Middleton Railway

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue 08 Jun, 2010 10:29 am

Hi Parksider, to understand the Old Run Road incline it is necessary to remember that early railways ( and 1758 is early in this context ) tried to avoid gradients of any seriousness. The present diversion line is on a gradient of about one in fifty, much steeper than heavily used horse worked lines would have countenanced - it would still have been regarded as a fairly hefty challenge in steam days on the main line, but less so on a short industrial system. The system whereby railways consisted of a series of"levels" ( oh no, not again! ) linking "inclines" was endemic in the North - East of England, and the railway expertise of the time was mainly found in that area.As to the Broom Pit/Dayhole End area, there was indeed a difference in height between the two, but not as much as might be imagined. Material would come out of the dayhole on tubs or sleds man-hauled, and to lower those a short distance to the valley bottom would have been much easier than hauling them up the drift! Indeed, a few feet in height would have helped in the transference of coal ( or fireclay let us not forget ) into larger railway wagons, possibly including chutes and staiths. Naturally when sinking the later pit "where to dig t'oil" would have taken into consideration ease of loading and positioning of sidings. As to the accuracy of content of the MRT History, I know it to have been very well researched by a succession of serious students of Industrial Archaeology, and confusion is often down to ambiguity of interpretation and of writer's assumptions of what can be taken for granted in their readers' prior knowledge! The current MRT archivist is a past acquaintance of mine, and I can vouch for her high ability in serious research.

jim · Post by **jim** » Tue 08 Jun, 2010 10:43 am

Hi Big N, I've not seen the image you refer to, but can tell you that the first locomotive to haul a train for the MRT was Hunslet diesel 1697. The Sentinel was the second. If what you have seen is a set of vehicles, including the Sentinel, being hauled up from Balm Road it is either a BR locomotive delivering the Sentinel from BR service in ( I think ) 1961 or it is a later MRT "demonstration" goods train put on for the entertainment of visitors.

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 1:27 am

Cheers Jim - certainly not a B.R. loco its an 0-4-0 Saddle tank in green so would be tempted to go for your second option. It is pushing what looks like an old lanky brake van and a 5 plank drop side mineral wagon, it is pulling the Sentinal, a 0-4-0 diesel shunter (poss the Hunslet you mention), a smaller saddle tank in red with semi open cab, what could be another hunslet but smaller and yellow and a very small diesel loco that looks like it was purpose built for a small industrial line with an open cab in grey.Have to confess here, I have been in Leeds for almost a quarter of a centuary now and have still not visited the Miggy, should really put that right soon I think

jim · Post by **jim** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 11:11 am

I've finally faced accessing those videos Big N. ( takes absolutely ages, I'm not sure if they sold me the clockwork or the snail-powered version of this laptop....... )The third video shows the passenger train of the day( early 1970s ) leaving the Dartmouth Branch, where all the stock was stabled at that time, and joining the main line before reversing down to the Moor Road halt. It is hauling a selection of locomotives to be left on display on the commencement of the Balm Road Branch for prospective passengers to vew without having to walk round to Dartmouth Yard.In order, following APCM No 6 ( HL 3860 ) they are :- Sentinel 8839 Hunslet 0-6-0D 1697 Bagnall 0-4-0ST 2702 Fowler 0-4-0D 3900002 Hunslet 0-4-0D 1786 -- ( ex Courages' Brewery )and I claim Parksider's anorak until someone sadder turns up!Incidentally, does anyone know why all bt two of the MRT site's photo sections consist of three piccies of what looks like someone's visit to Ayre's Rock?

The Parksider · Post by **The Parksider** » Wed 09 Jun, 2010 5:38 pm

jim wrote: I've finally faced accessing those videos Big N. ( Incidentally, does anyone know why all bt two of the MRT site's photo sections consist of three piccies of what looks like someone's visit to Ayre's Rock? It's the large pit heap above the colliery taken on a sunny day.It was removed as ballast for the Motorway.It just looks a bit like ayers rock.

buffaloskinner · Post by **buffaloskinner** » Fri 11 Jun, 2010 10:59 pm

Does anyone recall filming taking place in the mid 80s in the main yard of the railway, it only seemed to be in the dark tho and went on until quite late at night.Never saw it on the TV, maybe it was a film.Then I found this'Fred the Fugitive' was filmed in about 1983. Can't remember the exact date Well, the first episode (of six) was filmed as a pilot. It was made by Chris Sutton and starred the late Paul Luty and Bill Pertwee. It wasn't taken up by any TV station but, when Channel 4 did the 'Going Loco' programmes in 1990(?) Chris offered it to them and they showed it. That's the only time it has been shown on TV. 'Fred' was a Borrows well-tank, No.53/1909, normally known as 'Windle'.Still dont remember it

buffaloskinner · Post by **buffaloskinner** » Fri 18 Jun, 2010 9:39 pm

Short documentary on Look North this evening about the Railway Trusthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sRcUNuZUgk

The Parksider · Post by **The Parksider** » Sat 28 Aug, 2010 2:15 pm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37093581@N ... 33187@N00/ Lovely rare pic of the railway as it passes over the main line into Jack Lane.Seriously good and that bit of the trackbed twixt bridge and Lack Lane is still there but overgrown.Nice

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sat 28 Aug, 2010 3:52 pm

The Parksider wrote: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37093581@N ... 33187@N00/ Lovely rare pic of the railway as it passes over the main line into Jack Lane.Seriously good and that bit of the trackbed twixt bridge and Lack Lane is still there but overgrown.Nice I'll add that link again because it's a dud if you dont copy it all, sometimes they don't paste well into the adress bar.http://snipurl.com/10ubj0That's a very rare pic indeed.

The Parksider · Post by **The Parksider** » Sun 29 Aug, 2010 8:37 am

Phill_dvsn wrote: I'll add that link again because it's a dud if you dont copy it all, sometimes they don't paste well into the adress bar.http://snipurl.com/10ubj0That's a very rare pic indeed. Thanks for your technical help. Also in the photo set in question you have queried a mill building in the distance on the shot of the Hunslet sidings 1980.Did you get an answer or work out what this was - it looks like Hunslet Mills but of course it's looking the wrong way for that.I can only think of the old tannery lower down balm road as it become belle isle road. However this building in the photo seems to be behind the concrete rendered buildings and the tannery would be well to the left as you look at the pic??