Description and History of Site:-
The Middleton Railway was built as a colliery wagonway in 1758. Initially it carried coals from Charles Brandling's colliery at Middleton to the staiths near to the River Aire using horses as motive power. However, on the 24th June 1812 it became the first railway in the world to successfully employ steam locomotives commercially. Unlike later railways, Blenkinsop, the colliery's manager, used a 'rack' rail system which allowed a light locomotive to haul a greater load. The steam locomotive, Salamanca, which incorporated a cog wheel to mesh with the cast iron `rack' rail to provide traction, was built by Matthew Murray at his 'Round Foundry' in Holbeck, Leeds. Without the rack it has been estimated that the locomotive could have hauled no more than 15 tons; but with it, it was capable of hauling a 90 ton load. The 'rack' rail system was abandoned in 1835. Today (2017) it is operated as a heritage railway, by The Middleton Railway Trust Ltd.

Further Reading and References:-
A history of the Middleton Railway, Leeds. 7th ed. The Middleton Railway Trust Ltd, 1994. Thompson, P M.
Matthew Murray 1765-1826 and the Firm of Fenton Murray and Co 1795-1844. P M Thompson, 2015.
Brochure: http://www.middletonrailway.org.uk/

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Key Words :- rack rail railway wagonway

Viewing the Site :- Operated as a heritage railway by The Middleton Railway Trust Ltd.

Address :- Moor Rd, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 2JQ
Grid Ref :- SE 30521 31027
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.774691 , Long -1.538372
Local Authority :- Leeds Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - Protected status unknown
Site Condition :- Site refurbished to industrial / commercial use
Site Dates :- 1758 -
Record Date :- 26 December 2017

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Charles Morris