Created 14-Feb-22
Modified 8-Mar-24
The Thornbury tram service was numbered 9 and was the penultimate tram route in Bradford, closing on 4th March 1950. It was initially replaced by motorbuses but on 2nd March 1952 trolleybuses took over. The route used wiring sanctioned in February 1927 to allow Clayton trolleybuses to return to Thornbury depot. This service, numbered 89 and worked by Thornbury depot, terminated in Hall Ings at the stop previously used by the trams and used the same roundabout at the Thornbury terminus as the Bradford Moor trolleybuses.
The 89 settled down to a relatively routine existence. Major sewer works in the city centre closed the bottom end of Leeds Road and a temporary turning circle was created using George Street, West Street and Vicar Lane. Services operated from here from 13th April to 11th August 1957 and the loop was retained for emergency use until November 1962.
From 14th March 1965 the Thornbury service was linked to the 6 for journeys to Spring Head Road and 7 for those to Thornton and the remainder of the story is told in that gallery.
© David Beilby
