Central Tramway

Marine Parade, Scarborough, Yorkshire YO11 2ER

Tel: 01723 501754

website: www.funimag.com

The Central Tramway Company Scarborough Limited was created and registered in 1880 and still operates in its original corporate form. The lift, designed for steam operation and first opened to the public in August 1881, is located in the real center of the South Bay, linking the city to the shore just beside the Grand Hotel.

Below the track and about 60 feet from the top station the steam operated winch gear was housed. The driver of the lift had no view of the cars and relied on an indicator with other visual aids such as string tied on to the haulage rope, and chalk marks on the winch drums to indicate the arrival of the cars at the top and bottom stations. In 1910 steam was abandoned and the gear converted to electric drive. In 1932 the cars were replaced and the motor placed under the top station. Control was from a driving position at the top of the station with full view of the cars. For emergency use each car is fitted with a screw on and wedge safety brake which operates on a safety rail down the center of each track and the rail also carries the rollers for the support of the cables.