circa 1927. (Hartlepool Library Service). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1927

8-19; EF3358-3369; Straker-Clough LL; LL65-66/68/67/72/69/71/70/75/ 74/73/76; Vickers; B32C 20-31; EF3370-3381; Garrett; 0313/12/14/16-17/15/18/22/21/1920/23; Roe; B32C

Nos. 8-19 were jointly owned with Hartlepool Borough Council. Withdrawn 1937 (9-11, 21, 27, 29-30), 1938 (8, 12-13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22-23, 25, 31), 1939 (14, 16, 24, 26, 28), 1940 (18).

1938

1-6; EF6701-6706; Daimler CTM4; 20005/03-04/07-08/06; Roe; H29/24R 32-39; EF6892-6899; Daimler CTM4; 20009-16; Roe; H29/24R

Nos. 32-39 were jointly owned with Hartlepool Borough Council. Withdrawn 1953 (1-6, 32-39).

1939

7-9; EF7037-7039; Leyland TB7; 301848-50; Roe; B32C

Withdrawn 1950 (7-9)

15 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

No. 8 (EF3358) was a Straker-Clough with Vickers bodywork in the joint ownership of the Hartlepool and West Hartlepool Corporations and wore both corporations' insignia. For management and operation they were treated as a part of the West Hartlepool undertaking. (Hartlepool Library Service). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

Towards the end of 1938, eight Daimler CTM double-deck trolleybuses with Roe bodywork replaced the earlier vehicles operated jointly by the Hartlepool and West Hartlepool Corporations on the Hartlepool route. This view shows No. 34 (EF 6894) in Church Street about 1952. (Hartlepool Library Service). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

West Hartlepool Corporation Leyland TB7 trolleybus No. 8 (EF 7038) stands outside the Roe factory in 1939 when new. (Hartlepool Library Service). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

Bus Fleet List 1920-1967

This listing is in the format - Fleet No; Reg. No; Chassis; Chassis No; Body; Seating.

1920

1; EF1122; AEC YD; 15310; Fry; B29R 2; EF1146; AEC YD; 15309; Fry; B29R 3; EF1185; AEC YD; 15308; Fry; B29R 4; EF1153; AEC YD; 15311; Fry; B29R 5; EF1186; AEC YD; 15307; Fry; B29R

Nos. 1-5 rebuilt to B26F in 1922 or 1923. One vehicle (probably No. 1) was re-numbered 14 in 1927. Withdrawn 1925 or 1926 (2-3), 1927 (1[14?], 4-5).

19 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

This is the only known photograph of any of the five AEC YD 32-seat single deck motor buses purchased by West Hartlepool Corporation in 1920. This is No. 4 (EF 1153), at the Seaton Carew terminus in the early 1920s. (Hartlepool Library Service). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1924

6; EF2240; Ford T; ? ; ? ; B14F

Withdrawn 1926 (6).

1925

7-10; EF2807-2810; Bristol 2-ton; 0246/38/53/44; Bristol; FB24F

Withdrawn 1929 (10), 1932 (7-9).

1926

2-3; EF3252-3253; Bristol 4-ton; 1743-44; Bristol; B30F

Nos. 2-3 probably rebuilt and re-seated to B26D c. 1931. Withdrawn 1935 (2-3).

21 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

Two Bristol 4-ton vehicles with Bristol 30-seat bodies were added to the West Hartlepool Corporation fleet in 1926. No. 3 (EF 3253) is seen here when new, posed at The Green, Seaton Carew. (Hartlepool Library Service). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1927

1; EF3461; Bristol B; B129; Roe; B29D 4-6; EF3464-3466; Bristol B; B127/30-31; Roe; B29D 11-13; EF3471-3473; Bristol B; B138/37/39; Bristol; B29D

Nos. 1, 4-6, 11-13 rebuilt by Bristol to B31F in 1934; Nos. 1, 4-6 re-numbered 17-20 respectively in 1937. Withdrawn 1939 (1[17], 4-6[18-20], 11-13).

1928

14-17; EF3714-3717; Bristol B; B248/46-47/49; Roe; B31F

Withdrawn 1934 (16), 1935 (14, 17), 1937 (15).

