Everything about Middleton Railway totally explained
The
Middleton Steam Railway is the world's oldest working railway. It was founded in
1758 and is now a
heritage railway run by enthusiasts.
The railway operates passenger services at weekends and on public holidays over approximately 1 mile of track between its headquarters at Moor Road,
Hunslet,
Leeds,
West Yorkshire,
England and Park Halt on the outskirts of
Middleton Park.
Origins
The Middleton Railway was the first railway to be granted powers by
Act of Parliament in 1758. It was built to a gauge of 4 ft 1 in to carry coal from the
Middleton pits owned by
Charles Brandling to Leeds (near Meadow Lane, close to the River Aire). Not all the land belonged to
Brandling and the Act gave him power to obtain wayleave. Otherwise the line was privately financed and operated, initially as a
wagonway using horse-drawn vehicles. Around
1807 the wooden tracks began to be replaced with superior iron
edge rails.
Introduction of steam
In
1812 the Middleton Steam Railway became the first commercial railway to successfully use
steam locomotives.
John Blenkinsop the colliery's viewer, or manager, had decided that an engine light enough not to break the cast iron track wouldn't have sufficient
adhesion, bearing in mind the heavy load of coal wagons and the steep track gradient. Accordingly he relaid the track on one side with a
toothed rail, which he patented in
1811 (the first
rack railway), and approached
Matthew Murray of
Fenton, Murray and Wood, in
Holbeck, to design a locomotive with a
pinion which would mesh with it. Murray's design was based on
Richard Trevithick's
Catch me who can, adapted to use Blenkinsop's
rack and pinion system, and was called
The Salamanca. This
1812 locomotive was the first to use two cylinders. These drove the
pinions through
cranks which were at right angles, so that the engine would start wherever it came to rest.
The line thus entered the history books, in
1812, for it was first to operate successfully, and with three more locos built later, remained in use for another twenty years. In 1881 the railway was converted to
standard gauge.
Preservation
In June
1960, the Middleton Steam Railway became the first standard-gauge railway to be taken over and operated by unpaid volunteers. Passenger services were initially only operated for one week, using an ex
Swansea and Mumbles Railway double deck carriage. However, the volunteers of the Middleton Railway operated a freight service until
1983.
Regular operation of passenger services began in
1969.
The Middleton Steam Railway is home to a representative selection of locomotives built in the Jack Lane,
Hunslet area by the famous Leeds manufacturers of
John Fowler & Co.,
Hudswell Clarke,
Hunslet Engine Company,
Kitson & Co. and
Manning Wardle. The locomotives include "Sir Berkeley", which was featured in the
1968 BBC TV version of "
The Railway Children". The locomotive is owned by the
Vintage Carriages Trust of Ingrow near Keighley.
Motive Power
Operational Steam Locomotives
Steam Locomotives undergoing light work
Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T M.S.C. 67 (works number 1369 of 1921). Returned to traffic in 2002, having its pistons re-bored, boiler ticket expires in 2012.(External Link
)
Steam Locomotives Undergoing Overhaul or Restoration
Hunslet 0-4-0ST No 1493. Undergoing restoration to operational condition, the frames have their wheels and are being painted before the motion goes on.
Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No 6 "Swanscombe". Undergoing restoration to working order, the frames have been re-wheeled and painted and the cab has been fitted to the frames and is being painted, the final motion parts are being fitted and work on the saddle tank, smokebox and boiler will start afterwards.
Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST No. 14. In the final stages of overhaul, wheels fitted under the frames and boiler being retubed.
Stored Steam Locomotives
NER LNER Class Y7 0-4-0T No. 1310. Was withdrawn in 2001 and is presently dismantled in the yard, funds coming in for overhaul. (External Link)
Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 2702. Stored outside in the elements.
Borrows 0-4-0WT No. 53 Windle. Currently being given a protective coat of paint. Planned to be overhauled in the not too distant future.
Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No. 2003 John Blenkinsop. Stored awaiting overhaul but should be one of the next to be returned to working order.
Sentinel 4wVBT No. 68153. Stored dismantled in the yard. (External Link)
Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0ST No. 1309. (External Link)
Chemnitz 0-4-0WT 385, ex DSB. (External Link)
Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0ST No. 1882 Mirvale. (External Link)
Cockerill 0-4-0VBT 1625. (External Link)
Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No. 2103. (External Link)
Kitson 0-6-0ST 5469 ex Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway.
Operational Diesel Locomotives
Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0DM 577 Mary(External Link)
Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0DM 631 Carroll(External Link)
Brush/Beyer Peacock 0-4-0DE 91(External Link)
Thomas Hill 0-4-0DH 138C(External Link)
5003 Peckett 0-4-0DM Austins No. 1 (External Link)
Hunslet 0-6-0DM 1697 John Alcock (External Link)
Non-Operational Diesel Locomotives
Hunslet 0-4-0DM 1786 Courage (External Link)
Hunslet 4wDH Rack BEM402 (works number 8505) on loan from the National Coal Mining Museum for England (3' gauge)
Hunslet 6273 on loan from the National Coal Mining Museum for England. (2'2" gauge)
J. Fowler 0-4-0DM 3900002 (External Link)
Non-Operational Electric Locomotives
420452 Greenwood and Batley Coke Oven locomotive built 1979 (External Link)
Operational Diesel Railbus
DB999507 Wickham Railbus(External Link)
Operational Diesel Inspection Vehicle
DB998901 Drewry car(External Link)Further Information
Get more info on 'Middleton Railway'.
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