This picture was taken about 1880 just to the left is the Railway pub.The Merryweather company who made steam trams used this stretch of Dewsbury,Batley and Birstal Tramway companies line to test if one their engines could pull two fully laden double-decker tram cars.They could! If you look closely you will see that everyone has come out in their Sunday best for the occasion! This would have been an event in Dewsbury at the time.The Steam trams ran until about 1905 when they were replaced by electric trams.The steam tram line couldnt go up hills,so the line only ran from Dewsbury to Birstal (One L in Birstall at that time)and the tram depot amazingly still exists just after Batley Park on the right going towards Birstall.Keep an eye out next time you are near there.Incedentally,the Merryweather company went on to kit out fire engine bodies and were one of the biggest firms in this country doing this.K :-)
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 11:38:26 +0000
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