1931

18-19; EF4738-4739; Daimler CH6; 9058-59; Hoyal; H26/22R

Nos. 18-19 re-numbered 8-9 respectively in 1934. Withdrawn 1945 (19[9]), 1946 (18[8]).

23 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

One of West Hartlepool Corporation's first double-deck motor buses. The panels of these vehicles were of aluminium, unpainted and buffed to produce an a striped effect. No. 18 (EF 4738), a Daimler CH6 with Hoyal 48-seat body, is outside the Yorkshire Penny Bank in Church Street in 1931. (Hartlepool Library Service). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1934

7; EF5387; Daimler CP6; 9191; Roe; H26/22R 10; EF5390; Daimler CP6; 9192; Roe; H26/22R

Withdrawn 1948 (7, 10).

1935

14; EF5634; Bristol JNW; JNW52; Bristol; B36F 16; EF5636; Bristol JNW; JNW53; Bristol; B36F

Nos. 14, 16 re-seated to B32F at a later date. Withdrawn 1943 (14), 1947 (16).

1936

2-3; EF5892-5893; Daimler COG5; 9541-42; Roe; H26/22R

Withdrawn 1948 (2-3).

25 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

Two Bristol JNW types with Bristol 36-seat single-deck bodies were purchased in 1935. Seen here at the builder's premises is No. 14 (EF 5634). No photographs are known of these vehicles in service. (Hartlepool Library Service). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1937

1; EF6321; Daimler COG5; 9948; Roe; FH26/22C 4-6; EF6324-6326; Daimler COG5; 9949/67-68; Roe; FH26/22C

No. 6 rebuilt as half-cab in 1946. Withdrawn 1948 (4), 1949 (1, 5-6).

1938

21-24; EF6721-6724; Daimler COG5; 10324-27; Roe; FH26/22C 25-26; EF6725-6726; Daimler COG5/40; 8371-72; Roe; FB35F

No. 22 rebuilt as half-cab in 1947. Withdrawn 1950 (21-24), 1955 (25-26).

1939

27-33; EF7027-7033; Daimler COG5; 10814-20; Roe; H26/22C

Withdrawn 1950 (27-33).

27 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

West Hartlepool Corporation Daimler COG5 No. 26 (EF 6726), shown here in Church Square in 1951 on the Park circular service which had started in 1948. (Alan B. Cross collection via Hartlepool Library Service). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

No. 29 (EF 7029) a 1939 Daimler COG5 with Roe bodywork, parked in the United Bus Station, West Hartlepool, circa 1949. (Roy Marshall collection). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1942

34-35; EF7378-7379; AEC Regent; 06617256/59; Roe; H26/22C 36; EF7380; Leyland TD7; 307898; Roe; H26/22C 37; EF7407; Guy Arab I; FD25523; Massey; H30/26R 39-40; EF7408-7409; Bedford OWB; 8873/9308; SMT; B32F

Withdrawn 1947 (39-40), 1953 (37), 1958 (34-36).

1943

38; EF7422; Guy Arab I; FD25676; Weymann; H30/26R 42-43; EF7442-7443; Guy Arab II; FD26313/31; Pickering; H30/26R

Withdrawn 1953 (38, 42-43).

1944

41; EF7453; Guy Arab II; FD26751; Massey; H30/26R

Withdrawn 1953 (41).

30 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

No. 36 (EF7380) is a 1942 Leyland TD7 with Roe 48-seat bodywork. This vehicle is now in preservation. (LTHL collection). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1945

44; EF7483; Daimler CWA6; 12107; Brush; H30/26R

Withdrawn 1958 (44).

1946

45-47; EF7529-7531; Daimler CWD6; 12512/30-31; Massey; H30/26R

Withdrawn 1957 (45), 1958 (46-47).

1947

11-15; EF7939-7943; Daimler CWD6; 13365-69; Roe; H28/22C 17-20; EF7944-7947; Daimler CWD6; 13370-73; Roe; H28/22C

Withdrawn 1958 (11, 20), 1960 (13-15, 17), 1961 (12, 18-19).

