Photo © John Kaye. Please do not re-post without permission.

The tram route from Briggate to Lawnswood was abandoned on Saturday 3rd March 1956 and during the preceding weeks the normal surface in City Square was replaced by temporary setts so that track removal could be achieved more quickly after the closure. This scene, a week before the closure, shows Leeds Horsfield 219 approaching the City Square stop in Park Row, having come from Lawnswood on its way to Moortown via Harehills and Roundhay.
Judging from the position of his hands on the controls the driver appears to be using the air and magnetic track brakes to stop the car rather than the approved air wheel brake. He will then hold the car on the hand wheel brake at the stop. This could be because of greasy rail conditions where using the air wheel brake could lead to wheel locking and sliding, producing flats on the tyres.

Photo taken by John Kaye, Sunday 26 February 1956, City Square, Leeds

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