A century of regular public transport on Great Horton Road will be celebrated with prayers and fond memories.

Horton Bank Methodists and friends are inviting enthusiasts to catch the 6.20pm 576 bus to Horton Bank Country Park on August 27.

They aim to ride to the Hare and Hounds and cross the road to the old tram shed for a short prayer in the car park of Horton Bank Top surgery.

Guests will then take a trip down memory lane by recalling the tram service which once ran from Victoria Square, through Morley Street, Easby Road, Dirkhill Road, All Saints Road and to the top of Great Horton Road.

The journey took passengers from 320ft to 840ft high and many free-wheeled down the hill into Bradford to return home on the tram at the end of the day. The service was extended to Queensbury and link up with the Halifax service, becoming one of the highest tram lines in Britain. Buses replaced the trams in November 1949.

One of the organisers is the Reverend Geoff Reid, of Bradford's Methodist Touchstone Centre, a member of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Consultative Committee. He said: "As a Christian contribution to the current debate on public transport we want to say that public transport is worth celebrating today just as in 1898 our forebears in Horton Bank welcomed the trams."

He said the new Horton Bank Country Park, next to the old tram shed, gave worshippers a double opportunity to celebrate the local environment.

"The 576 Calderline service is widely regarded as one of the country's most spectacular inter-urban bus routes. The views from Horton Bank up to Queensbury are matched by the Alpine descent from Queensbury down to Boothstown. We shall be happy if our celebrations help to promote it as a tourist attraction."

For further information about the event, which starts with a service at Horton Bank Methodist Church, at 6pm, call Mr Reid on (01274) 721626.

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