In Pictures: The Electric Idea – Bournemouth

It has been 85 years since trams last ran in Bournemouth but they are not completely forgotten in the south coast town with a sculpture using rediscovered parts of the Conduit system having been in situ since July 2015. Designed by Karen Hansen “The Electric Idea” can be found on Horseshoe Common off Old Christchurch Road.

Trams in Bournemouth started operation in 1902 but the local authority didn’t want “unsightly” overhead wires in Bournemouth town centre and so the conduit system was used between Landsdowne via the Square to the top of Poole Hill. This section of track opened on 18th December 1902 but it proved a difficult system for Bournemouth and standard overhead wires were installed in May 1911. Trams continued to run until 1936 with replacement by trolleybuses following.

Some of the cast iron yokes used for the conduit system – which were set every 3 foot 9 inches – were discovered again during a redevelopment of the traffic system around Horseshoe Common in 2014. These were then used for this special sculpture which seeks to highlight the importance of the development of new clean ways of transport both then and now.

“The Electric Idea” can be found on Horseshoe Common off Old Christchurch Road in Bournemouth.

The sculpture is seen here with the inscription “CAN DO IT. CONDUIT. TOGETHER. TO GET HERE.”

The opposite side of the inscription says “TRAMWAYS. THE ELECTRIC IDEA”. The cast iron yokes are seen supporting the piece of art. (Both Photographs by Roy Calderwood, 17th July 2021)

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