Middleton Railway - Leeds

The Middleton Railway is maintained and operated by volunteers as a working museum to give the flavour of the many and varied small industrial freight and passenger carrying railways which once flourished away from the gaze of the travelling public.
Built in 1758 to carry coal from Middleton Colliery into the city of Leeds, the line was the first to be authorised by Act of Parliament and as such can claim to be the World's Oldest Railway. The world's first commercially successful steam locomotive 'Salamanca' was built in Leeds and started work at Middleton in June 1812. This predated George Stephenson's locomotives by several years and reinforces Leeds' claim to be the birthplace of the railways. In keeping with the origins of the line, all the locos are small, steam and diesel, including one over one hundred years old. The passenger train comprises two coaches which have been converted in a manner reminiscent of the days when industrial systems ran their own passenger trains.
The line's most northern terminus, Moor Road Station, has a free car park, shop (open for souvenirs and light refreshments, on operating days), WC's and the opportunity to view the collection of locomotives