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A scenic trip on an historic attraction

The woodland rideThe 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.

Christmas tramway A short walk brings a 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 Roberts Park and the River Aire and the delights of Saltaire with Salt's Mill and its famous Hockney Gallery.

Ready to departThe Tramway is open most Sunday afternoons throughout the year. As well as rides on the open trams, there is a small souvenir shop at the top selling sweets plus a replica Edwardian shop at the bottom displaying nostalgia.

The museum at the bottom station 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 when the tramway is open and entry is free of charge.

The tramway operates all year round The Tramway has a gauge of 20" and there are two tracks with a tramcar 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.

The top stationAfter 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 then continued under the stewardship of Mick Leak, and his family and volunteer supporters. Today it is under the care of the Trustees of the limited preservation company staffed by volunteers help.

 

Latest News Aug 2011: We Are Getting There!!

A new set of wheels and chassis has been built for each tramcar and each has been fitted with new decks. The original tops have been reinstalled and the original seats have been stripped of their layers of paint, varnished and are ready for use once again, a new winding drum disc-brake has also been installed together with new driver electronic controls. All these changes have cost us over £50,000.

£10,000 of this total has been provided by the 3 local Baildon District Councillors from their Ward-Investment-Fund (Airport money), and in addition £5,000 each from Baildon Parish Council, C-Net and the Bradford Guild of Help, together with £10,000 from Tramway resources, a donation of £500 from PACE and a long term interest free loan.

Subject to the availability of volunteers we are now open every:
SUNDAY AFTERNOON in 2012
Noon to 4.15ish

And also for the occasional special event or Bank Holiday

ADDITIONAL EXTRA SPECIAL OPENING SATURDAY
5th May Noon until 4pm ish

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Would YOU like to help run the Tram, help with maintenance, serve in the Shop or look after the Museum? There is always plenty to do with many varied tasks to suit all skills.
So why not come along?
Email: info@glentramway.co.uk or ask us at the Tramway when we are open.

Please keep looking at this web site for further news.



Shipley Glen Tramway is a Registered Charity number 1094288.
The tramway is run entirely by unpaid volunteers and all funds raised are spent on maintaining and improving the tramway.

If you wish to offer any financial support towards our efforts please visit

Just Giving Website
Every penny will be made to count
Over 5000 visitors have ridden the Tramway since July 2011

Thanks to everyone for their continued support


 

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 A6038 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 metre 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 metre with easy disabled or wheelchair access leads to the Tramway and Tramway Museum.

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

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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Other useful website links
Saltaire Village Website
Saltaire Village (in Bradford)
Baildon Village Website
Bradford (in Bronte Country)
Bronte Country
Click here to find out what's on in Yorkshire


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