32 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1948

48-55; EF8282-8289; Daimler CVG6; 13790-95/4207-08; Roe; H28/22C 56; EF8558; Daimler CVG6; 14548; Roe; H31/25R

Nos. 48-55 rebuilt by Roe to H33/26R in 1958. Withdrawn 1962 (49-51, 53), 1963 (54), 1964 (48, 52, 55), 1966 (56).

1949

57-64; EF8994-9001; Daimler CVG6; 14549-56; Roe; H31/25R

Nos. 60-62, 64 to Hartlepool County Borough Transport (Hartlepool CBT) 4/67 (re- taining fleet numbers). Withdrawn 1964 (63), 1965 (57-58), 1966 (59).

1950

65-79; EF9585-9599; Leyland PD2/3; 502776/958/57/4026/2777/4115/ 14/027/113/247/49-50/48/91/90; Leyland; H30/26R

Nos. 65-70, 72, 74-76, 78-79 to Hartlepool CBT 4/67 (retaining fleet numbers). Withdrawn 1964 (71, 73), 1965 (77).

33 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1953

80-94; AEF580-594; Daimler CVG6; 14557-71; Roe; H31/25R

Nos. 80-94 re-seated to H33/25R between 1961 and 1965; to Hartlepool CBT 4/67 (retaining fleet numbers).

1958

1-7; FEF371-377; Leyland PD2/40; 580766-68/809-12; Roe; H37/28R

Nos. 1-7 to Hartlepool CBT 4/67 (retaining fleet numbers).

1960

8-9; JEF708-709; Leyland PD2/40; 6000980-81; Roe; H37/28R 10-11; JEF910-911; Leyland PD2/40; 601104-05; Roe; H37/28R

Nos. 8-11 to Hartlepool CBT 4/67 (retaining fleet numbers).

34 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

No. 84 (AEF584) was a 1953 Daimler CVG6 with Roe 58-seat bodywork. (Donald Hudson). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

West Hartlepool No. 5 (FEF375) a Leyland Titan PD2/40 built in 1958 with Roe 65-seat bodywork. Roe was chosen for many of the post-war double-deckers in West Hartlepool's fleet - none were front entrance and all were open platform. (Donald Hudson). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1961

12-14; LEF712-714; Leyland PD2/40; 611631-33; Roe; H37/28R

Nos. 12-14 to Hartlepool CBT 4/67 (retaining fleet numbers).

1962

15-18; MEF615-618; Leyland PD2/40; 621012-15; Roe; H37/28R

Nos. 15-18 to Hartlepool CBT 4/67 (retaining fleet numbers).

1964

19-23; PEF19-23; Leyland L1; L03740-41/800-02; Strachan; B45D 24-26; AEF24-26B; Leyland L1; L21714/3600/599; Strachan; B45D 49; MRR309; Leyland PSU1/13; 515015; Leyland; B44F 52; MRR312; Leyland PSU1/13; 515014; Leyland; B44F

Nos. 49, 52 ex-East Midland MS (Nos. R309, R312, new 1952); re-seated to B42F in 1964. Nos. 19-26, 49, 52 to Hartlepool CBT 4/67 (retaining fleet numbers).

37 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

West Hartlepool No. 20 (PEF20) was a 1964 Leyland Leopard L1 with Strachan 45-seat dual-entrance bodywork. (Donald Hudson). West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

1965

27-28; BEF27-28C; Leyland PD2/40; L40470/532; Roe; H37/28R 29-33; CEF29-33C; Leyland L1; L41900-03/11; Strachan; B45D

Nos. 27-33 to Hartlepool CBT 4/67 (retaining fleet numbers).

1967

34-38; EEF34-38D; Leyland L1; L63122-23/451/66/570; ECW; B42D

Nos. 34-38 were delivered in 1966 but did not enter service until 1967; to Hartlepool CBT 4/67 (retaining fleet numbers).

39 West Hartlepool Corporation Transport 1912-1967

Leyland Leopard L1 No. 35 (EEF35D) with ECW 42-seat dual-entrance bodywork delivered in 1966 but did not enter service until 1967 just a few months before the two Hartlepool fleets were merged. (Donald Hudson). © Local Transport History Library 2015

Additional information, corrections and photographs are always welcome. Our general email address is: [email protected].