The Ghosts of Leeds tram cars ride the streets again (Leeds tramway closure 1959-2009)

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Wed 22 Apr, 2009 6:40 pm

I had a old penny from my Grandma, and she would never exactly tell me how it became so deformed. I now realise it's injuries are consistent with being placed on a tram track and having a tram run over it. If I can dig it out I will post a picture of it!!

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Thu 23 Apr, 2009 10:57 pm

BLAKEY wrote: I spent my first three years at the top house in Chestnut Avenue when the tram service to the Cardigan Road end of Victoria Road was still running. Infantile entertainment included "obtaining" old ha'pennies or pennies and placing them on the rails as the trams approached. I must have caused no end of terror to the poor drivers who couldn't stop of course - the effect on the coins was incredible. Either the high current returning to earth or the weight of the tram, or a combination of both, turned the coins into paper thin red hot masterpieces which I imagine were no longer legal tender. Poor Mother, when she stopped shaking, was like the famous monarch "Not amused." An "Ardsley" tank engine would have the same effect on a halfpenny placed on Morley "Top" line.

Si · Post by Si » Fri 24 Apr, 2009 5:02 pm

Trojan wrote: BLAKEY wrote: I spent my first three years at the top house in Chestnut Avenue when the tram service to the Cardigan Road end of Victoria Road was still running. Infantile entertainment included "obtaining" old ha'pennies or pennies and placing them on the rails as the trams approached. I must have caused no end of terror to the poor drivers who couldn't stop of course - the effect on the coins was incredible. Either the high current returning to earth or the weight of the tram, or a combination of both, turned the coins into paper thin red hot masterpieces which I imagine were no longer legal tender. Poor Mother, when she stopped shaking, was like the famous monarch "Not amused." An "Ardsley" tank engine would have the same effect on a halfpenny placed on Morley "Top" line. We used to put coins on the tracks of the moving overhead pipework at Esholt sewage works. Same result, albeit a bit smellier!

sevenvan · Post by **sevenvan** » Sat 23 May, 2009 9:50 am

Just joined SL - what a great result Phill. Lots more tram relics than I thought. Other places - Gipton Gulch towards the bottom, tram rails visisble. Also behind the advertising hoarding where the old horse tram depot used to be at Kirkstall, I believe the old victorian rails are still there, but its all locked up now.Shame to see Morley depot gone. The rails which have been thankfully left are the only surviving example of Holts Patent Guard Rail - you can just about see these in the picture, vertical iron chairs which prevented the rail on sharp curves from moving.I also see that Worrall Street itself has been recently tarmacced - what a shame, as much of the old covering was disappearing and the exposed rails almost reached the pointwork - what a great opportunity missed to reveal all the lovely stone setts and the complete track to recreate a street 'as it was'.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sat 23 May, 2009 12:53 pm

sevenvan wrote: Just joined SL - what a great result Phill. Lots more tram relics than I thought. Other places - Gipton Gulch towards the bottom, tram rails visisble. Also behind the advertising hoarding where the old horse tram depot used to be at Kirkstall, I believe the old victorian rails are still there, but its all locked up now.Shame to see Morley depot gone. The rails which have been thankfully left are the only surviving example of Holts Patent Guard Rail - you can just about see these in the picture, vertical iron chairs which prevented the rail on sharp curves from moving.I also see that Worrall Street itself has been recently tarmacced - what a shame, as much of the old covering was disappearing and the exposed rails almost reached the pointwork - what a great opportunity missed to reveal all the lovely stone setts and the complete track to recreate a street 'as it was'. Glad you enjoyed it We had a look at the Gipton gulch. We didn't see any signs of the rails though.I do remember there used to be skid marks that looked like a tram had overshot the line at the bottom.The tracks on Selby road have been tarmaced over as well.We also had a look at the old tram depot at Kirkstall as well (thanks to a tip off from Tasa)Your right, you can't get in there, we got very close though.We could see through the gap in the hoarding it was badly overgrown, there was lots of rubble e.t.c.You'd not have seen any rails even if you got in there i'm afraid.I've since seen the outline of the tracks are clearly visible outside of the Clock cinema on Roundhay road.And The tarmac has cracked off the gap in the reservation on Stanningley Rd in Armley again (opposite the end of Moorfield Rd), you can see a rail there at the moment.I still need to get these **I've recently added these to my tram story**http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuse ... 82180312*A Leeds tram video story told by Alan Bennet.*The Y.E.P tram story from a few weeks ago*And a 1951 all tram routes list.It's an ongoing project so i'll keep adding it it.Any more info would be great from you guys too

liits · Post by **liits** » Sat 23 May, 2009 4:02 pm

Phil, have you seen the Andrew D. Young book “100 Years of Leeds Tramways” [pub. Turntable Enterprises, 1970]. As well as covering lots of old ground, it gives a potted time time-line history of each route [dates of extensions, widening etc, etc]. If you’re interested, I can do you a copy.

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Sat 23 May, 2009 10:41 pm

Phill_dvsn wrote: We also had a look at the old tram depot at Kirkstall as well (thanks to a tip off from Tasa)Your right, you can't get in there, we got very close though.We could see through the gap in the hoarding it was badly overgrown, there was lots of rubble e.t.c.You'd not have seen any rails even if you got in there i'm afraid.It's an ongoing project so i'll keep adding it it.Any more info would be great from you guys too Thanks for the credit Phill! I keep my eye out for these things, so that I can sit comfortably on my sofa while you crash about in the undergrowth to produce a fantastic historical record!Seriously, though, this is one of your best projects and I'll have a look at the additional material (and let you know of anything else I discover).

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Mon 01 Jun, 2009 1:08 am

A lot of new gas mains being installed in the Easterly Rd./Roundhay Rd area.Some extensive trench work outside the "Clock cinema", went to see if any old tram lines visible, not a sign of them.Asked one of the workmen if he had seen any, not one found, "if we had found any we would have cut it up for scrap"

billy the buffalo · Post by **billy the buffalo** » Mon 01 Jun, 2009 12:28 pm

I have a very good video of Leeds Trams that lasts about 1 1/2 hours and is very interesting i think it was produced by the Leeds Transport society.....it has some cracking old films taken by people on the tram ..

blackprince · Post by **blackprince** » Mon 01 Jun, 2009 6:57 pm

For those interested, this is a collection of Leeds tram photos + 1 bus taken by Dewi Williams who now lives in Canadahttp://www.dewi.ca/trains/leeds/