Spen Valley Magazine Spen Valley Magazine (draft) | Page 10

THE AGE
OF THE TRAM
For over 30 years from 1903-1934 electric trams
provided public transport the length of Spen
Valley before succumbing to competition from
motor coaches.
British Electric Traction devised, built and operated
a 22 mile network of tramways radiating from
Dewsbury and running via Heckmondwike as far
as Moorend, and Bradford via Gomersal and
Birkenshaw. There was also a line up Halifax Road
as far as Hightown (Miry Lane). The routes are
shown on the centre page map.
The mostly single track rails were laid in the road
with passing places and electricity picked up from
overhead wires. The driver’s “cab” was al fresco.
The first tram through Gomersal didn’t even have
a roof. There was a depot at Frost Hill (see map)
into which ran ten tracks. Two sides of the building
remain to this day, after conversion into business
units.
Golden age of the age of the tram
For over 30 years from 1903-1934 electric trams provided public transport the length of Spen Valley
before succumbing to competition from motor coaches.
British Electric Traction devised, built and operated
a 22 mile network of tramways radiating from
Dewsbury and running via Heckmondwike as
far as Moorend, and Bradford via Gomersal and
Birkenshaw. There was also a line up Halifax Road
as far as Hightown. The routes are shown on the
centre page map.
The mostly single track rails were laid in the road
(with passing places) and electricity picked up from
overhead wires. The driver’s “cab” was al fresco.
The first tram through Gomersal didn’t even have a
roof. The single and double-decker trams shared
road space with horses, carts and other vehicles.
There was a depot at Frost Hill (see map) into which
ran ten tracks. Despite conversion into business units
two sides of the building remain to this day.