Central Tramway Company, Scarborough
The Central Tramway Company is an electric-powered funicular railway located in the holiday resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
The development of the railway line and central station in 1845 bought a modest increase in the number of wealthy visitors to the area.
Scarborough's topography was such that many of the newly developed hotels were located atop the steep cliff that made up the area's natural coastline.
The Spa, beach and entertainment were to be found at the bottom of the hill, a long and arduous walk made more challenging by the clothing of the period.
Too steep to be pulled by the horses, a system was designed using a descending wheeled water tank similar to those used in the slate quarries of North Wales from the late 18th century onwards.
[5] The success of the South Cliff Tramway Company inspired another funicular to be developed in 1878 on the North Bay.
The Queens Parade Cliff Lift unfortunately did not enjoy the same good fortune with a series of accidents and issues with erosion on this particular stretch of coastline.
His family home was St Nicholas House[7] (now the Town Hall) prominently located overlooking the South Bay and the newly built Grand Hotel.
George Wood of Hull was the contractor, Charles Augustus Bury the architect and Thomas Feaster Morgan the chief engineer.
The railway was originally Steam powered so construction also included an engine house located 20 yards (18 m) from the top station beneath the tracks.
The flue ran underground to the nearby Granby House, the home of 18th century historian Thomas Hinderwell.
At 12.30 pm on 1 August 1881 the Central Tramway Company Ltd opened to the public for the first time with the first passenger-carrying ascent and descent of the carriages.
In 1920 the Tramway was converted to electric power making use of the road tram system that had been constructed in 1904 around Scarborough.
Between 1931 and 1932 Hudswell Clarke and Company of Leeds converted the system to AC power with the installation of a new 60 horse power motor underneath the top station, during this time they also relaid the track, and rebuilt the carriage frames with new wooden carriages being supplied by Plaxtons.
In 1967 a solid reinforced concrete foundation was laid under the track (still visible today), with the exception of the top 30 yards (27 m).
The future of the Tramway was further put in jeopardy in 1976 when pile driving at the new Olympia Amusement site caused cracking and damage to the concrete foundation supporting the track.
The company took the contractors to court and won full compensation for the remedial work and all consequential losses.
In 2009 the company installed a fully automated drive system, with a new 60 horse power electric motor with the objective of enabling a smooth acceleration and deceleration into and out of the stations.
The result was a return to the burgundy and cream livery and the installation of several distinctive features, these included the clock tower and stained glass panels above the driver's booth.
[15] The Central Tramway is a funicular railway, the principle of which is that two carriages are permanently attached to each other by means of steel hauling ropes, or cables.
In 2019 a new Programmable logic controller drive system was installed by Wheel Sets (UK) Ltd in preparation for the 2020 season.
The regulatory body responsible for the oversight of funicular railways in the UK is HM Inspectorate of Mines (HMIM), a division of the Health and Safety Executive.
