Leeds Locomotive Industry

Lord Brambling · Post by **Lord Brambling** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 1:16 pm

Here is a picture quiz, why is the locomotive on the low loader called "Jack Lane"?Did you know Leeds manufactured more railway locomotives than any other English town or city.

Barwicker · Post by **Barwicker** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 2:28 pm

I think you will find that more steam locomotives were built in Manchester than Leeds.......and I am not a Mancunian!!

Scandy Bramley · Post by **Scandy Bramley** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 5:46 pm

I think you are both right. Hunslet definately built the most shunting locos.Scumchester was more geared to long haul locos.A mate of mine once showed me a photo he took in the Andes, of a loco built in Hunslet! The Hunslet Engine Co was on Jack Lane, so hence the name on the loco. Why THAT particular one, I've no idea!

simonm · Post by **simonm** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 5:55 pm

Middleton railway is the oldest railway in the world, so it's highly likely that the loco manufacture is going to be very high in Leeds!

geoffb · Post by **geoffb** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 7:05 pm

There is a traction engine made by Fowlers of Leeds in Funchal Madiera in a park, going toward Reids hotel, this unit was used on the Island in the 19th century

Lord Brambling · Post by **Lord Brambling** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 8:52 pm

Barwicker, I did say "Locomotioves" not steam locomotives. You may well be correct with the steam locomotives.The narrow gauge steam loco "Jack Lane" was in Leeds as part of the celebrations for the opening of the new Engine House at Middleton Railway. This loco was NOT built in Leeds, but was made by the "new" Hunslet company.The picture is taken outside the "old" Hunslet Engine Company offices in Jack Lane.If anybody is interested the Middleton Railway houses a large collection of Leeds built locomotives, both steam and diesel.Picture attached of the new Engine House at Middleton Railway, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Scandy Bramley · Post by **Scandy Bramley** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 8:58 pm

Thanks for that LB! Will take my 11 year old lad to Miggy Museum for SURE, next time we are back in Leeds. He's train mad at the moment.

Barwicker · Post by **Barwicker** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 9:37 pm

With any luck I will attach to this coment a photograph of probably the oldest working steam locomotive built in Leeds..... in 1855 by Kitsons, which later became part of the Hunslet Engine Company. The photo was taken at Delhi Cantonment station in April 2005.Anybody wishing to know more about the Leeds Locomotive builders may like to read an excellent book by Mr D H Townsley entitled The Hunslet Engine Works.

Barwicker · Post by **Barwicker** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 9:43 pm

Sorry. Failed with attachment. Will try again

Barwicker · Post by **Barwicker** » Thu 14 Jun, 2007 11:24 pm

Second Attempt