Present-Day Middleton Railway
The Middleton Railway operates a 1-mile line between Moor Road and Middleton Park, offering heritage steam and diesel train rides. The railway features a museum at Moor Road Station, showcasing historic locomotives, including early steam engines. It hosts special events such as steam galas, Santa Specials, and educational programs celebrating its pioneering role in railway history.
Preservation
In 1960, the Middleton Railway Preservation Society was formed, and the line became the first standard-gauge railway in the UK to be preserved and run entirely by volunteers. The first preserved passenger service operated in 1960, marking the beginning of its new era as a heritage railway.
History of the Middleton Railway
The Middleton Railway was established in 1758 by an Act of Parliament to transport coal from the Middleton Collieries to the growing industries and homes in Leeds. Initially, it was a horse-drawn wagonway using wooden rails. In 1812, it became the first commercial railway to successfully use steam locomotives, designed by Matthew Murray, marking a milestone in the industrial revolution. The railway was integral to the local coal industry, operating as a freight line to deliver coal efficiently to Leeds. Over the 19th and early 20th centuries, it transitioned from using plate rails to standard gauge steel rails. With the decline of coal mining in the mid-20th century, the railway’s industrial use decreased.