SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

I've just been looking on the website for the National Tramway Museum at Chrish and they have a massive photo archive of trams which you can view on-line at:http://www.tramway.co.uk/smx/photos/Just enter "Leeds" in the keyword box and away you go - it has the added benefit of having old Leeds in the background of every pic.(PS - some of the colour pics aren't of the highest quality, but persevere as the others more than make up for it)

It wasn't until my eyes were sore and blood-shot that I realised I'd looked at most of the 1600+ photos this brought up. You're right too, every shot has some bit of old Leeds in it and surprisingly, even were the area has changed you can usually recognise a little bit of the 'old' remaining nearby.One photo was very nostalgic for me, showing the old concrete shelter were we would wait for the Tram to town, at the junction of York Road and Crossgates road, opposite that which is now Burger King. http://www.tramway.co.uk/smx/photos/photo/?id=1651If I remember rightly, the half-fare was 3d (1.25p)!

I have had a look at some of the 1653 photographs of Leeds Trams. I suggest as a pastime trying to locate where the unidentified photos were taken. There is a photograph of a man boarding a tram at Crossgates terminus who remi nds me very much of my father. A very interesting collection in all.

peterg wrote: I have had a look at some of the 1653 photographs of Leeds Trams. I suggest as a pastime trying to locate where the unidentified photos were taken. There is a photograph of a man boarding a tram at Crossgates terminus who remi nds me very much of my father. A very interesting collection in all. blimey i knew we were advanced in Leeds but trams and photies in 1653     

Very interesting - totally different pics to Leodis too. I wonder if the NTM would mind be posting some here? - some then and now pics would be interesting. Obviously I,m looking for old pubs in the backgrounds. Lots of Melbourne Ads on the sides too - as well as tetleys and Hammond.s

Had a look at alot of these photos and it looks like some are very similar to the ones in the Jim Soaper books on Leeds transport. They are available in 4 voluimes, have some great colour and black and whit pics of trams, trolley cars, buses, horse-drawn trams and anything public transport related- Some pubs inthe backgrounds of pics also!! -think there is one of the woodpecker if I remember rightly!

I’d heartily recommend the Soper books, which are enjoyable even for people who aren’t interested in trams and buses (for those who are, they are indispensable). There are some fascinating and evocative pictures of old Leeds, including the suburbs. All the local libraries seem to have them and they can also be bought at the Civic Trust bookshop on Wharf Street. Clearly a labour of love for a local historian (I’m not the author or one of his relatives, in case you were wondering!)

dont know whether that you have seen this site http://www.dewi.ca/trains/leeds/lots of pictures

billy the buffalo wrote: dont know whether that you have seen this site http://www.dewi.ca/trains/leeds/lots of pictures I have a print which I got from the Yorkshire Post "Twilight of the Trams" which shows Lower Briggate - two trams, one a Feltham the other a Horsfield on Lower Brigg It was either drawn or at least is set in the mid fifties. It also features what looks like a B16 locomotive on the bridge and a Morris Minor van - anyone else got it?

Crich tramway museum is well worth a visit. The trams are in running order. Its worth a visit just to experience the sensation, sounds, rattles of a tramride again. ( I was 9 when the last trams ran in Leeds). They have a couple of Leeds trams in the collection , including the single decker "Coronation Tram" which I remember riding on to Temple Newsam.