The Collier, aquatint by Robert Havell 1814, showing a Matthew Murray steam locomotive (The Salamanca) on the Middleton Railway
The Middleton Steam Railway is the world's oldest continuously working railway. It was founded in 1758 and is now a heritage railway run by enthusiasts since 1960.
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.
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 (1,245 mm) to carry coal from the Middletonpits 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.
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 would not 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 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) standard gauge.
Preservation
The engine shed museum. Photo: Ian Kirk
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.
Manning Wardle L Class 0-6-0ST no. 1210 Sir Berkeley. Recently returned to traffic after a boiler replacement but now used on passenger trains at Middleton, boiler ticket expires in 2017. In May 2008 the locomotive visited the National Railway Museum in York[1] and hauled two bogie passenger coaches over the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend. [2]Planned to visit the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the Midland Railway Centre soon for short periods..[3]
Hunslet Engine Company 0-6-0ST 2387 Brookes No.1. Returned to traffic in early 2007 after overhaul, boiler ticket expires in 2009.[4]
Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST no. 1601 Matthew Murray. Returned to traffic in 2001, boiler ticket expires in 2011.[5]
Steam Locomotives undergoing light work
Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T M.S.C. 67 (works number 1369 of 1921). Returned to traffic in 2002, after its pistons were re-bored. The boiler inspection ticket (Certification) expires in 2012.[6]
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. [7]
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. [8]
