Return of Steam
Steam was reintroduced in 1866 with tank engines from local firm Manning Wardle. In 1881 the railway was converted to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge allowing it to connect with the Midland Railway. Other extra links included one to the Great Northern Railway in 1899 and sidings serving other sources of freight including Robinson & Birdsell's scrapyard and Clayton, Sons & Co's engineering works. The Middleton Estate & Colliery Co became part of the nationalised National Coal Board in 1947. Some rationalisation took place, the city centre staith at Kidacre street was closed and in the end coal movement was concentrated on the stretch of line from the GNR connection to Broom Pit. Preservationists from Leeds University moved in to an abandoned part of the line between Moor Road and the GNR connection. When Broom Pit closed in 1969 they were able to reinstate the connection and operate to the site of Broom Pit, maintaining the continuous operation of the line.
Read more about this topic: Middleton Railway
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