The World's oldest working railway.

And right on our doorstep!

Middleton Railway in Leeds was built as a colliery railway in 1758, requiring the first ever Railway Act of Parliament to set it up.
Initially, carrying coals to the staithes near the river Aire, thr motive power was horses.
However on the 24th June 1812 Middleton was the first railway in the world to successfully employ steam locomotives commercially.
They were designed by the Middleton colliery engineer John Blenkinsop, and built by Matthew Murray at his Round Foundary in Holbeck, Leeds.

The collage shows the little steam train which took us on a ride a few miles up to Middleton Park. I was allowed to stand on the footplate, and see the workings before we set off.

The old rusty hulk, is outside in the yard.
It is a Picton, built in Leeds in 1927.
Salvaged from a sugar cane field in Trinidad, and brought back to it's home town.
Sadly it is unlikely that it will ever return to glory but will continue to dissolve slowly in the English weather.

There were several engines on display, all made in Leeds, and now restored, and looking very smart.

Would you believe that the coal used to fire the engine's boiler now has to be imported from Russia!

With a lovely walk in the sunshine through Middleton Woods, and then back on the train.
A very enjoyable Sunday afternoon.