Bradford Electric Tramways

The Bradford Corporation operated trams from 1892 until 1950. Early trams were horse or steam hauled, electrification began in 1898. The first fleet of electric trams had Brush bodies with Peckham trucks and Westinghouse electrical equipment [1].

Bradford variable gauge tram [2]

Information for original trams
Number built:	16
Built:	1898
Builder:	Brush Traction
Motor:	2 Westinghouse electric motors (DC OHLE)

 
The Bradford and Leeds Corporations were keen for interoperability of their two adjoining systems, however the Leeds system used standard gauge and Bradford 1, 219 mm gauge. Bradford developed a tram with variable gauge in 1907, the wheels being adjustable to the desired gauge [2] at a special stretch of changeover track. A fleet of variable gauge trams ran successfully for a number of years until maintenance issues resulted in their withdrawal.

As with many tram systems, the Bradford trams went into decline in the 1920s, matters not helped by a strike by tramway staff in 1926 which gave the motorbus a foothold in the city's public transport. Bradford had been an early adopter of the trolleybus and began replacing trams with trolleybuses and motor buses after the First World War. The tram network was wound down during the 1930s though had a stay of execution with the onset of the Second World War due to shortages of fuel for the motor buses. The final Bradford tram lines were closed after the end of the war and the final tram ran in May 1950.

Bradford tram with early top-cover [3]

Opening of a new line in Bradford [4]

[1] "Bradford Electric Tramways", Street Railway Journal Vol. XIV No. 9 (September 1898) p. 532

[2] "Variable gage truck used in Bradford, England", Street Railway Journal Vol. XXIV No. 22 (June 1907) p. 976

[3] Street Railway Review Vol XIV No. 11 (November 1904) p. 887

[4] "Opening of new line at Bradford, England", Street Railway Journal Vol. XIV No. 11 (November 1898) p. 730