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A scenic trip on an historic attraction
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.
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: ADDITIONAL
EXTRA SPECIAL OPENING SATURDAY -------------------------------------------------------------- Please keep looking at this web site for further news.
Shipley
Glen Tramway is a Registered Charity number 1094288. If you wish to offer any financial support towards our efforts please visit
Thanks
to everyone for their continued support
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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).
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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 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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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 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.
The
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 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. 
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 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.
