Find out More about our Industrial Heritage

For the second weekend of the nation-wide "Heritage Open Days" event, we offered illustrated in-person talks about this historic site, on the railway where the world’s very first successful, load-hauling steam locomotive ran in the year of 1812.

The talks lasted some 20 to 25 minutes and ran hourly from 10.00 to 3.00 p.m. on each day. There was no charge for these talks, and no need to book for them. They took visitors briefly through our history, from the working of the coal outcrops in Middleton Woods in mediaeval times, via the country’s first wooden (horse-drawn) railway in the eighteenth century and the revolutionary steam loco “Salamanca” - arguably, Leeds’ premier contribution to the Industrial Revolution - to the present situation as the country‘s first standard-gauge preserved railway. After that, visitors were welcome to buy a ticket and ride on our trains!

For Princesses and Pirates

A special day for children, with free activities, including face painting, activity sheets, interactive stories, treasure hunts and dance classes.

The face painting and activity sheets were available all day. The story telling was in the platform shelter, starting 15 minutes before each train departed, and then there was a treasure hunt on each train. The dancing started out on the mezzanine floor, but this got sufficiently warm that the later sessions were moved into the conference room. The sessions were at 11:00, 11:45, 12:20 and 14:50.

Special children's lunch boxes were available, at £3.50 each. Also sandwiches for adults, at £2.25.

Diesel trains ran, and the normal timetable applied.

Normal fares applied for adults (ie £7 each), but there was a special fare of £1 for each child (ie aged between 3 and 15 inclusive). This special fare for children included all of the activities.

Rides on vintage Leeds buses

This event returned after a break caused by CoViD.

It saw vintage Leeds City Transport buses, and others, running on routes through the city that linked up local museums.

See the Models alongside the Real Thing

This is now a well established event, and it returned after a covid-enforced break. Our Model Railway Exhibition featured both models and the real thing in action. There was an opportunity to drive one of our locos, as well as see our museum full of layouts.

A guided walk round some of the old transport routes through Middleton Park

The walk was organised by the Friends of Middleton Park, and led by one of our members. It started at 13:30, near the visitor centre, and finished at 15:30. It included:

• 1750s coal wagonways, which were used to move wagons downhill by gravity and return the empty wagons by horse;
• the electric tramway, initially constructed to get building materials to the new housing between the wars; and
• a section of the Great Northern Railway route that skirted round south Leeds.

Celebrating 70 Years

Diesel trains ran on Saturday and steam trains on Sunday. The normal timetable applied, but on the Sunday afternoon there were two extra trains for the benefit of visitors to the event in Middleton Park. These departed from Moor Road at 16:10 and 16:50, and from Park Halt at 16:25 and 17:05 respectively.

The following special fares applied.

• Adults over 70: 70p;
• Other Adults: £7;
• Children: 70p.

Bring your Teddies to see the Bluebells

On Sunday and Monday some trains were met at Middleton Park for a family-friendly walk round the Bluebell displays. Each walk gave a chance to explore the woods and see the Bluebells with an experienced local guide.

We had hoped to also run walks on Saturday 30th April, but shortage of staff meant that this was not possible. It also meant that on the Saturday we were not able to start running trains until 13:30.

The Friends of Middleton Park ran the walks in Middleton Park on 1st and 2nd May. On each day they met the following trains at Park Halt.

• The 11:10 departure from Moor Road;
• the 12:30 departure from Moor Road; and
• the 14:10 departure from Moor Road.

Children with a teddy bear travelled free.

The normal fare applied for children without a teddy bear, but we gave them a teddy bear.

Free Easter Chocolate for Children

Diesel trains ran on Saturday, and steam trains on Sunday and Monday.

For children travelling on the train services and accompanied by a fare-paying adult, we gave away free chocolate.

Come and Find Out about Local Groups

Perhaps Get Involved?

A day aimed at our local communities, where visitors could come and explore what they do.

The following organisations were represented:

• Middleton Life History Group,
• Friends of Middleton Park,
• Middleton Park Equestrian Centre,
• Hunslet TARA (Tenants and Residents Association),
• South Leeds Life,
• West Yorkshire Police,
• West Yorkshire Fire Brigade (with a Fire Engine attending, when it was not required elsewhere).

Ride behind our main line steam locomotives from the North East

This last event before our Santa Specials featured our newly overhauled Sentinel, 68153, and NER 1310 in the last few weeks of its boiler ticket.

These two locomotives ran both on our normal passenger line, and over the little-used Balm Road branch. Visitors could catch this opportunity to see them together and ride behind them!

"Pop-Up" Model Railway Displays

Displays of one or two model railway layouts each weekend.

See the models alongside the real thing.

First and Last Chance Weekend

A first chance to see the newly-overhauled "No. 6".

A last chance to see NER 1310 before it retires from service.

Explore the Route of the Railway

A guided walk from Leeds Bridge to our Moor Road station, exploring the original route of the railway as it carried coals almost into the centre of the city.

The walk also took in the famous half square mile of Hunslet, through which the route of the railway ran, and where locomotives were manufactured for the world.

Walkers could then follow the walk with a ride on the railway.

Our second Comic-Con style event!

Following on from the success of 2018's event, this event featured special exhibits, sci-fi characters in costume (as shown in the picture here, taken in our display hall), and more.

See a historic diesel locomotive in action

An opportunity to ride behind one of our historic diesel locomotives. Click here for more details of this opportunity.

See historic diesel locomotives in action

Following the movement of our "Works Outing" event to the previous weekend, in response to planned road closures, we ran some of our historic diesel locomotives on both Saturday and Sunday. A special timetable was in operation, and included some trains running over the Balm Road branch. Click here for more details of these services.

Showcasing our own Locomotive Fleet

If it worked, it would get an outing - or at least, that was the aim. The event featured passenger trains and mixed trains operating over the whole line, including the little-used Balm Road branch.

Come and enjoy Steam Punks in action

If you are not sure who or what "Steam Punks" are, then visit the website of the Leeds and Bradford Steampunk Markets, with whom we collaborated to arrange this event. The link to their site will open in a new browser window or tab.

The event featured a variety of market stalls with arts, crafts and costumes, hot and cold food, birds of prey, charity tombola and "Coffee Jousting" displays.

Our usual steam trains were running, and normal fares applied, but with a charge for those who were just coming to visit the market.

Passenger and Goods Trains

This gala event featured passenger trains and mixed trains operating over the whole line, including the little-used Balm Road branch.

Special Attractions for Fathers (and others!)

A package that gives the opportunity to ride on one of our locomotives and visit our workshops. This package is aimed at fathers, but is definitely not restricted just to them!

Support Marie Curie in Leeds

For our charity weekend there were activities to support the work of Marie Curie in Leeds.

An exhibition of painting and drawings by Jo Dunn

This included some Leeds landmarks, such as Gledhow Wood Road and Arthington Viaduct, as well as scenes from further afield.

A commemoration of our mining heritage

This gala event recreated some of the sights from the days when the Middleton Colliery was still sending coal to Leeds. It featured passenger trains and mixed trains operating over the whole line, including the little-used Balm Road branch.

There was a development project supporting this event, and a separate page gives more details of this project.