Middleton Railway Manchester Ship Canal Gala, 18th-19th Sept 2010

Leeds and Manchester, traditional Northern rivals in sporting circles, are coming together on the 18th and 19th of September. Leeds locomotive builders provided most of the locomotives used on the once extensive railways of the Manchester Ship Canal and in its fifitieth year of preservation the Middleton Railway is bringing one of the Manchester locomotives home. The Middleton Railway is pleased to announce its first visiting engine for this gala, MSC No.70. This locomotive is the sister engine to Middleton resident No.67, both being the same "long tank" type of locomotive. This locomotive was saved for preservation and initially based at the East Lancashire Railway. It was then sold and moved to various other railways and can now be found on loan to the Linconshire Wolds Railway. Normally based at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, Nos. 67 and 70 are the only two surviving long tanks and this event will see their reuinion for the first time in preservation. Built by Hudswell, Clarke & Co, we will be reuniting them just a stones throw away from the spot on which they were built. Other attractions are planned along with a special talk on Friday 17th Sept by Don Thorpe, author of the book "The Railways of the Manchester Ship Canal". This evening talk will be held in the railways museum and start at 19.30. Places are limited, if you are interested in attending, please use the contact page on the website below.

For more information, please visit the event website, at www.msc-gala.moonfruit.com

We hope to see you then, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask here or via PM.

Andy Hardy
Traffic Manager
Middleton Railway

 

Andy Welldone for putting a event such as this together the manchester ship canal was a very special railway dare i say allmost a Mainline and from what it once was to what little is left today its good to see that its being celebrated in this way!

 

I must say i really cannot wait for this to happen its one industrial system that iv always loved it definitely one not to be missed.

 

Thanks for the support. I really do hope this will be an interesting event. There are other plans in the pipeline. Keep an eye on the website and here for more news. If anyone has any suggestions for what they would like to see, fire away!

Andy Hardy
Traffic Manager
Middleton Railway

 

So pleased an event like this is been put together having had experience of both locos im very excited about the prospect of seeing them both together and will defenitally be booking time off work to atend!!!!!!!!!
with 5 months still to go im sure there will be more in the pipeline waiting to be released!!!!!! shall be looking back here and the website with regularity!!!!!!

 

Have some of the MSC Railway diesels survived? I remember a tour in June 1974, travelling in open trucks down to Partington if I recall correctly - definitely before the elfansafety Taleban took over!

 

Yes. Watch this space!
As for riding in an open wagon, you will have the chance of doing this at the Middleton Railway's 50th anniversary celebrations on 19/20th June. Just for this one weekend!

 

As Steve says, please watch this space and the website for more details. Hopefully I will be in a position to announce another visitor shortly. Watch the website for more details. Other preperations are well underway.

The Leeds Brewery Company are producing a special beer for our 50th that will be available in June. They will also produce it in September and it will be available over the gala weekend from them in the beer tent. Please do come down and sample some produce from Leeds only independant brewery.

Andy Hardy
Traffic Manager
Middleton Railway
Leeds

 

For anyone interested I will be signing the contract for the secnod visiting locomotive tomorrow evening so keep your eyes on here and the website for more info!

Andy Hardy
Traffic Manager
Middleton Railway
Leeds

 

and?????

 

Well I have just got back from a rather excellent HMRS talk by Don Thorpe on the MSC railway system. Very interesting and some great slides.

However, we are pleased to announce our second visitor for our MSC gala. MSC No.32 "Gothenburg" was built in 1903 to the "Canal" class design. These locomotives gained the nickname "short tanks" during their working lives. The addition of this locomotive also means that all the working MSC steam locomtives will be together for this event, another preservation first.

The locomotive will also be used on the two days of photocharters along with both other MSC locos. Book a place soon to avoid missing this unique charter.

For more details and a photo of the loco, visit the event website at: www.msc-gala.moonfruit.com

Many thanks.

Andy Hardy
Traffc Manager
Middleton Railway
Leeds

 

Tuesday's talk by Don Thorpe was well worth the trip over the pennines. Also got a good look at Gothenburg in the shed at the ELR. Can't wait to see the three working MSC steam loco's return home to Leeds.

 

If only we could get an MSC diesel too... ;-)

 

This is a great idea for a gala theme.

 

The pairing of the MSC engines is something of a dream for me they are delightful machines and dare i say somewhat unique in there constriction i for one will be there

 

I have just discovered this great little line in my area, I am planning to head down this weekend for the 50th celebrations but have just found this event too. The MSC was a fascinating system and I am sure this event will do it justice. I wonder what else a small line can pull off aside from the MSC locos?

 

Well the event is fast aproaching i for one hope that the event is a sucess its very brave of a railway to do an event like this and sticking to the M.S.C theme.

 

Hi guys,

Below is a release from the gala organisers:

"It is with regret that MSC No.70 will no longer be available to participate in the MSC reunion gala. Unfortunatly the locomotive has suffered a mechanical problem and the owners have had to withdraw the locomotive from traffic for the foreseeable future. Obviously this may be a dissapoitment for some, but the gala organisers hope it will not deter people from visiting this unique event, which will see all operational MSC steam locomotives together. The Railway wish to thank the owners of No.70 for their help and wish the locomotive a speedy return to traffic."

Although this is very unfortunate we are sure the railway will put on a great event. The displays and other attractions are coming along nicely so there will be something for everyone. We hope to see you there!

Andy Hardy