| 1908 Bournemouth Tramway accident | |
|---|---|
 Avenue Road next toBournemouth Gardens, the scene of the crash pictured in 2010. | |
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| Details | |
| Date | 1 May 1908 (1908-05-01) |
| Location | Bournemouth,England |
| Coordinates | 50°43′17″N1°52′59″W / 50.721266°N 1.883169°W /50.721266; -1.883169 |
| Country | England |
| Operator | Bournemouth Corporation Tramways |
| Cause | Brake failure |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Deaths | 7 |
| Injured | 26 |
The1908 Bournemouth Tramway accident was a fataltram accident which occurred on 1 May 1908 in the town ofBournemouth,Hampshire (but now inDorset),England.[1] 7 passengers were killed and dozens were injured in the deadliest incident on Bournemouth's tram network.[2]
On the west side ofThe Square, the double track tram lines split at the east end of Poole Hill: the westbound line took the more direct route up the steep Commercial Road; while the eastbound line turned left at the Triangle, and then right into Avenue Road in order to reduce the downhill gradient.[3] At this point in time, the tram lines in and approaching the square were equipped forconduit current collection, not overhead wires.[4][5]
Bournemouth Corporation Tramways tram car No. 72 was travelling down Avenue Road in theTown Centre towardsThe Square. Down the hill, the tram gained dangerous speed. The tram failed to navigate a sharp curve and derailed crossing the pavement and falling 20 feet (6.1 m) down an embankment into the garden of a house called Fairlight Glen,[4] adjacent toBournemouth Gardens. The tram ended up on its side.[6][7] The driver William Wilton was badly injured but helped to rescue his passengers from the wreckage.
A Board of Trade investigation found that a brake failure was to blame for the crash, as wasBournemouth Corporation Tramways.
The management of the tram system had been split among various departments of Bournemouth Corporation. As a consequence of the accident, management was consolidated under a new tramway general manager, with Charles W. Hill being the first incumbent.[4]
Tram 72, which had been built byBrush Traction in 1906, was recovered and repaired, but the re-entered service as 71; the previous 71 being renumbered 82 to facilitate this.[8]
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‡ indicates railway accidents and incidents resulting in at least 20 fatalities § indicates the deadliest railway accident in British history 1815–1899   2000–present | |
