Huddersfield Corporation Tramways

Huddersfield Corporation Tramways
A tram shelter on Edgerton Road, built in 1896, which was restored in 2015
Operation
Locale	Huddersfield
Open	11 January 1883
Close	29 June 1940
Status	Closed
Infrastructure
Track gauge	4 ft 7+3⁄4 in (1,416 mm)
Propulsion system(s)	Horse, Steam and Electric
Statistics
Route length	39.12 miles (62.96 km)

Huddersfield Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Huddersfield, England, between 1883 and 1940.^[1] It initially used steam locomotives pulling unpowered tramcars, but as the system was expanded, a decision was taken to change to electric traction in 1900, and the first electric trams began operating in February 1901. The system was built to the unusual gauge of 4 ft 7+3⁄4 in (1,416 mm), in the hope that coal wagon from neighbouring coal tramways, which used that gauge, could be moved around the system. This did not occur, but two coal trams were used to delivered coal to three mills.

A number of extensions to the system were made until 1923, and some doubling of track took place in 1924, but a decision to trial trolleybuses was made in 1931/32, and the first tram route to be converted closed in 1933. Thereafter, lines were closed as the new infrastructure was erected, and the final tram ran on 29 June 1940. None of the vehicles survived into preservation.