Friday 21 March - Sunday 23 March
It is planned to use three of our carriages - Metropolitans 465 and 509, together with Southern brake third no. 3554 - during the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's gala weekend.
The Middleton Railway is delighted to be taking part in the “Whistle up” on 1st January to herald the start of “Railway 200”, a celebration of the opening of the Stockton to Darlington Railway.
The opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825 caught the public imagination and catapulted railways into the limelight ... it created so much excitement that we’re still talking about it today.
Railway 200 is about commemorating all the milestones in railway history that created the modern world that we live in – not just the Stockton and Darlington Railway anniversary. From package holidays to commuting and even standardised time, the railways gave birth to them all – this is the year to celebrate all the achievements of the railways.
The Middleton Railway’s engineers Matthew Murray and John Blenkinsop’s pioneer work in 1812 paved the way for George Stephenson’s “Locomotion No 1” to successfully haul the first public passenger train in the World between Stockton & Darlington in 1825. To commemorate this historic event, heritage railways throughout the UK will be sounding their whistles at 12 noon on New Year’s Day.
At Middleton, we will be using historic Manning Wardle steam locomotive "Sir Berkeley” built in Leeds in 1890 and owned by our partner organisation, Vintage Carriages Trust. Local Councillor Paul Wray will be doing the honours by blowing the whistle at 12 noon representing our continued association as part of the local Hunslet community.
Sir Berkeley is back at Middleton and is once again operational following further repairs to the steam pipe. It is intended to use the engine over the next few weekends, weather permitting.
Please check the Middleton Railway website to make sure the engine is running before making a special journey.
Unfortunately, Sir Berkeley has failed with a steam pipe problem, and has been withdrawn from service with immediate effect.
There has been a great deal of interest in the visit of Manning Wardle No.1210 Sir Berkeley to Beamish. Here are the dates that the locomotive is hoped to operate it in the Colliery. As ever, usual caveats about being ‘subject to availability’ etc. apply, but the museum will do its very best to ensure it is out on these days:
April: 22, 23 and 27
May: 4 and 6
Members wishing to see the loco should check the Beamish website.
Photo courtesy Beamish Museum
The Heritage Railway Association annual awards ceremony, this year, will take place in February. One award, The Steam Railway Magazine Award, is decided by a public vote. This year there are 10 nominees, one of which is The Middleton Railway/Vintage Carriages Trust, for the overhaul of Sir Berkeley.
If you wish to register your vote, go to:
The Steam Railway Award: Your chance to vote - Steam Railway
Voting closes 18th January 2024
Metropolitan 9 Compartment Carriage No 465 is expected to be part of the KWVR Vintage Trains consist for the season which starts on Saturday 22 July and is running every Saturday and Sunday until Sunday 20 August.
On Saturday 15th April at an event at the Middleton Railway in Leeds, our locomotive Sir Berkeley was rededicated and placed back into traffic after its recent overhaul.
The rededication included speeches by Anthony Coulls of the National Railway Museum, who had suggested some time ago that the engine should be painted in its original contractor’s livery. In rededicating Sir Berkeley, mainly to the memory of the navvies who built the railways, Anthony also emphasised the importance of recognising that often in an unsung way small steam engines used to carry out great work every day. Trevor England, Chairman of VCT, also congratulated Middleton Chief Mechanical Engineer Steve Roberts and his team on a successful overhaul of the engine.
A video of the Relaunch is available to watch on youtube.com on the Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels page.
Anthony Coulls, Roger Crombleholme, Ian Smith and Trevor England – Photo: Tom Marshall
Vintage Carriages Trust shares with the Nation our sympathies in regards to the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
Queen Elizabeth II provided us with stability and strength, and her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories.
We welcome the new reign of His Majesty King Charles III who shares with us a passion for Railway Heritage.
On 28th March the museum was shunted in preparation for the time when we can open. The L&Y club Car returned to Oxenhope. Pannier tank 5775 and the North Eastern Saloon 21661 arrived for a Railway Children display. In the workshop, the underframe for Midland 358 has been moved next to the body, in preparation for reuniting the two.
