SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Came across some tram tracks yesterday while walking home from the new kiddies playground at temple newsam. I was a bit supprised to see them on such a steep hill, it must have been one hell of a ride!

I found a picture of almost the same spot on Leodis

As a kid the tram ride from the Shaftesbury along York Road then up Selby Road then off and by the way you mention was always exciting. I can't recall though if they struggled or not up the steep bit as they went to the tram terminus.I saw the last tram run to Templenewsam in 1959 (?) but did not ride on it. One thing I particularly recall about the trams is seeing the miners from the coal mine in Templenewsam still having a covering of coal dust after their shifts (I guess it was hard to fully remove).    

Leodian wrote: As a kid the tram ride from the Shaftesbury along York Road then up Selby Road then off and by the way you mention was always exciting. I can't recall though if they struggled or not up the steep bit as they went to the tram terminus.I saw the last tram run to Templenewsam in 1959 (?) but did not ride on it. One thing I particularly recall about the trams is seeing the miners from the coal mine in Templenewsam still having a covering of coal dust after their shifts (I guess it was hard to fully remove).     Heading out of town, was there a seperate track esch service - Temple Newsam, Crossgates or was there a need to switch points, I don't remember.I do remember watching the last tram in the early evening, from the Crossgates terminus, fully decorated with festoon lights - everyone cheering as it passed by. Comemerative tickets too for the last day??

chameleon wrote: Leodian wrote: As a kid the tram ride from the Shaftesbury along York Road then up Selby Road then off and by the way you mention was always exciting. I can't recall though if they struggled or not up the steep bit as they went to the tram terminus.I saw the last tram run to Templenewsam in 1959 (?) but did not ride on it. One thing I particularly recall about the trams is seeing the miners from the coal mine in Templenewsam still having a covering of coal dust after their shifts (I guess it was hard to fully remove).     Heading out of town, was there a seperate track esch service - Temple Newsam, Crossgates or was there a need to switch points, I don't remember.I do remember watching the last tram in the early evening, from the Crossgates terminus, fully decorated with festoon lights - everyone cheering as it passed by. Comemerative tickets too for the last day?? http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... SPLAY=FULL

Was Temple newsam road was the steepest track in Leeds? Another link to Leodis. http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... SPLAY=FULL The tram had to stop half way down so it could make the right hand bend at the bottom of the hill.

One of my earliest memories is being held in my mothers arms on the back platform of a tram going to Temple Newsam ... as I was born in '56, I'm guessing I can't have been more than 3 or 4 years old! And I still love trams and heritage transport to this day

chameleon wrote: Leodian wrote: As a kid the tram ride from the Shaftesbury along York Road then up Selby Road then off and by the way you mention was always exciting. I can't recall though if they struggled or not up the steep bit as they went to the tram terminus.I saw the last tram run to Templenewsam in 1959 (?) but did not ride on it. One thing I particularly recall about the trams is seeing the miners from the coal mine in Templenewsam still having a covering of coal dust after their shifts (I guess it was hard to fully remove).     Heading out of town, was there a seperate track esch service - Temple Newsam, Crossgates or was there a need to switch points, I don't remember.I do remember watching the last tram in the early evening, from the Crossgates terminus, fully decorated with festoon lights - everyone cheering as it passed by. Comemerative tickets too for the last day?? Hi chameleon. Good question about the switching and I don't know for sure. As far as I recall there was just one set of track coming out of Leeds on that stretch of York Road and one going into Leeds. There must therefore have been a way to switch off onto the Templenewsam or Crossgates run but I don't recall the tram drivers getting off to switch points to do that (perhaps they did). I'm intrigued now. No doubt someone will be able to answer it for definite.

DIVADS wrote: Was Temple newsam road was the steepest track in Leeds? Another link to Leodis. http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... SPLAY=FULL The tram had to stop half way down so it could make the right hand bend at the bottom of the hill. As for the steepest tram track I don't know, but that which came off York Road and then down Gipton Approach to Wykebeck Valley Road was steep down and back up. PS. Thanks DIVADS for the link to the images relating to the last tram run from Templenewsam and Crossgates. PPS. Sorry to the forum for the double post. A result of an error of mine when trying to add my PS edit. Oops red-faced me. (dealt with for you)    

I am open to correction, but I always understood that a section of the tram track up Beeston Hill was the steepest in Leeds. There was a type of tram known as the "Beeston Air Brakes" which had particularly effective brakes built specifically for this route. It may be difficult climbing a steep hill with metal wheels and track, but adequately controlling speed on the way down is much more difficult.The long gone route up Churwell hill to Morley, and the two shorter sections in Morley itself were pretty vicious too.As to switching of tramway turnouts ("points" to modellers) most were automatic in later years. Driving over at regular speeds left the switches set as they were, slowing down at (I believe) a particular slow controller setting would change the switches automatically. I may have got the fine detail wrong, but the principle is correct.The switches for Halton and Temple Newsam were at the junction of York Road and Selby Road, for Crossgates at the junction with Crossgates Road.