Behind the scenes at the Middleton railway

Railways, trams, buses, etc.
Phill_d
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Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

Due to an administration mix up getting the Middleton railway added to the Leeds heritage day fixture list i was delighted to hear from Andrew Gill chairman of the railway for inviting L.H.E.S members to there own private tour behind the scenes visit to places out of bounds to the general public. Andy showed us around the workshop & give us a great insight into the running of the railway. It was good to get inside the repair shop amongst the smell of diesel & oily rags having a close up look at the stripped down engines in various states of repair. Many thanks to Andrew for a fascinating afternoon, Cheers!
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Phill_d
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Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

Having been established by an Act of Parliament in 1758, the Middleton Railway, Leeds, can claim to be the oldest Railway in the world. It also played host to the first commercially successful, revenue earning, steam locomotives which entered service there in 1812. The 1758 Middleton Railway Trust in Leeds has formidable claims to fame. It is the direct descendant of a waggonway which was constructed between Middleton and Casson Close, near Leeds Bridge, following authorisation by the first Railway legislation and Act of Parliament in 1758
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Phill_d
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Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

The railway is a fascinating line that comes highly recomended to visit, It was once the very powerhouse of Leeds providing coal to many local industries & further afield by means of rail & barge. The railway is run & maintained by volunteers in there spare time who do a sterling job keeping some of Leeds heritage alive. Here we can see some of the volunteers at work in the repair shop giving up there Saturday afternoon, I applaud you!
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Phill_d
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Post by Phill_d »

There's a whole host of wierd & wonderfull locomotives on display from experimental railcars, track maintenance vehicles to steam & diesel locos many of which were built in Leeds by Hunslet & Hudswell engineering. Here we see some of the collection in the yard
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Phill_d
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Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

This is the bit i was looking forward to having a good look at the locos at the back of the works patiently awaiting there turn to be restored into running condition. There's always something sad about seeing these engines covered in rust in overgrown sidings. Fear not there future is secure & they will once again steam into action.
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Phill_d
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Post by Phill_d »

For more details of running times & history of the railway see there website here http://www.middletonrailway.org.uk/ This view is looking from the yard at the motley collection of goods wagons from yesteryear. While we were on the lineside we had a look out man as the trains were in running service at the time, We all now what happens if you play on the lines kids! Don't do it!
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Phill_d
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Post by Phill_d »

The end of the steam era saw the birth of the D.M.U. Here we see the Wickham railbus awaiting the right of way at Moor Road for the 14.20 to Park halt, It was rostered for the days motive power & looks resplendent in it's departmental R.T.C livery . The Middleton Railway run a Spring Gala, Children's Gala, Model Railway Weekend, Autumn Gala, Halloween Trains, and Santa Steam Specials in December. They can provide Birthday Trains for any age, 1year to 101 years, and you can hire your own personal train. There is catering offered with these hires, if required, all carried out by "certified" staff.In a nutshell, "if they can do it - they will!!"
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Phill_d
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Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

This picture was taken during an earlier visit on a wonderfull sunny winter Saturday morning when suprisingly i found this track gang quietly working away with Carroll at the head of the train. Carroll was one of the engines built in Leeds at Hudswell Clarke engineering in 1946. A very friendly bunch of chaps there were too having a pot of tea in the brake van! The line is very scenic these days in stark contrast to how it was with huge black spoil heaps scarring the land. To see a video of this line in use see hear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGNAqADNOc4
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Phill_d
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

I've always been fascinated by this very tightly curved overgrown section between Moor Road & the mainline, It's only rarely used for photographic exhibition trains. To see a video of the locos fighting there way through the undergrowth see hear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlMQX7DxXsQ
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Phill_d
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Joined: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 6:22 am

Post by Phill_d »

This is inside the new loco viewing shed which is open to the public, There's also a coffee & gift shop with a film been shown detailing the history of the railway narrated by some of the men who worked the line & some of todays volunteers!
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