This event will be held on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September 2022, as part of our activities in connection with the Heritage Open Days.

Illustrated Talks

These talks will last some 20 to 25 minutes, and will run hourly from 10.00 to 3.00 p.m. on each day. There will be no need to book for them.

The talks will take 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.

Locomotives

The locomotives that will be operating over the weekend are as follows:

• HC D631 "Carroll", built in 1946, which will be running on both days.
• HE 1697 "John Alcock", built in 1932, which will be running on Saturday. This was the first locomotive to run on the Middleton Railway after its preservation, and is named after its designer.
• NER 1310, built in 1891, which will be running on Sunday. This was the second steam locomotive to run on the Middleton Railway after its preservation.

Fares

Special fares will apply for each day, namely £8.50 for an adult, £3 for a child and £20 for a family ticket (covering up to 2 adults and 3 children).  The various travel concessions that apply to our normal train services will not apply for this event.

Timetable

Trains will be running more-or-less-alternately from Moor Road to Park Halt and back, and from Moor Road down the Balm Road branch and back.

The first train will depart from Moor Road at 10:30. Full details of the train times are as follows.

Please note that it is not possible to either board the train or alight from it on the Balm Road Branch.

More Information

Other pages of our web site will provide more information about:

• What we offer for visitors;
• Our train services;
• How to find us.