Northampton's Trams and Buses: A Journey Through Time

David Beddall

Nov 2023 · Pen and Sword Transport

About this ebook

Northampton, the county town of Northamptonshire, is rich in transport history. 1880 saw several tram routes commence operation within the Northampton Borough, being operated by the Northampton Street Tramway Company. After this, public transport in the town began to develop. The tram network being electrified in 1901. The 1910s saw a number of independent bus operators begin to link Northampton with the surrounding villages, introducing motor bus operation into the town. Over the years, Northampton has been home to numerous independent bus and coach operators. Two major operators also served the town, Northampton Corporation Transport (later Northampton Transport and First Northampton) and United Counties / Stagecoach Midlands.

Northampton’s Trams and Buses explores the development of the tram network within Northampton, as well as exploring how bus services in the Northampton, Wootton, Hardingstone and Moulton areas of Northamptonshire have developed from the early 1900s to 2021.

About the author

The author's interest in buses and coaches began at age 7. Growing up in Kempston, just outside Bedford, United Counties was his local bus company. Spending most Saturdays at Bedford bus station noting the comings and goings of the United Counties fleet, this grew his interest further. Twenty-three years later, his interest in buses has expanded to the whole of the United Kingdom, in particular London and of course Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire.