A FASCINATING new book has been put together detailing the history of the trams which used to run in Scarborough.
And as a bonus Scarborough Tramways also puts the spotlight on the all of the cliff lifts which have operated in Scarborough over the years The Scarborough Tramway Company was launched on May 6, 1904 and eventually operated 28 open-top trams on a 3ft
6in gauge.
The company laid down five miles of track made up of two circular routes and three branches. In Scarborough the trams mainly operated during the summer months and over the years the company was never very profitable. It was wound up on September 30, 1931 and the United bus company took over the trams' routes.
A tram halts by the Grand Pavilion, with its cinema, restaurant and skating rink
The Scarborough Tramways Company features 120 photographs of trams and cliff lifts operating in Scarorough. Several of the phtographs show trams running along the sea front. One shows the former Grand Pavilion in Foreshore Road with a restaurant, skating rink and cinema showing The Cradle Snatchers in 1927. Another shows a tram passing some seawater swimming baths which is now the site of an amusement arcade run by James Corrigan.
Aberdeen Walk carried a single line with one passing loop, which a tram is just about to enter, the General Post Office and Scarborough Evening News offices are on the left
One of a number of triangular junctions along the tramway, this image shows the junction of Castle Road with Aberdeen Walk
Most of the trams carried advertisement and one can be seen promoting entry to Gala Lane for three old pence. The book contains an interesting diagram of the tramshed which was squeezed between Scalby Road, Wykeham Street and Hampton Road between blocks of terraced houses. Besides the seafront other areas of Scarborough covered by the book include Falsgrave Road, the town centre, Prospect Road, Manor Road and North Marine Road.
Fears of a German invasion during the First World War prompted sandbags to be placed across rails on Eastborough. The image dates from 1915
The book contains superb photographs of the accident on September 21, 1925, when car 25 skidded on greasy rails and experienced brake failure while climbing Vernon Road. The tram ran backwards, gathered speed, left the track, demolished the retaining wall and crashed through the glass roof of the subterranean Aquarium ballroom.
Aftermath of the accident in which a tram crashed through the glass roof of the Aquarium ballroom
Installation of the track at Aquarium top with the Spa bridge in the background, to the left of the image can be seen the glass roof of the Aquarium ballroom
There are photographs of the cliff lift which runs between The Spa and Esplanade which was Britain's first cliff lift which opened in 1875, Scarborough's second cliff lift ran opened in 1878 between the old North Promenade Pier on the Marine Drive and Queen's Parade. The lift closed nine years later.
The council recently decided to close the lift running from near the Grand Hotel to the Aquarium Top so now there are just two lifts in operation. The lift at Peasholm Gap stropped operating in 1996 and its components were sold to Launceston in Cornwall.
Installation of the track in Vernon Place looking towards Westborough junction where a double loop was installed
A tram halts outside Rowntrees Store en route to Prospect Road
A tram passes Scarborough railway station with the Pavilion hotel in the background
A tram car about to turn onto Foreshore Road
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