SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

After reading the Temple Newsam & Roundhay park narrow gauge rail threads on secret Leeds i realised i've never seen the Abbey light railway in operation. So i contacted Dave Malton to see if we could go down there & take some pictures and get an insight into the history of the railway. I was pleased to get a big thumbs up from Dave with the added bonus of i'll get No1 fired up ready for you so you can have a play on that. mmm Thoughts of shunting accidents & derailments crossed my mind So off we set armed with camera, flag & whistle on a glorious autumn day ideal for photography.

Situated just off Bridge road, Kirkstall the only indication the railway exists is this old corrugated engine shed behind which hides a very scenic railway. The line twists and turns through some very pleasent woodland on it's climb towards the terminus near to Kirkstall Abbey.

True to his word Peter & Dave fired up the Lister for us, After a quick crash course in the art of loco driving (put your foot on here, that makes it go and that makes it stop) we were left to our own devices) We enjoyed that i can say. toot toot!! Here we see Peter showing a nice turn of speed refueling the old girl. Peter founded the railway with the help of family & friends way back in 1976. We have a youtube video with a cab ride view showing just how scenic the line is herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIySZqaZa8MIt's a bumby ride on the footplate so hold tight.

We had a good look around the shed with this view showing Odin of 1943 vintage basking in the sun awaiting it's next turn of duty.

View inside the fitting shop of the Hudson under renovation, built in 1924 it worked at Caingryffe quarry in Lanarkshire . I just love the oily smell you get in these places

Here's an old sign we spotted in there Drapsey might be able to shed some light on. The narrow gauge inn proudly boasts Hancock's the sign of hospitality!

The railway has 12 locomotives to display, There mainly ex industrial locos of all shapes and sizes, The earliest was built in 1917 with engine no12 been the last in 1957. It's a good job we have places like the Abbey railway restoring these fine locomotives. The cutters torch would have been there sad fate many years ago if not. Here we see Odin & the ruston parked outside the shed.

This is the Abbey terminus with Atlas running around the train for the return journey to back Bridge road.

looking at this view it's hard to imagine your in the heart of the city. Here we see the train emerge from the jungle and carefully negotiate the sharp curve before the mill race bridge.

The down express crosses the narrow creek bridge