A scenic trip on an historic attraction

The Shipley Glen Cable Tramway is the oldest working cable tramway in Great Britain (cliff lifts excepted). Dating from 1895, the line was built to serve the local beauty of Shipley Glen, near Saltaire in West Yorkshire. At nearly a quarter-mile in length, the woodland ride provides a pleasant alternative to the steep path.

A short walk brings the Cafe and Pub within reach as well as the Brackenhall Countryside Centre plus the rocks and woods of Shipley Glen. The bottom station allows access to the park and River Aire, the Waterbus on the Canal, and the delights of Saltaire with Salt's Mill and its famous Hockney Gallery.

The Tramway is open most weekend afternoons throughout the year. As well as rides on the open trams, there is a small souvenir shop at the top selling sweets and ice-cream plus a replica Edwardian shop at the bottom displaying and vending pure nostalgia.

The museum at the bottom station has been reopened and displays photos and memorabilia of the tramway and Shipley Glen along with words, pictures and memories of the tramway and Shipley Glen in a display named 'The Ride of Life' The museum opens weekends and bank holidays when the tramway is open and entry is free of charge.

The Tramway has a gauge of 20" and there are two tracks with a pair of trams on each line. The maximum gradient is 1 in 7. Opened to the public on May 18th 1895, the Tramway was powered by a Suction Gas Engine, then Town Gas and then Oil (1915) before being converted to electric in 1928. The operator was a Sam Wilson who erected several other rides on the Glen.

After a short closure, the line reopened in summer 1969 and continued until early 1981 when a right-of-way dispute prevented operations. The Tramway was saved by members of the Bradford Trolleybus Association with the financial assistance of Bradford Council. Operation continues using unpaid volunteer help.

Adult fares are £1.00 Day Return (60p Single) or 50p Day Return (30p Single) for Senior Citizens and Children under 15 years. No charge under 3 years of age. Parties welcome at any time but outside normal hours there is a minimum charge of £10.00.

Operating Times 2009

Shipley Glen Tramway is a Registered  Charity number 1094288 and we would welcome donations towards its upkeep. The tramway is run entirely by unpaid volunteers and all funds raised are spent on maintaining and improving the tramway. Donation cheques can be made out to Shipley Glen Tramway and mailed to Shipley Glen Tramway at our address Prod Lane, Baildon, Shipley BD17 5BN.

 We are all currently working hard to expand our team of loyal volunteers so  WHY NOT HELP US? We are looking for people with one spare weekend afternoon a month, a sociable attitude, a willingness to learn and a love of the tramway. Anybody wishing to help sell tickets, to sell sweets and memorabilia from the shop, to help in the museum or to train as tram driver can e-mail us at info@glentramway.co.uk or call Dale Smith on 07801 669 780.

Temporary Closure of Tramway
for Ongoing Maintenance and Engineering Work

To meet current legislation and to ensure continuity for the foreseeable future we had to close after our 2008 Santa Specials whilst we commissioned two news Tramcars. We have received delivery of two new Tram Cars and are busy rebuilding them. We had hoped to be ready to re-open for Christmas 2009 and run our very popular Santa Specials but unfortunately the project expanded as the ravages of time since 1895 became more obvious.

The snow and frost earlier this year further delayed our project as we had to cast a 3 ton block of cement as anchorage before we could start the final phase of the engineering work. The concrete block is now in place and we are hoping to re-open early in the summer.

Thank you for your support over the years. We look forward to seeing old friends and making new friends in 2010

December & Santa Specials 2010

Details will be here as soon as available

Keep Looking

How to reach us: By Bus 624,625,626,627 from Bradford Interchange By Train: Local services to Saltaire station-Intercity. By road: Take Otley road out of Shipley then follow the brown and white signs to a large car park (Salts Grammar School).

Disabled and easy wheelchair access to the Tramway and platforms are available at the top station with on street parking close to the Tramway in Prod Lane, Baildon.The 20 meter platforms have a concrete surface with a 1 in 10 slope.

At the bottom station parking is available in the neighbouring Salts Grammar School Car Park. From there a level path of about 250 meters with easy disabled or wheelchair access leads to the Tramway and Tramway Museum.

The bottom station is approached by a flagged 30 meter 1 in 6 path and the trams are reached by 20 meter flagged platforms with a 1 in 8 slope. A wheelchair or a pram can be be safely carried on the Tramway on a platform between the trams.

There are no disabled or public toilets at the Tramway.

Tramway Office
Prod Lane, Baildon, Shipley,
West Yorkshire, BD17 5BN;
Tel: 01274 589010

The Tramway Trustees reserve the right to open or close the Tramway earlier or later than the advertised times and to close in the event of bad weather or conditions considered to be unsuitable to run the Tramway.

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